ABSTRACT

Psychotherapy can occur in different interpersonal contexts, individual, couple, family and group therapy, as well as within a larger therapeutic community. This chapter outlines some advantages and disadvantages of each of these therapeutic arenas from the perspective of Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT). Individual therapy is frequently the arena of choice at the outset for most clients who have intrapersonal difficulties, and particularly for those who would find exploring these difficulties in the context of group therapy overly threatening. Couple therapy is obviously indicated where the client's presenting problem is centrally rooted in the dynamics of a significant relationship. Family therapy is chosen where the presenting client problem is intimately connected to relationships within the family or where the presenting client is a child or early adolescent. Group therapy is also indicated when it is helpful for clients to learn that other people have similar difficulties and when they can experience themselves as being helpful to other people.