LEADERLESS THERAPY GROUPS: A WORD OF CAUTION

Authors

  • GEORGE S. EVERLY Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12926/cck70q68

Keywords:

CAUTION

Abstract

As one of the currently practiced approaches to group psychotherapy, the leaderless group represents an attempt at facilitating the group member's feelings of autonomy, responsibility, and confidence in himself and fellow group members by reducing the active role of the therapist. While this technique can be an effective tool in the therapeutic process, it also has significant potential for becoming a harmful intervention if the dynamics of such a group are not fully understood by the therapist. This paper, therefore, attempts to survey briefly the various types of leaderless therapy groups and then to explain the potential pitfalls.

References

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Berzon, B. "Final Narrative Report: Self-Directed Small Group Programs," NIMH Project RD 1748, mimeographed material, Western Behavioral Science Institute, 1968.

Burgoon, M., Heston I., and McCroskey, ]. Small Group Communication: A Functional Approach. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., 1974.

Fisher, B. A. Small Group Decision Making. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1974.

Fried, Edrita. "Basic Concepts in Group Psychotherapy." In Kaplan, H. I. and Sadock, B. ]. (eds.) The Evolution of Group Therapy. (Vol. 2) New York: Jason Aronson, Inc., 1972, pp. 27-50.

Kadis, A. "Coordinated Meetings in Group Psychotherapy," in Berger, M. and Rosenbaum, M. (eds.) Group Psychotherapy and Group Function. New York: Basic Books, 1963, p.p. 437-448.

Rosenfeld, L. Human Interaction in the Small Group Setting. Columbus, Ohio: Charles E. Merrill, Pubs., 1973.

Yalom, I. The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy. New York: Basic Books, Inc., 1970.

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Published

2025-01-14

Issue

Vol. 28 (1975): Group Psychotherapy, Psychodrama, and Sociometry

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy

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