GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY IN GERMANY

Abstract

Group psychotherapy in the American "dynamic" sense was unknown in Germany until 1949; before the war only a few attempts in this direction were made, such as Adler's suggestion to introduce group therapy for crim- inals, Kunkel's "healing group" (therapeutic group) or the group work in Simmel's analytic sanitarium; Moreno's endeavors in Vienna remained almost unknown in Germany. Group therapy mostly was thought to consist of lectures an any interesting subject held by a physician. After these lec- tures the patients were given opportunity to ask questions. This kind of therapeutic care was mainly practiced in naturopathic hospitals and sani- tariums (Brauchle, Buchinger and others). With certain restrictions also the occupational therapy of Simons, and also Carl Schneiders may be con- sidered as group therapy.