ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses Structure in different ways. It looks at dynamic administration, the conductor's overall responsibility in the construction of the group, using an architecture involving principles of composition and selection, and then in their responsibility for managing the group's setting and boundaries. The group's underlying structure will need to be grounded by a therapeutic alliance that might take a contractual form to emphasise each individual's voluntary presence, their freedom to come or go in line with the agreed arrangements for notice on departure and the conductor's duties as the clinician ultimately responsible for each individual's progress. The key significance of choice and agreement is central to the outcome of psychotherapy. Although homogeneous and mixed groups will be studied separately there are some general questions about a group's size and membership that can be summarised for both kinds of group. Under ideal conditions of composition, principles of similarity among prospective members will be combined with principles of difference amongst them.
