Group Analytic Psychotherapy
Time: I am in the process of setting up Private Groups in the Lochaber area in the spring of 2011. You can also find out about groups in other areas by using the link to the Institute of Group Analysis.
Venue: Lochaber area
Frequency: weekly sessions of 90 minutes duration
Group Analytic Psychotherapy is a particular type of psychodynamic therapy initiated by Dr SH Foulkes in the 1940’s and developed by the Institute of Group Analysis. It is based on the view that that deep and lasting change can occur within a carefully constituted group whose combined membership reflects wider society.
Individuals may join a group for a wide variety of reasons. Sometimes people may wish to focus on a certain issue, e.g. anxiety, depression, past trauma, a sense of isolation, work stress, or perhaps relationship difficulties. Some people may come along just to find out more about why they are the way they are, i.e. for personal development.
The ‘here and now’ experience of the therapy group provides members with an opportunity for learning more about how they see, interact with, and are seen by others. In the group, members talk about, reflect on and are helped to make links between their past and present experiences, and in doing so, gain insight into characteristic repeating patterns of behaviour and possible difficulties. Contact with others gives stimulus, support and challenge, and opportunities arise to change unhelpful perceptions and behaviour. The group can also provide a safe place to try out new and unfamiliar ways of relating.
Group members are asked to attend regularly and to make an initial commitment of 6 months. There is no upper time limit on your length of stay in the group, it very much depends on your individual circumstances. Members are expected to discuss thoughts about leaving in the group and, if the initial 6 month stage has been passed, to give at least 4 weeks notice.
Confidentiality within the group is important and meetings between members outside the group are discouraged, as this has been found to slow progress.
All potential group members are assessed prior to entering the group. This is an important opportunity to check out whether Group Analytic Psychotherapy is likely to be the right option for you. It is common practice to offer a few preparatory sessions on a one to one basis to prepare for the group and some people benefit from a series of individual sessions first. All of this would be explored during the Initial Consultation.
A note on Confidentiality:
Information you share with me will be kept strictly confidential and will not be disclosed without your written consent. However, confidentiality is not guaranteed in life-threatening situations involving yourself or others, or in situation in which children are put at risk (such as by sexual or physical abuse or neglect). If I need to discuss your treatment with a colleague, I will take pains to disguise indentifying information, including using a pseudonym.