Developmental Aspects of the Cotherapy Relationship*

Abstract

Cotherapy has become an accepted albeit sometimes controversial approach to group and family therapy. Though many differing views of cotherapy have been expressed, most authors have emphasized the need for a cooperative, open and flexible relationship between cotherapists as being essential to facilitating growth for clients. In this paper, a model for the understanding of the development of the cotherapy relationship is proposed. Both developmental fixations and modes for enhancement of this relationship are discussed with particular reference to family therapy.

Group Coleadership: A Critical Review

“…Group-member benefits from co-led groups include being able to observe and learn from interactions between leaders, finding safety in one or the other leader, and having options for relating to different leadership styles (Fall & Menendez, 2002;Gallogly & Levine, 1979;Roller & Nelson, 1991). Dual-gender dyads can also provide group members with insights into family-of-origin dynamics and modeling of cross-gender communication processes and power dynamics (Brent & Marine, 1982;S. Hoffman & Gafni, 1984;Schopler & Galinsky, 1980).…”

8/ Supervision of Cotherapy

“…It seems particularly helpful if the two therapists have been in a therapy group together and learned about each other's personal struggles, family background, modes of self-presentation and sensitivities (Dies, 1980;Yalom, 1975). Several writers caution about the cotherapists' vulnerability to sexual feelings and potential intimate involvement as Downloaded by [University of California Santa Barbara] at 13:59 16 June 2016 the result of working together (Bowers & Gauron, 1981;Brent & Marine, 1982;Dunn & Dickes, 1977;Kaslow, 1980). When these feelings are generated in therapy and then acted upon, the cotherapists will likely start attending more to one another and less to the clients.…”

Sitting In: The Experience of Learning and Practicing Family Therapy through Being a Co‐Therapist in Hong Kong

“…Developing such a team takes time and effort. The two therapists need to have made a common commitment, gone through struggles of power and control, integrated differences and developed a balanced role responsibility, and built closeness and trust (Brent & Marine, 1982;Dugo & Beck, 1997 (2) spending time discussing role division, expectations, and theoretical orientations, to know each other as people and as therapists; (3) communicating openly about and respecting differences (4) dealing with emerging countertransference issues with openness and honesty; and (5) seeking supervision from a third party. In contrast, processes such as competitiveness, over-dependence, envy and sexual attraction between cotherapists, triangulation of others, and ineffective communication can undermine the cotherapist team.…”

“…Developing such a team takes time and effort. The two therapists need to have made a common commitment, gone through struggles of power and control, integrated differences and developed a balanced role responsibility, and built closeness and trust (Brent & Marine, 1982;Dugo & Beck, 1997). Clark et al (2016) comprehensively reviewed and www.FamilyProcess.org 1916 / FAMILY PROCESS summarized the facilitating practices into five basics: (1) making a commitment to the relationship; (2) spending time discussing role division, expectations, and theoretical orientations, to know each other as people and as therapists; (3) communicating openly about and respecting differences (4) dealing with emerging countertransference issues with openness and honesty; and (5) seeking supervision from a third party.…”