Silence in Group Psychotherapy: A Powerful Communication

Abstract

Silence in a psychotherapy group, including leader, member, subgroup, and whole-group silence, is a common phenomenon with many possible forms, uses, and meanings. Five common sources of silence in group psychotherapy are described: situational factors, individual dynamics, member-to-member interactions, group dynamics, and leader-related dynamics. Silence can reflect defenses or indicate conditions favorable to intensified group work. Silence, sometimes mistaken for psychological inactivity, should be viewed as significant communication.

A conceptual framework for patient–professional communication: an application to the cancer context

“…Another unique aspect of our framework is our distinction between active and passive messages, and the specific inclusion of silence as a message medium. Empirical evidence suggests that people often interpret messages from silence (Gans and Counselman, 1999;Lomax, 1997), and that people use silence explicitly to convey messages (Kacperek, 1997;Lane et al, 2002;Lomax, 1997). Although we have found patient-professional communication frameworks that explicitly acknowledge silence within its context (Smith and Liehr, 1999), we have not found one that explicitly identifies silence as a message medium.…”

Korean Music Therapy Students’ Experience of Group Music Therapy: A Qualitative Case Study

“…Silence evoked feelings of loneliness, nervousness, and discomfort that was difficult at the beginning of therapy when “the bond between the client and the therapist is not yet deep or strong enough.” However, clients in their research reported silence functionally served to “process things emotionally and mentally” during art therapy. Correspondingly, Gans and Counselman (2000) claimed that silence in group therapy provokes anxiety but also can present as an opportunity to “find oneself.” Silence was served as a space for the projection of specific personal experiences from the past. Indeed, participant F recalled a difficult childhood experience during the period of the silence where her mother did not speak when she was angry at the F. In sum, at the beginning phase of the course of a therapeutic group, silence can be difficult for members.…”

Okul Psikolojik Danışmanlarının Danışma Sürecinde Sessizliğin Kullanımına İlişkin Görüşleri ve Deneyimleri

“…Similar views that silence is an indicator of resistance shared by person-centered and Gestalt approaches (Denham-Vaughan and Edmond, 2010;Otani, 1989). On the contrary to these views, numbers of researchers and theoreticians following neo-psycho-analytic approach (Bravesmith, 2012;Gale and Sanchez, 2005;Gans and Counselman, 1999;Levitt, 2002;Meissner, 2000;Sabbadini, 1991;Urlic, 2010) emphasized that silence is a valuable communication way which needs to be comprehend instead of an adverse circumstance that needs to be cope with.…”

“…Sessizliğin bir direnç işareti olduğu yönündeki benzer görüşler danışan merkezli yaklaşım ve gestalt yaklaşımı tarafından da paylaşılmış, sessizliği; süreci zorlaştırıcı bir faktör olarak değerlendirmişlerdir (Denham-Vaughan ve Edmond, 2010; Otani, 1989). Bu görüşlerin aksine başta neo-psikanalitik yaklaşımı takip eden birçok kuramcı ve araştırmacı (Bravesmith, 2012;Gale ve Sanchez, 2005;Gans ve Counselman, 1999;Levitt, 2002;Meissner, 2000;Sabbadini, 1991;Urlic, 2010) sessizliğin başa çıkılması gereken olumsuz bir durum olmaktan daha çok, anlaşılması gereken değerli bir iletişim biçimi olduğuna vurgu yapmışlardır. Sabbadini (1991) sessizliğin danışma sürecinde iletişimi tamamlayıcı olduğunu ve dirençten daha fazla şey ifade ettiğini; terapistleri ise sessizliği, danışanların içsel dünyalarını daha iyi incelemeye yardımcı olmak için kullanmaları gerektiğini belirmiştir.…”