Abstract
The author has observed situations in which work groups of helping professionals have exhibited on a group level parallel difficulties to those which the clients of the work group experience. One hypothesis that may explain this phenomenon is that work groups of helping professionals tend to identify with, rather than empathize with, their clientele, and then replicate these difficulties at the systems level. An administrator may use this model to understand some sources of organizational stalemate and plan appropriate interventions. A case example is provided to illustrate the application of this hypothesis to a set of administrative problems.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abroms, G.M. Supervision as metatherapy. In: Kaslow, F., ed.Supervision, Consultation and Staff Training in Helping Professions. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1977.
Bion, W.Experiences in Groups. New York: Basic Books, 1961.
Caudill, W.The Psychiatric Hospital as Small Society. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1957.
Fliess, R. The metapsychology of the analyst.Psychoanalytic Quarterly 11:211–227, 1942.
Langs, R. On becoming a psychiatrist: Discussion of ‘Empathy and intuition in becoming a psychiatrist,’ by Ronald J. Bank.International Journal of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy 5:255–278, 1976.
Menninger, K. Psychological factors in the choice of medicine as a profession. In: Fall, B., ed.A Psychiatrist's World: Selected Papers. New York: Viking Press, 1959.
Menzies, I. Some mutual interactions between organizations and their members. Sixth International Congress of Psychotherapy, London, 1964.Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics 13:194–200, 1965.
Newton, P., and Levinson, D. The work group with the organization: A sociopsychological approach.Psychiatry 36:115–141, 1973.
Olinick, S. On empathy and regression in service of the other.British Journal of Medical Psychology 42:41–49, 1969.
Skynner, A. Group analytic themes in training and case-discussion groups. Sixth International Congress of Psychotherapy, London, 1964. New York: S. Kargel/Basel, 1965.
Skynner, A. A family of family casework agencies.International Journal of Group Psychotherapy 18:352–354, 1968.
Stanton, A., and Schwartz, M.The Mental Hospital. New York: Basic Books, 1954.
Additional information
David A. Brent, M.D., is a Resident in Child Psychiatry at the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
The author is grateful to the work group described in this paper for the rich experience and stimulating opportunity which led to this investigation.
The author would like to acknowledge the helpful editorial suggestions of Richard L. Cohen, M.D., Nancy French, R.N., M.S., Peter B. Henderson, M.D., and Irene Jakab, M.D., and the expert secretarial assistance of Ms. Cathy Meres and Ms. Barbara Zambon in the preparation of this manuscript.
This paper was presented in modified form at the Fifth A. K. Rice Scientific Meeting, April 4, 1981.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Brent, D.A. Systems which resemble their clients: The metatherapeutic role of the administrator. Administration in Mental Health 11, 57–63 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00843172
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00843172