Fine-tuning on Painful Affect and Relapse: A Group Vignette

Abstract

The literature on relapse to addictive behavior tends to emphasize external triggers, albeit this literature does consider emotional factors. In this paper we review insights garnered from the literature on individual psychodynamic psychotherapy with addicted individuals that help to understand factors that predispose to and maintain addictive behavior. A case vignette is presented which demonstrates how findings from this literature can guide group therapy and how groups can be an effective modality to fine tune, focus upon, and help to resolve subtle emotional states which can be critically important in precipitating relapse, particularly feeling of helplessness and powerlessness.

KEYWORDS:

• focus
• painful affect
• helpless
• relapse
• group process