ABSTRACT
These guidelines have the same structure as the long-term guidelines and consist of four main sections: group theory, methodology, technique and clinical examples. Several aspects described for LTG will also be relevant for STG. Sometimes I may repeat some of the material that has been presented in the description of LTG. The purpose of this is to make it possible to start reading the guidelines for short-term group therapy directly, when STG is the primary interest. In order to avoid too many repetitions I will, a few times, when a section is identical, refer to the LTG guidelines, instead of repeating it here. Large parts of the theory and methodology sections of the STG guidelines are, however, different from the LTG guidelines, which entirely are built on group analytic theory. Under ‘methodology’ the main elements of short-term treatment will be presented: the group, the therapist’s tasks, the treatment contract and the therapist’s attitude and interventions, plus a model of the treatment and effective factors. In the section on technique I have included guidelines for interventions and given clinical examples showing when and how the therapist could use the interventions described in the section on methodology. I have tried to describe how the therapist in an empathic, consistent and flexible way may develop and work in the group.
