ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the story of a fictional client, Ted, his assessment and decision to join an analytic group, and some group interactions during his first 3 months. In the assessment, the therapist felt that Ted had formed a good therapeutic bond and was eager to overcome the inhibitions and anxieties that were holding him back. Ted himself was given all the practical details and guidance he required, from group times and norms and the framework of it being analytic in nature and relatively long-term. It is useful to devote some thoughts to the personal role of theory held by the group analyst. Ted is a new member in the life of the group and, whether welcome or not, he changes its landscape and the group matrix evolves. In the assessment, the therapist felt that Ted had formed a good therapeutic bond and was eager to overcome the inhibitions and anxieties that were holding him back.
