The importance of group experience during adolescence and beyond: pathways from trauma to growth.

Abstract

Beginning with the question of the individual's fitness with their family of origin, the authors describe the variables that determine the adolescent's capacity to join peer groups. Optimally, the adolescent-when cognitive advancement is combined with a specific kind of group psychological mindedness-can consolidate their group identifications. When traumatized, an adolescent's exclusion from groups is characterized by bullying dynamics. Clinical vignettes demonstrate the authors' ways of addressing hurtful and beneficial group experiences within their patients' individual therapies. They include an example from their work together with a specific family. Finally, they offer technical suggestions for this work, including how to recognize when an additional referral for group therapy is indicated.