Group work often presents the therapist with many situations, considerations, and, ultimately, decisions that are unique to the practice of group psychotherapy. Until now, there has been little guidance available to either the inexperienced therapist or seasoned clinician in the existing literature that addresses these complex situations.
Complex Dilemmas in Group Therapy is a collection of the work of over 25 experienced and respected group therapists, and is edited by two leading thinkers and practitioners in the field. The book owes a debt of inspiration to a regular article appearing in The Group Circle, Consultation, Please, in which a letter from a practicing group therapist is followed by the responses of two practitioners, each offering a 'solution' to the situation described. Complex Dilemmas will expand upon this well-received formula, grouping situations together into themes, examining underlying theory and discussing how ideas about the particular topic have changed over time.
The book will be divided into seven sections, each covering a specific theme such as boundaries, enactments, projective identification, powerful therapist reactions, destructive forces in group, difficult patients, and time-limited groups. Each section will present three complex dilemmas, each of which will be followed by a response from two different clinicians. The dilemmas presented will range from common issues confronted to a more atypical dilemma, to an extreme example of a dilemma, appealing to group therapists of varying expertise.