Patient Selection for Psychodynamic Group Psychotherapy: Practical and Dynamic Considerations

Abstract

Most group therapists rely on clinical interviews to screen prospective group members’ suitability for long-term, open-ended, psychodynamically oriented group therapy. Faulty selection is detrimental to everyone involved and can even lead to the demise of the group. In order to avoid, or at least significantly limit, premature terminations or problematic mismatches between a patient and the rest of the group, pre-group screening needs to examine reality factors, resistance, ambivalence, and their interplay. Therapists need to be aware of countertransferential pressures that affect the screening process. The careful exploration of six specific areas during the clinical interview process increases the likelihood of optimal patient selection and participation. A selective literature review and clinical examples are provided.