This blog is organized around an Article by Louis Ormont, an influential group therapist from the East Coast whose approach was heavily influenced by psychoanalysis. His approach to group therapy included speaking to both the conscious and unconscious experiences of group members. When interviewing a potential new group member, the non-verbals of your interaction may be more important than what you say. Ormont introduces three approaches to preparing new members to join a group, exploring resistances, education and reassurance. These approaches can be use as guidelines to structure that first interaction no matter what kind of group is involved.

Therapeutic Zeal is a mis-alignment between the therapist’s desire for progress the client’s need for process. An urge for movement when things feel stuck or when other uncomfortable feelings occur. The impulse is to do something now, the what to do part is unclear.

Whatever the reason for the group, whatever it is that brings the members together, when the facilitator focuses on inviting everyone to express their thoughts and feelings and demonstrates a sensitivity to everyone’s experience in the here and now, the group will follow.