Group Analytic Psychotherapy: Method and Principles (Maresfield Library) by S.H. Foulkes

Author:S.H. Foulkes [Foulkes, S.H.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Karnac Books
Published: 1986-12-31T05:00:00+00:00

SECTION III

THE CONDUCTOR

CHAPTER 6

The Conductor in Action

PART I

FUNCTIONS AS ADMINISTRATOR

If the conductor is the same person who has taken the preparatory steps we have described then this was of course part of his function. Under other circumstances, the preliminary steps may be the function of a different doctor, perhaps the consultant, and the conductor takes the group over himself only when it first assembles. When the introductory functions are performed by the consultant, it is desirable that the conductor has met the group together with the consultant at the introductory session.

First a few simple but important points which the conductor must observe.

1) Expecting punctuality and regularity, he must himself adhere to these principles very strictly. He should not be early either as inevitably his entrance marks the beginning of the group session. Nor should he prolong the treatment time although he need not be over-rigid in this respect. He can well give himself and the group a minute or so of flexibility at the end of the session.

2) He should himself keep to what he expects from the others, namely to inform the group in good time of any cancellation and to fix his holidays from the beginning so that group members can arrange their own breaks accordingly as they are expected to do.

3) If the conductor has any information himself as to the prospective duration of the group, if it is limited, or as to various questions which concern the patients and might influence their decisions, he should make a point of informing them readily and in good time.

4) The use of drugs should be avoided, except under special conditions, especially in-patient conditions. If drugs are deemed necessary, they should be administered by a different doctor and not by the psychotherapist himself. These considerations fall under the heading of “dual control”. This term is used to describe a situation where a doctor other than the group analyst is involved in the management of the patient. This may be for concomitant physical illness, sometimes for psychosomatic illness or possibly for the same psychiatric syndrome which he is treating in the psychotherapeutic group.

It is important to retain good contact and open-mindedness between the group analyst and the other doctor, in view of transference interactions which can easily arise. There is frequently a different orientation on the part of the physically oriented doctor to that of the psychiatrist. The group analyst should have the ultimate direction in his hands as he is concerned with the whole person. Anything is significant in this respect and the group analyst will be able to look consistently at the psychological side of everything which concerns the patient, be it physical or otherwise. However it is better that the doctors leave each other completely alone rather than collude with the patient's tendency to play one up against the other.

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