Skip to main content
Log in

The function of the therapist's affect in therapeutic conflict in groups

  • Published:
Group

Abstract

Group psychotherapy theory and technique are presented with the goals of helping group practitioners working with difficult clients: 1) develop a treatment plan; 2) create a therapeutic alliance; 3) foster a responsive group climate; and 4) utilize the therapist's countertransferential reactions in dealing with therapeutic conflict. Historical modifications of the analyst's role in the development of group psychotherapy are noted. Emphasis is give to the recognition of therapist-client identifications in order to separate feelings induced in the therapist from countertransferential reactions, to enable the practitioner to respond appropriately to the affective and inspirational substratum of therapeutic groups.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • BION, W. R.Experiences in Groups. New York: Basic Books, 1959.

    Google Scholar 

  • FOULKES, S. H. & ANTHONY, E. J.Group Psychotherapy: The Psychoanalytic Approach. Baltimore: Penguin, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  • FRANK, J. D.Persuasion and Healing. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  • GOLDBERG, C.Encounter: Group Sensitivity Training Experience. New York: Science House, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • GOLDBERG, C.The Human Circle: An Existential Approach to the New Group Therapies. Chicago: Nelson-Hall, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • GOLDBERG, C.Therapeutic Partnership: Ethical Concerns in Psychotherapy. New York: Springer, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • GOLDBERG, C. Utilization and limitation of paradoxical intervention in group psychotherapy.International journal of Group Psychotherapy, 1980, 30, 3, 287–297.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • GOLDBERG, C.In Defense of Narcissism—The Creative Self in Search of Meaning. New York: Gardner, 1980.(a)

    Google Scholar 

  • GOLDBERG, C. In L. R. Wolberg & M. Aronson (Eds.),Group and Family Therapy, 1981. New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1981, 41–53.(b)

    Google Scholar 

  • GOLDBERG, C. In N. Slavinska-Holy (Ed.),Treating the Borderline Patient in Group Psychotherapy. London: Kegan-Paul, in Press.

  • GOLDBERG, C. The function of the therapist's affect during therapeutic conflict. In N. Slavinska-Holy (Ed.),Treating the Borderline Patient in Group Psychotherapy. London: Kegan-Paul, in press.

  • LA BARRE, W.Culture in Context—Selected Writings of Weston La Barre. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • ORMONT, L. The treatment of pre-oedipal resistances in the group setting.Psychoanalytic Review, 1974, 61, 429–441.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • ORMONT, C. Training group therapists through the study of countertransferences.Group, 1980, 4, 17–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • PINES, M. Group therapy with “difficult” patients. In L. R. Wolberg & M. L. Aronson (Eds.),Group Therapy 1975. New York: Stratton Intercontinental Medical Books, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • RACKER, H. The meanings and uses of countertransference.Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 1957, 26, 303–357.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • REIK, T.Listening with the Third Ear. New York: Farrar Straus & Giroux, 1948.

    Google Scholar 

  • SCHAFFER, R. Talking to patients in psychotherapy.Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 1974, 38, 6, 503–515.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • SPOTNITZ, H.The Psychotherapy of Pre-Oedipal Conditions. New York: Jason Aronson, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • YALOM, I. D.The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy. New York: Basic Books, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Goldberg, C. The function of the therapist's affect in therapeutic conflict in groups. Group 7, 3–18 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01456475

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01456475

Keywords

Navigation