ABSTRACT
The word matrix stems from the Old French word matrice, meaning womb or uterus, itself originating from the Late Latin for mother–mater. S. H. Foulkes, the founder of group-analytic psychotherapy, adopted the word matrix as a group-analytic term, using it to describe the profound and enigmatic connections which link us together in specific groups. The sibling matrixcould then be conceived as a transitional space between brothers and sisters, sustained through time in mutual memories, emotions, thoughts, phantasies or dreams–internal threads linking them to their shared roots and their sense of connectedness and belonging. Siblings can be a vital link to our sense of home and belonging–even to our homeland. Siblings can also be cruel and bitter enemies, carried around in our psyches as pernicious objects, reminders of embattlement, strife and hatred. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
