Group Psychotherapy Summary

In the textbook, The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy by Irvin Yalom with Molyn Leszcz (2005), Yalom discusses the here-and-now experience which focuses on the interactions in the group that occur during the course of the therapy session. In the novel, the group members often stirred toward past events and relationships outside the group which prompted Julius to guide them back into the here-and-now. For example, the group members expressed how Bonnie arranges them to ignore her, and Julius converted Bonnie’s central issue into the here-and- now by asking her, “Who in the group is more important than you (p. 108)?” He presented the question to get Bonnie to explore her issues directly.
Another example is when Gill took the risk and revealed that he was an alcoholic to the group. With all members stunned and speechless, including Julius, it was a lot to take in. Surprised by Gill big secret, other group members pressed Gill for vertical disclosure (details about the past). As the therapist, Julius wanted horizontal disclosure (disclosure about the disclosure) from Gill, a more productive approach. So Julius tried to bring the group back to the here-and-now by voicing to Gill, “I’m trying to imagine how you must have felt coming to meeting after meeting …show more content…
Both of them had backed off from their therapy work in the group, and group members recognized the change that occurred in the two. For example, Bonnie told Pam, “You’ve been different, Pam. I remember Rebecca sensing that more than once. You rarely talk about your own issues—I have no idea what going on between you and john or whether your ex-husband’s in the picture or not.” Also Gill told Tony, “Now that I think about it, you’ve been real different. You have been hiding out. I’ve missed the old free –swing Tony