Abstract
Cotherapy has often been used as the leadership model in group therapy. The literature is full of contradictory data and impressions as to the efficacy of this model. In this article a new form of cotherapy is presented which may offer some of the assets attributed to the cotherapy leadership model while at the same time reducing some of the liabilities. Sequential cotherapy refers to cotherapy when each of the therapists leads sequentially rather than at the same time. The pros and cons of such an approach are discussed from both the perspectives of training new group therapists and of service to patients in groups.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ALONSO, A. and RUTAN, S. Cross-sex supervision for cross-sex therapy,American Journal of Psychiatry, 1978, 135, 8, 928–931.
DEMAREST, E. and TEICHER, A. Transference in group therapy—Its use by cotherapists of opposite sex.Psychiatry, 1954, 18, 200–201.
FRIEDMAN, B. Co-therapy: A behavioral and attitudinal survey of third year psychiatric residents.International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 1973, 23, 228–234.
KERNBERG, O.Objects Relations Theory and Clinical Psychoanalysis. New York: Jason Aronson, Inc., 1976.
KOHUT, H.The Analysis of the Self. New York: International Universities Press, 1971.
KOHUT, H.The Restoration of the Self. New York: International Universities Press, 1977.
LUNDEN, W. and ARONOV, B. The use of co-therapists in group psychotherapy.Journal of Consulting Psychology, 1952, 16, 76–80.
MULLAN, H. and SANGUILIANO, I.The Therapists' Contribution to the Treatment Process. Springfield, IL: Charles C Thomas, 1964, 183.
ORANGE, A. A note on brief group psychotherapy with psychotic patients.International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 1955, 5, 81.
ROSENFELD, H. On the psychopathology of narcissism: A clinical approach.International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 1964, 45, 332–337.
RUTAN, S. and ALONSO, A. Some guidelines for group therapists.GROUP, 1978, 2, 4–13.
RUTAN, S. and ALONSO, A. Group psychotherapy. In A. Lazare (Ed.),Outpatient Psychiatry: Diagnosis and Treatment. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1979, 612–620.
SEMRAD, E.Teaching Psychotherapy of Psychotic Patients. New York: Grune and Stratton, 1969.
SOLOMON, A., LOEFFLER, F., and FRANK, G. An analysis of co-therapist interaction in group psychotherapy.International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 1953, 3, 176.
STONE, W. Dynamics of the recorder-observer in group psychotherapy.Comprehensive Psychiatry, 1975, 16, 49–54.
STONE, W. Contributions of the psychology of the self to group process and group therapy.International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 1977, 27, 343–359.
YALOM, I.The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, 2nd ed. New York: Basic Books, 1975, 420–424.
ZETZEL, E. and MEISNER, W.Basic Concepts of Psychoanalytic Psychiatry. New York: Basic Books, 1973.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Dr. Rutan and Mrs. Alonso are members of the faculty of Harvard University Medical School and share responsibility for training psychiatric residents in group therapy at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rutan, J.S., Alonso, A. Sequential cotherapy of groups for training and clinical care. Group 4, 40–50 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01456486
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01456486