Enhancing the Dyad II: The Transferential Benefits of Combining Group Therapy with Psychoanalytic Treatment

ABSTRACT

In his second paper on combined psychoanalysis and group therapy, the author explores the multiple transferences available for investigation. First, the author reviews the literature, demonstrating that the terrain of transferences explored within the dyadic setting has changed from Freud’s original concept of the transference neurosis to a wider definition. Then, the author presents an extended clinical vignette, illustrating the resolution of a sibling transference that had been entwined with the parental transferences until group therapy was added to the patient’s psychoanalytic treatment. The vignette underscores the importance of the to-and-fro between modalities during the working-through of the transferences that had been identified – but not sufficiently resolved – during the patients’ analysis. The author then explains how certain elements endemic to the group setting allow for working-through of these multiple transferences. Moreover, the author describes other benefits conferred by combined treatment, such as its providing therapist and patient a transitional experience of the outside world, and a post-termination experience with the analyst still present as group therapist. Subsequent discussion also addresses the challenges inherent in co-therapy leadership.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

¹ I should point out here that all group members were in psychotherapy with Ann or me, but Robert assumed – correctly – that he was the only one in a four-times weekly psychoanalytic process. Later during his tenure in the group, several others intensified their psychotherapy and began analysis.

² I should point out that we haven’t treated patients in group from single-parent households; as this has become increasingly common within the population, it would be important to observe and record transference responses of such group members to co-therapy pairs.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Andrew I. Smolar

Andrew I. Smolar, M.D., is Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Temple University, and Training and Supervising Analyst at the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia. He has served as President of the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia from 2015–2017. He has published articles on various psychotherapeutic topics – including gift-giving, psychotherapy across cultural differences, work with survivors of incest, and combining group therapy with psychoanalysis – and he has coauthored a book on group psychotherapy.