Group Psychodynamic-Interpersonal Psychotherapy: Integrating Theories, Research, and Practice

Abstract

T he authors of Group Psychodynamic-Interpersonal Psychotherapy (GPIP) have written a book that integrates interpersonal and psychoanalytic/dynamic theories, provides extensive clinical examples throughout, and reviews empirical evidence supporting their clinical approach. I have seen the authors present their work at the annual American Group Psychotherapy Association’s conference in 2019, and I interviewed them after they recorded their live demonstration for the American Psychological Association’s psychotherapy video series. I will first review their book and their approach to group psychotherapy. Then, I will review their video demonstrations. There are many models of group therapy out there today. Some of them emphasize the here-and-now (interpersonal group psychotherapy; Yalom & Leszcz, 2020), while some emphasize early relationships and longstanding patterns that develop early in life and play out in the group (Psychodynamic Group Psychotherapy; Rutan et al., 2014). The authors emphasize both. They bring in diverse dynamic theories such as Kohut’s (2009) self psychology, Malan and Parker's (1995) brief dynamic theory, Bowlby’s (2005) attachment theory, and Fonagy et al.’s (2018) mentalization based therapy. They also hold onto the roots of group psychotherapy, interpersonal theory, and place a strong value on the here-and-now interactions and lived experiences in the group. I have taught group therapy for over 25 years and often rely on multiple texts to convey the value of the interpersonal interaction, members’ developmental histories, unconscious processes, emotion regulation, and research findings. This book explains multiple theories that help therapists International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 71: 487–493, 2021 © 2021 The American Group Psychotherapy Association, Inc. ISSN: 0020-7284 print/1943-2836 online DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00207284.2021.1922040