ABSTRACT
In addition to being an opportunity for the therapist to evaluate the patient and his problems, the pre-group individual sessions represent a situation where patients can be informed about what to expect from the treatment and what, on the other side, is expected from them. They should discuss possible goals for the therapy and some of the issues (tasks) they have to deal with in order to reach these goals. These sessions are important in building an initial alliance between the therapist and the patient, which will make it easier for the patient to enter the group. Further, this initial work paves the way for the development of a group culture that, hopefully, will be supportive and productive in the future work of patients and therapist, alike.
