ABSTRACT
One of the common difficulties the author faces in her psychotherapy groups is the tendency for group members to intellectualize and distance themselves from emotions and from others through use of a polite and formal grammar. This often leads to confusion and boredom and keeps members stuck in their old patterns of relating. While grounded theoretically in a psychodynamic framework, she uses a variety of techniques in her groups including many that stem from her early training in interpersonal Yalom-style, gestalt and redecision group therapies. With these perspectives and a personal appreciation of language, the author has found that close attention to subtle verbal interactions can often yield very fruitful results. The technique works particularly well with well-educated professionals with highly developed verbal and intellectual skills. The population tends to rely heavily on their intellectual and verbal skills for both achievement and as a part of their psychological defenses.
