Towards Optimum Group Placement from the Perspective of Self and Group Experience

Abstract

This paper offers the referring and the prospective group analyst/therapist a way of conceptualizing optimum placement. This approach, using the charts provided, aids in determining the patient's current needs based on past and present selfobject functions as well as deficits/derailments and traumatizations. The charts also offer the group analyst/therapist a tool with which to evaluate the present selfobject functions, impingements and trauma-tizations that may be available in a prospective group to determine if the match is as good as possible or `good enough', as well as determining whether group should be the treatment modality of choice. When the interviewing analyst/therapist has taken all of the current and past selfobject functions and traumatizations into account, the patient can be expected to benefit from the most growth-enhancing placement available.