The therapeutic alliance is the bedrock upon which psychotherapy rests. Therapists need be aware of ruptures in the alliance, especially those caused by the therapist. Much important therapeutic work occurs in repairing alliance ruptures.
The therapeutic alliance is the bedrock upon which psychotherapy rests. Therapists need be aware of ruptures in the alliance, especially those caused by the therapist. Much important therapeutic work occurs in repairing alliance ruptures.
The group climate, cohesion, and alliance with the leaders are critical elements of effective group psychotherapy. Although there has been significant attention to these curative mechanisms, there has been less attention to ruptures in the group relationships or the repair of them. The current special issue is devoted to theory, research, training, and practice regarding ruptures and repairs in group treatment. Contemporary and more traditional theorists describe how ruptures facilitate change in group therapy. Researchers apply the empirical findings on ruptures in individual therapy to group therapy and describe how ruptures can be measured. Group therapists also address how group leaders can contribute to ruptures and their subsequent repair. This introduction to the special issue concludes with the implications for practice and a call for future research that will help us fully understand how ruptures affect group process and outcomes in group work.
The purpose of this study was to explore the tasks, challenges, and perspectives of group-therapy leadership among Mexican American women who are psychotherapists-in-training. The literature regarding counselor and psychotherapist development suggests that culture and gender interact and shape group leadership, along with the group leader's effectiveness, behavior, and style. This study sought to answer the following research questions: (1) What are the experiences of group leadership of Mexican American women who are psychotherapists-in-training (PITs)? (2) What tasks and challenges do Mexican American women PITs encounter as group psychotherapy leaders? Results suggest that Mexican American women group PITs encounter obstacles to group leadership associated with their cultural and professional identities. However, consistent with Anzaldúa's borderlands theory, the Mexican American women group PITs in this study straddle two cultures and competing demands while also turning obstacles into sources of empowerment and strength. Implications for training and supervision of Mexican American women group PITs are discussed.
Women remain underrepresented in many science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) support groups were developed in 2001 as an intervention to foster community in graduate and postgraduate women in STEM at a large academic research institution. Since the WISE program's inception, over 1,500 women have participated. From 2011 to 2018, anonymous, voluntary surveys were distributed at the end of every academic year to WISE group members. Surveys consisted of quantitative and qualitative data regarding participants' perceptions of and experiences in the WISE groups. From 2011 to 2018, 76.4% of survey respondents (n = 416) reported that WISE groups were an excellent experience overall. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data demonstrated four major benefits of WISE group participation: creation of community, having a safe space, emotional support, and peer mentorship. Suggestions for improvement included increasing access to groups. The WISE group program was a well-liked intervention that may support graduate and postgraduate women in STEM. Study limitations, as well as implications for future research, practice, and advocacy are noted.
This article explores the place of women in the specialization of group psychotherapy, particularly their representation in journal publications, both in topical coverage related to women as well as in editorial participation and leadership. We first present a brief history of group psychotherapy to provide overall context. Next, we present major cross-cutting themes related to women and group work that emerged from our review of nine peer-reviewed journals deemed most relevant to our investigation. We end with observations and a call for greater inclusion of women in the group psychotherapy literature.
This study examined relational group psychotherapy processes, including group cohesion, bond with group leaders, perceptions of shame, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology for sexual trauma survivors. Six separate treatment groups of women who were either adult sexual assault survivors (N = 24) or adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse (N = 9) participated in the study. Participants completed the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) pre- and posttreatment, the Group Climate Questionnaire, Bond scale of the Working Alliance Inventory Short Form (WAI-S), and Compass of Shame Scale at four intervals. Growth curve models analyzed Engagement, Bond, and Shame Reactions over time. PCL-5 scores were compared pre- and posttreatment and examined in relationship to the process variables of Engagement and Bond. Results showed increases in group cohesion and perceptions of Bond with group leaders and decreases in PTSD symptoms and attacking self-shame reactions. Clinical implications and recommendations for this population are presented.
Depression is a common psychiatric disorder and the leading cause of disability worldwide. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of group interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT-G) on the levels of depression and social adaptation among married Turkish women with interpersonal relationship problems and to determine whether the intervention was compatible with Turkish culture. A pretest-posttest nonequivalent-control-groups design was used. Twenty-two female participants who received a diagnosis of major depression at an outpatient psychiatry clinic were assigned to receive either IPT-G and pharmacotherapy or treatment as usual (pharmacotherapy) for 12 weeks. Quantitative data were collected from bogggth groups using the Beck Depression Inventory and Social Adaptation Self-Evaluation Scale before and after the interventions. Findings indicate statistically significant improvements on both outcome measures. IPT-G intervention used in this study was effective in decreasing the depression levels and increasing the social adaptation of women with major depression in the eastern part of Turkey.