Sharing the Unconscious Phantasy: The Therapist's Emotional Reaction to the Group-As-A-Whole

Abstract

This article focuses on the transferential feelings evoked in the group therapist, towards the phantasy object that is the group-as-a-whole. This focus allows the analyst to present a specific viewpoint as to the unconscious function accorded to the therapist of a group-analytic group. It is proposed that this function is essentially a paternal one and forms part of the primitive oedipal triangular matrix that inevitably develops in any group situation.