Relational Group Psychotherapy: An Overview. Part II: Relational Models of Group Process

Abstract

In a three part series, I present an overview of my approach to relationally based group psychotherapy. Topics introduced in Part I include a brief introduction to relational theory and its historical foundation; the efficacy of combined-individual psychotherapy; the central role of the therapist; and brief descriptions of key foundational concepts. Part III will present models of group leadership. In Part II, I summarise models of group process—different perspectives through which we may think about what is going on and prepare our interventions. These include: nodes, developing nuclear ideas, the ‘3Rs’ (resistance, rebellion, and refusal), reality testing and testing reality, relational variations of the ‘container–contained’, irruptions, nodules, entitlement, polarized thinking/polemic ideas, and inveiglement. The article considers the metaphorical and experiential bases of the concept of group process, and concludes with a discussion of the therapist’s work process.