“Am I My Mother's Daughter?”

The concept of transitional objects to reinforce object constancy has been a long established precedent in the study of child development and the psychodynamic model of psychotherapy. Yalom posited that, in group psychotherapy, the individual client or the group as a whole view the therapist as a transitional object. In the author's groups, she often utilizes a small, inanimate object to serve as a transitional object that ties the client to the group when he or she is dealing with a particularly difficult situation outside of group. This object encourages the group member, as he or she goes through the days between group meetings, to remember the support and attachment he or she feels from and toward the group. This intervention helps and supports him or her through the tough times in the real world. This technique has been used successfully in several different types of groups. The group uses a glass crystal or small stone as a transitional object.