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Group Analysis
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Patients' Views of Therapeutic Action in Psychoanalytic Group Psychotherapy

Lena Johansson

Floragatan 11, 1 tr, 114 31 Stockholm, Sweden, lena{at}lenaj.se

Andrzej Werbart

Institute of Psychotherapy, Stockholm County Council, Sweden, andrzej.werbart{at}.sll.se

Patients' views of curative and hindering factors in psychoanalytic group psychotherapy are explored, starting with semi-structured interviews with 28 young adult patients at therapy termination. Using grounded theory methodology, a theoretical model of therapeutic action is constructed, elucidating the interactions between positive and negative experiences in the group. The focal point appears to be the patient's experience of their own activity within the context of the group as whole, leading to increased self-knowledge and improved handling of emotions. The positively experienced change is also affected by people outside of therapy and real life events. The patients ascribed most frequent hindering factors to the absence of their own action to other group members and to the therapeutic frames.

In contrast to therapist-based theoretical models, positive experience in the group leads patients to minimize the therapist's role, while negative experiences lead patients to want a more active therapist.

Key Words: therapeutic action • group psychotherapy • patients' view • young adults • hindering factors

Group Analysis, Vol. 42, No. 2, 120-142 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0533316409104361
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