A Group Journey—to Hell and Back

ABSTRACT

The process of a therapy group in an inpatient daycare unit¹ became saturated with anger and detachment, ultimately leading to a despairing silence. Based on Ferenczi’s concept of Orpha, I will explain the group silence as indicative of deep trauma and dissociative self-states. I propose that the therapist’s willingness to “hang in” with his group and be part of a seemingly unbearable enactment enhances the possibility for emergence of hope and restoration of positive communication. It is rare in the literature for authors to expose the pitfalls that they and their group members can fall into, leading to despair, shame, and hopelessness. When working in the complex environment of a mental hospital where every level of staff is stressed, therapists often find themselves without support and consultation. My hope is that my colleagues can learn from my challenges, errors, and lessons, as I have.

Acknowledgments

I am most grateful to Dr. Elaine J. Cooper, my editor, for her boundless support and unequaled guidance. I would also like to thank Dr. S. Marchevsky, the unit’s director, for his encouragement, and Mrs. Yael Shahar, Specialist in Clinical Psychology, for accompanying me on this journey. Last but not least, I thank my father, Mr. Bezalel Sagi, for supporting me with his wisdom and love until his last moments.

Notes

1. In Israel, as in some European countries, there are “inpatient” and “acute daycare units”; both are under hospitalization.

2. The participants’ names were changed to protect their privacy.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sharon Sagi Berg

Sharon Sagi Berg is a Psychotherapist and Supervisor at Be’er Yaacov Mental Hospital in Be’er Yaacov, Israel.