A Guide to Starting Psychotherapy Groups

A Guide to Starting Psychotherapy Groups is a primer for individual therapists and counselors on the essentials of starting psychotherapy groups, a topic on which very little material currently exists. Each important step in the process in covered, from training and certification to the initiation and organization of a group, with all information presented by definitive sources in the field. Guidance and suggestions are also offered for therapists and counselors on examining the expectations and emotions which precede the first group therapy session.

How does a therapist go about starting a psychotherapy group? In this practical guide the reader finds the elements, both attitudinal and procedural, needed for starting a therapy group. The processes of obtaining referrals, selecting clients, orienting and educating clients, and preparing clients for psychotherapy are covered in clear step-by-step procedures. Tables and charts are provided for the necessary record keeping. The initial chapters detail the important stages leading up to the first therapy session. Eminent group therapists present special chapters on various therapeutic approaches. The topics of terminating groups and the role of the therapist close this pragmatic guide to therapy groups.

A Guide to Starting Psychotherapy Groups assists psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, nurse clinicians, pastoral counselors, school and college counselors and other trained therapists in the process of forming and maintaining groups.

• Steps for getting groups started, beginning with first mention of group therapy to clients
• Clarification of differing theoretical approaches to doing groups
• Helpful guides for tracking referrals and billing
• Analysis of group psychotherapy's effectiveness
• Attention to special groups and co-therapy leadership
• Authoritative articles by international leaders in group psychotherapy

J.R. Price, D.R. Hescheles, and A.R. Price, Introduction and Definitions.
J.R. Price and A.R. Price, Attitudes and Expectations.
J.R. Price and A.R. Price, Referrals to Group.
J.R. Price, D.R. Hescheles, and A.R. Price, Selecting Clients for Group Psychotherapy.
J.R. Price and D.R. Hescheles, Orienting and Educating Clients.
L. Hoffman, Preparing the Patient for Group Psychotherapy.
J.R. Price and A.R. Price, Record Keeping.
J.R. Price and D.R. Hescheles, The Group or Client's First Session.
E. Shapiro, Cotherapy.
E. Shapiro, Special Groups.
J.S. Rutan and A. Alonso, Reprise: Some Guidelines for Group Therapists.
A. Fuhriman and G.M. Burlingame, Does Group Psychotherapy Work?
S.D. Rose, Group Therapy: a Cognitive-Behavioral Approach.
J.S. Rutan and W.N. Stone, Psychodynamic Group Psychotherapy.
J. Gladfelter, Redecision Therapy.
J.J. O'Hearne, Transactional Analysis in Groups.
J.S. Rutan, Psychoanalytic Group Psychotherapy.
J.R. Price and D.R. Hescheles, Termination.
J.R. Price and D.R. Hescheles, Your Role as Therapist.
Appendixes:
A: Helpful Names and Addresses.
B: J.R. Price, Introduction to Group Psychotherapy.
C: American Group Psychotherapy Association, Inc., A Consumer's Guide to Group Psychotherapy.
D: Psychotherapy Finances, Glossary of Acronyms and Managed Care Terms.
E: Suggested Reading--A Beginning.
Index.

John R. Price, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and Certified Group Psychotherapist in Kansas City, MO, has been in private practice for 35 years, and has been a group psychotherapist for over 20 years. Dr. Price is a Fellow in the American Group Psychotherapy Association and a past Chairman of the Board of the Group Psychotherapy Foundation.
David R. Hescheles, Psy.D., has been leading psychotherapy groups in private practice and organizations for over 20 years, and is a Fellow and Certified Group Psychotherapist of the American Group Psychotherapy Association. Dr. Hescheles is one of the founders of the Division of Group Psychology and Psychotherapy of the American Psychological Association (APA). He is currently teaching at Adelphi University's Postdoctoral Program in Group Psychotherapy.
A. Rae Price, Ph.D., who served as the editorial coordinator for this book, has been an administrator and professor of English and Anthropology at the Metropolitan Community Colleges, Kansas City, MO. Dr. Price has edited the journal and newsletters for the American Association of Women in Community Colleges, and has produced the audio cassette programs "Word Power I and II," "Word Coach," and, most recently, "New Words, New Meanings for a New Age."