The cotherapy relationship: Special issues and problems in aids therapy groups

Abstract

This paper examines the special issues and problems in the co

Dialogical Co‐therapy

“…Advantages and Disadvantages of Co-therapy Typical advantages of co-therapy for therapists include (i) different possibilities for expressing emotions (Kosch & Reiner, 1984;Whitaker & Bumberry, 1985) and (ii) better management while working in complex settings and with challenging clients (Berger, 2002;Gabriel, 1993;Klein & Bernard, 1994). Kosch and Reiner (1984) show that in the course of co-therapy, therapists become significantly more 'inner-directed' and develop 'deeply meaningful relationships with their co-therapists that improve, specifically, toward greater intimacy and caring ' (p. 154).…”

Group Coleadership: A Critical Review

“…It has been used with psychiatric inpatients (C. O. Levine & Dang, 1984), latency-age boys (Fineberg, 1986), child molesters (Pietz & Mann, 1989), men diagnosed with AIDS (Gabriel, 1993), adult survivors of sexual abuse (Roesler & Lillie, 1995), individuals with self-object needs (Livingston, 2001), bereaved parents (R. Friedman & Handel, 2002), male spouse abusers (Nosko, 2002), couples (Laub & Hoffman, 2002), college students (Berger, 2002), "stuck cases" (Odell, 2003), encopretic and selectively mute children (S. Hoffman & Laub, 2004), and couples and families (Izardi & Slavik, 2005). Although the majority of these writings lie outside of counselor education, they address many advantages and disadvantages of using coleaders that apply to counselor education as well.…”

“…A variety of advantages have been associated with the group coleadership structure, including leader benefits and group-member benefits. Leader benefits appear to be related specifically to counselor preparation, including the ongoing process of learning from one another, supporting one another, and challenging one another (Fall & Menendez, 2002), not working in isolation (Gabriel, 1993), and utilizing built-in live consultation (Anderson et al, 1972;Dick et al, 1980). 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).…”

“…The primary disadvantages of coleadership are relational difficulties between leaders (Fall & Menendez, 2002;Okech & Kline, 2005;Roman & Meltzer, 1977). Problems appear as interpersonal conflict (Gallogly & Levine, 1979), ineffective communication (Bernard et al, 1987), competition between leaders (Bowers & Gauron, 1981), envy (Berger, 2002), and overdependence on the coleader (Gabriel, 1993). Group dynamics (e.g., group stage, roles) can have an impact on the coleader relationship as well, and unresolved conflict between leaders can promote splitting within the group (Heilfron, 1969;Yalom, 1995Yalom, , 2005.…”

Lazarus and Group Psychotherapy: AIDS in the Era of Protease Inhibitors

“…Yet there are also important differences. Various authors have commented on the unique dynamics of groups for people living with HIV or AIDS and the particular challenges they present for those who lead them (D. Anderson & Shaw, 1994;Brazaitis & Gushue, in press;Field & Shore, 1992;Frost, 1993;Gabriel, 1993Gabriel, , 1994Gabriel, , 1996Gambe & Getzel, 1989;Greene et al, 1993;Guthrie, 1997;Kelly, 1998;Rabkin et al, 1994;Sageman, 1989;Tunnell, 1991Tunnell, , 1994. Frequent topics in HIV/AIDS groups include the stigma and shame often attached to the diagnosis; thoughts and feelings related to how the virus was transmitted, including guilt over not practicing safe sex or using intravenous drugs; and, in some communities, coping with the loss of family or friends to AIDS in addition to facing one's own diagnosis.…”