ABSTRACT
This is a book for practitioners, and practitioners are constantly engaged in making decisions. Amongst the decisions which face a group therapist are: Should this group proceed by open discussion, or by topics, or by activities, or by some combination? If topics are to be used, should I introduce them or should I encourage the group members to identify topics they wish to discuss? If activities are to be used, how should they be chosen? Should the group be time-limited or open-ended? How long should each session be, and how frequently should the group meet? What preparatory work do I need to undertake, if any? What shall I say and do when a group first meets? What should I be paying attention to while a group is in session? How and when should I intervene, and when is it best to say nothing? What should I say and do if the whole group turns on me? if one person gets extremely distressed? if two members attack one another?
