Les Psychothérapies Collectives Chez L'Enfant Et L'Adolescent*

Abstract

The various group techniques used in the treatment of neurotic children and adolescents are reviewed and discussed under three main categories corresponding to divergent theoretical views on the development of personality and the nature of psychotherapy. Slavson's group activity and Ginott's group play are defined as orthopedagogic methods meant to repair the frail ego of the child traumatized by frustrations and rejections from the environment. Moreno's psychodrama centered on role learning is based on a sociological conception of psychic growth. Catharsis through action is a common therapeutic goal pursued by all these approaches. While retaining the instrumental aids introduced by Moreno's school, Lebovici, Anzieu and Boulanger elaborated forms of group psychodrama analytically oriented and devised to foster insight through the interpretation of play. Group analysis was systematically applied to kindergarten, latency and adolescent patients by Anthony, who labelled his innovations, the ‘small table’, the ‘small room’ and the ‘small circle’ techniques. Boulanger restricts to preadolescents and adolescents verbal group analysis, and suggests group analytic psychodrama for late latency and group psychodrama for drawing and painting for early latency children. The collective fantasies of the group members are interpreted in the here and now of the transference situation. Group psychoanalysis, adapted to the medium most suited to the age of the patients, is considered by the writer as the appropriate treatment for psychoneurotic children and adolescents. Insight into inner conflicts and transference fantasies is not checked by the intrusion of the therapist in the reality of the environment or by his participation in the acting out — the handicap of family therapy or group activities and orthodox psychodrama. The limitations in conceptualization and verbalization of the young patient, his inferior and dependent status with regard to the adult therapist are more readily overcome in a group of peers than in individual psychotherapeutic encounters. The influence of the process of socialization during these formative years on all aspects of personality development is also greatly enhanced by group psychotherapy.