ABSTRACT
The eventual success or failure of many psychotherapy groups can often be traced back to leadership decisions made prior to the start of the group experience. In managed care systems, it is particularly important that the group leader review several key areas of group treatment prior to the initial group meeting. The central issues to be considered in this effort are: evaluating members for group therapy; pre-group screening and diagnostic issues; establishing selection criteria for shortterm group therapy; and management of certain clinical, administrative, and procedural requirements essential for managed care.
