Time-Limited Group Therapy

Abstract

This article is a comparative review of conceptually planned short-term group treatment models. Comparisons are made regarding structure (selection, composition, pregroup orientation), time (duration, session frequency and length, group development), and therapeutic characteristics (focal themes, interventions, therapeutic factors). These dimensions were selected for analysis because of their relationship to unique issues that are raised when therapy is time-limited and occurs in a group. Implications for the clinician and researcher are conceptualized across the broad dimensions of structure, time. and therapeutic characteristics.