Transparency and Termination in Group Psychotherapy: A Resident's Perspective

Abstract

Termination has been seen as a difficult and complex process in group psychotherapy. Although termination of group members has be en explored, little is written on the subject of the therapist's termination; i.e., in the case of a group which continues after the therapist departs. This circumstance must occur frequently, however, especially since 91% of psychiatric programs, (Yalom (1985) citing Pinney) have at least one year of group psychotherapy training. This implies that group therapist termination must occur on a regular basis at some training programs. Even so, there are no specific guidelines or more general exploration of an inexperienced the rapist's terminating with groups, including the special case of psychiatric residents. McGee (1972) and Yalom (1985) both note a high degree of resistance to the termination of any member, and especially of the therapist. What therapeutic tools should the therapist use to counter group resistance? Clarification, observation, and interpretation, may be supplemented, according to Yalom (1985), by the judicious use of the rapist transparency. There remains, however, a significant degree of controversy over the use of therapist transparency in group psychotherapy in the literature . In the clinical experience of the author which is described here, therapist transparency was useful to help the group begin the process of termination and warrants further examination.