Introduction to Group Therapy in Independent Practice

Abstract

It is with pleasure and excitement that I have been asked to be the editor for this special edition of the Journal of Psychotherapy in Independent Practice. As you are aware, group therapy is a continuing and rapidly growing viable force in the art and practice of psychotherapy. The practice of group therapy in comparison to individual psychotherapy in independent private practices continues to be limited to a small percentage of licensed practitioners although it is a part of almost every in-hospital therapeutic program. Very often it is to be heard that group is a second rate modality in comparison to individual psychotherapy but usually this statement comes from someone who either does not run group or is ignorant to the profound influence group therapy has on personality change. Group is not secondary to any modality and of all the psychotherapeutic interventions utilized by psychotherapists, group therapy most closely resembles real world interactions. Interestingly, the majority of my referrals from other colleagues are for their clients to enter into one of my groups because these practitioners do not implement, for whatever reason(s), group in their own private practices. This creates an opportunity for the private practitioner with group therapy skills another avenue for treating clients’ interpersonal difficulties and the possibility of substantial professional economic gains. In relation to the practice of this modality, group therapy is one of the most naturalistic and therapeutic laboratories for interpersonal learning and relationships. It truly represents a microcosm of the fami-