Abstract
Work Inhibition, defined as an impaired ability to pursue one's career goals, may be treated by combined individual and group therapy. The author presents a method for assessing the degree of work difficulty, a psychodynamic understanding of the problem, and an approach to treatment. He proposes that helping the patient work more actively in group will generalize to the workplace and reduce inhibition. A clinical illustration is provided.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Connelly, J.L. & Piper, W.E. (1989). An analysis of pretraining work behavior as a composition variable in group psychotherapy.International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 39(2), 173–190.
Erikson, E. (1968).Identity, youth, and crises. New York: Norton.
Freud, S. (1914). On narcissism: An introduction. In A.P. Morrison (Ed.). (1986).Essential papers on narcissism (pp. 17–43). New York: New York University Press.
Harwood, I.H. (1983). The application of self-psychology concepts to group psychotherapy.International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 33, 469–487.
Jacobson, E. (1964).The self and the object world. New York: International University Press.
Josephs, L. (1989). Self psychology and the analysis of the superego.Psychoanalytic Psychology, 6(1),73–86.
Kernberg, O. (1975).Borderline conditions and pathological narcissism. New York: Jason Aronson.
Kernberg, O. (1989). Interaction of middle age and character pathology. In J. Oldham & R. Liebert (Eds.),The middle years: New psychoanalytic perspectives (pp. 209–223). New Haven: Yale University Press.
Kivlighan, D.M. (1990). Career group therapy.The Counseling Psychologist, 18(1), 64–79.
Kleinberg, J.L. (1991). Teaching beginning group therapists to incorporate a patient's empathic capacity in treatment planning.Group, 15, 141–155.
Kleinberg, J.L. (1995). Group treatment of adults in midlife.International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 45(2), 207–222.
Kohut, H. (1978).The search for the self. New York: International University Press.
Kohut, H. (1986). Forms and transformations of narcissism. In Morrison, A.P. (Ed.),Essential papers on narcissism (pp. 61–88). New York: New York University Press.
Miller, A. (1986). Depression and grandiosity as related to forms of narcissistic disturbances. In Morrison, A.P. Ed.,Essential papers on narcissism (pp. 323–347). New York: New York University Press.
Piper, W.E., Joyce, A.S., Rosie, J.S., & Azim, H.F.A. (1994). Psychological mindedness, work, and outcome in day treatment.International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 44(3), 291–312.
Reich, A. (1986). Narcissistic object choice in women. In Buckley, P. (Ed.),Essential papers in object relations, (pp. 297–317). New York: New York University Press.
Sandler, J., Holder, A., & Meers, D. (1963). The ego ideal and the ideal self.Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 18, 139–158.
Schafer, R. (1967). Ideals, the ego ideal, and the ideal self. In Holt, R.R. (Ed.),Motives and thought (pp. 129–174). New York: International University Press.
Schafer, R. (1992).Retelling a life. New York: Basic Books.
Winnicott, D.W. (1975).Through paediatrics to psycho-analysis. New York: Basic Books.
Yalom, I.D. (1985).The theory and practice of group psychotherapy (3rd ed.). New York: Basic Books.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kleinberg, J.L. Treating work inhibition in group psychotherapy. Group 20, 287–302 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02108587
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02108587