Interacting Groups in the Treatment of a Woman with Complex Substance Misuse and Psychiatric Illness

ABSTRACT

Working with clients with multiple co-occurring disorders requires that many different treatment providers work together. The focus of this article is on treatment provider groups rather than treatment groups for clients. The author argues that if these multiple providers function consciously as a group, the patient's care is exponentially enhanced. This article examines the group dynamics of multiple providers in the treatment of a patient with substance abuse and psychiatric problems. Especially important is the need to contain clinician anxiety and other countertransference responses when using a harm reduction approach to this client population. The patient herself provides much of the rich clinical material, with the lead author offering theoretical background and commentary. The relatively new model of harm reduction psychotherapy is the basis for clinical decision making throughout.

KEYWORDS:

• Co-occurring disorders
• group treatment
• countertransference
• harm reduction psychotherapy
• harm reduction therapy