AN ASPECT OF THERAPEUTIC THEORY

Abstract

A remark made by a competent psychoanalyst during an informal discussion of group therapy, stimulated the author to re-evaluate certain basic concepts in different types of psychotherapy. This analyst had remarked, in discussing the dangers of group therapy, that certain difficulties arose from the loosening of libidinal forces by virtue of the transference of each patient in the group to the leader, the father figure. To paraphrase his remark, he had felt that, "After the session, the transference feelings of hostility may be so strong as to lock the members in an interminable discussion among themselves."