Management of Intense Countertransference in Group Psychotherapy Conducted in Situations of Civic Conflict

Abstract

Conducting group psychotherapy in a situation of intractable conflict such as Northern Ireland activates turbulent emotional dilemmas within psychotherapists and group members alike. Professional practice and therapeutic zeal must struggle daily to survive the stark encounter with the reality of a regressive and primitive psychology and on occasion may succumb to atavistic tendencies, dragging relationships down to primitive levels and leaving connections broken. In this article, three group therapists describe their countertransference struggles when leading such groups. They meet in a psychosocial setting in which the risk to one's psyche parallels the risk to one's life and limb. The countertransference experienced here is dark, indeed identified by one author as not unlike Dante's Inferno. They describe how understanding their personal countertransference enables them to survive emotionally even though it may not always lead to the survival of their groups. The effect of those struggles also troubled the act of writing itself, making cooperation difficult on occasion, a mirror of the external social matrix.

Supervision Groups at a Time of Violent Social Conflict in Israel

“…In this context in particular, group therapists must take into account elements of mistrust, aggressiveness, and alienation that may result from communication failures. This is in accord with Benson et al (2005), who claim that conducting groups in a situation of war or with ongoing anxiety might resonate internal catastrophic terrors and affect the therapists' function. Foulkes and Anthony (1957) maintain that a containing setting which allows for discussion of the external conflict facilitates creation of an atmosphere of trust and fruitful dialogue.…”

“…This enabled the members to fashion a relatively safe space. Benson, Moore, Kapur, and Rice (2005) found similar behaviors, whereby people gained safety within the group at the price of loss of individuality in order to cope with the unsafe environment in Northern Ireland. Nevertheless, it is also possible to interpret the groups' behavior in a different manner entirely.…”

“…We might have been perceived as vulnerable, and therefore the groups may have avoided dealing with their heterogeneity and ''preferred'' to develop pluralistic dialogues and work toward their goals on a cognitive level in order to protect us from potential disaster. This kind of countertransference has been found to be common among group therapists in societies in conflict (Benson et al, 2005).…”

“…In addition, the approach to supervision in Israel tends to combine the ''here and now'' and the ''there and now.'' Finally, there is a general consensus among supervisors, therapists, and decision makers that in a condition of shared realities, it is incumbent upon the group leader to bring the outside world into the group, and this holds true for all groups, including supervision and task groups (Benson, Moore, Kapur, & Rice, 2005;Shamai, 1998). This is believed to be a condition for effective continued professional work.…”

Issues in Psychotherapy with Clients Affiliated with the Opposing Side in a Violent Political Conflict

“…Campbell and McCrystal (2005) report that social workers serving clients affected by the Troubles in Northern Ireland receive minimal agency support and training to equip them to deal with the Troubles-related problems. Benson et al (2005) analyze the intense counter-transference reactions they experienced conducting group psychotherapy in Northern Ireland and offer suggestions for managing them. Several studies in Israel indicate that the violence of the second Intifada (armed Palestinian rebellion) created heightened anxiety among Jewish clinicians and strained their relations with their Israeli Arab co-workers (Baum 2006;Ramon 2004).…”