This article describes how the author brought together a group of parents who had lost adult children in the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attack. It chronicles the group's progress at different stages with special emphasis given to the first year. The author addresses the importance of encouraging member-to-member dialogue and bonding, as a means of reducing the symptoms of social isolation, emotional numbing, and intrusive imagery. The powerful grip of induced feelings on the leader and the importance of a consultant to manage this are highlighted as well as the complexity of ending such a group.
The importance of connecting group member to member is highlighted in this article. Basically, its value is in finding creative ways to join members together. The article highlights the importance of emotional communication. I look at similarities with other group therapists, particularly exploring those between Ormont and Yalom. It is the goal of this article to highlight how this technique can be of importance for all group therapists. Clinical examples of connecting members from beginning to intermediate and advanced levels are highlighted. A selected literature review is included.
ENHANCING MEMBER-TO-MEMBER EMOTIONAL DIALOGUEThe main goal of many therapists (Ormont, 1990;Yalom & Leszcz, 2005) is connecting members of the group to one another. Yes, the leader must occasionally deal with the anger of members toward the leader, yet the power of member-to-member dialogue and how to enhance this are crucial parts of an evolving group process. Our Gregory J. MacColl has a private practice in Manhattan and Forest Hills, New York.
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