Interactive Group Therapy: Integrating, Interpersonal, Action-Orientated and Psychodynamic Approaches

Interactive Group Therapy is a complete guide to group psychotherapy based on the author’s unique integrated approach. Dr. Earley integrates from interpersonal group therapy a focus on the feeling reactions and relationships among group members, from psychodynamic approaches, an appreciation of unconscious processes and childhood origins, and from Gestalt therapy, the importance of awareness, contact, and experimentation. The book develops an action-oriented leadership style for group-centered groups and a new interpersonal understanding of the therapeutic change process in group therapy, leading to an approach that has impressive depth and creativity. It covers both short-term and long-term groups, making it a valuable book for those interested in brief therapies.

The primary focus of Interactive Group Therapy is to provide practical guidelines for leading groups. It offers detailed suggestions for structuring groups, creating a therapeutic group climate, promoting interpersonal work, and helping group members develop awareness and responsibility. It discusses how to handle conflict, foster therapeutic change, work with difficult clients, adopt the best leadership attitude, understand group process, and a host of other clinical issues. In addition to rich clinical examples and case histories, this book also presents transcripts of group sessions, annotated to illustrate both theory and technique. The author’s thorough presentation of his approach, its theoretical underpinnings, and its application to actual groups make this a valuable resource for graduate students in the mental health professions and psychotherapists of all levels of experience.