Explores whether self-disclosure in group psychotherapy produces better group outcome. Although the expected positive relationship between the two variables was found, results also indicate a need for caution in postulating a link between self-disclosure and improvement. (BP)

Conjoint therapy requires reciprocal respect of the two therapists as well as each therapist's fidelity to his/her own treatment plan. The patients' difficulties in shifting between group and individual treatment are discussed. A review of the literature and case studies are presented. (BEF)

Discusses use of alternate sessions, regularly scheduled meetings without the therapist, in analytic group therapy and proposes that opinions should be derived from a theoretical formulation, not in place of one. A decision against the use of alternate sessions is presented by delineating basics of psychoanalytic theory. (Author/BEF)

Therapist-led, leaderless, and alternating sequence sessions were compared. Leaderless sessions exhibited more socially oriented behavior than the therapist-led, while the therapist-led meetings were considered more speculative and confrontive, more concerned with group relationships, and more pertinent and task-oriented than the leaderless…

The conference, titled "Exploration of Narcissism in Group and Family Therapy," included theoretical and clinical papers, demonstrations of group and family therapy, and small discussion groups after the demonstrations. Papers presented at the conference, along with the discussion, are presented here. (Author)

Discusses the Gestalt therapy group process and its roots in theory and therapeutic orientation. Indicates that the process itself, particularly the role of the therapist, is a key factor in the intensity and power of the group experience for the participants. (Author)

In this interview, Dr. Irvin Yalom, director of the Adult Psychiatry Clinic at Stanford University School of Medicine, discusses his beginnings as a group psychotherapist, current issues in group work, and the future of group work. (Author/TE)

Results demonstrated that self-revealing therapists were judged as more friendly, disclosing, trusting, intimate, helpful and facilitating but also as less relaxed, strong, stable and sensitive. (Author)

Clinical examples illustrate how one therapist's absence may stimulate the emergence and expression of warded-off material in the patient group and may serve as a catalyst for change. Describes possible benefits for cotherapy relationship. (Author/NRB)

Obese females were assigned to a standard behavioral treatment (SBT) group, a group receiving weight control manuals via mail (MMC), or a waiting list control condition. Results revealed superiority of both treatments over control condition. SBT subjects did better than MMC subjects. Weight loss for MMC subjects was minimal. (Author/BEF)

The demands for service and training from a psychiatric department in a large urban medical center frequently necessitate innovative therapeutic maneuvers for which both theoretical understanding and clinical experience are scanty. This paper concerns one such instance. (Author)

An overview of the special needs and characteristics of retarded children is made. The child brings a language deficit, emotional attitudes related to retardedness and social experiences to the therapeutic situation. Group and individual therapy are discussed with suggestions for successful implementation. (Author)

In response to William Coulson's article in the same issue, author feels that encounter groups are an attempt to undo the effects of civilization" by artificially helping people to throw off their inhibitionsc He feels the groups are a sociological phenomenon reflecting what people want and need, but that as yet they are caught up in hypocrisy…

The author, believing that all therapies can have the goal of progessive awareness and growth toward self-actualization, discusses a multi-dimensional system of therapy based on the belief that each person is a unique human being seeking fulfillment. Actualization therapy is considered on two dimensions: (1) the philosophical dimension which…