FOCUSED GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY IN THE REHABILITATION AND RETURN TO WORK FROM OCCUPATIONAL BURNOUT AND LONGTERM SICK LEAVE

ABSTRACT The project included 22 white-collar workers with occupational burnout on long-term sick leave who participated in three focused therapy groups. During therapy, the therapist met separately with each participant and representatives from their employer and social insurance provider to discuss the participant’s eventual return to work. At thefollow-up, 73% of participants were working (on a full-time basis or part-time basis), compared to 14% of participants who were working at the start of treatment. In conclusion, the participants appeared to benefit from the combination of the group intervention and therapist guided meetings with representatives of other stakeholders.