Interpersonal learning and group therapy

The keystone of group therapy is Interpersonal Learning: the members learn from one another. A paradigm of this learning follows:-

- here is what the patient's behaviour is like. - his behaviour evokes these reactions in fellow members. - the members manifest their reactions and evaluate the behaviour. - the patient assimilates the above. - he then weighs up the alternative of maintaining the behaviour or trying to change it. - if committed to change, he uses the group to take risks and experiment with new, substitute behaviours.

All the above is achieved by focusing on the 'here and now'. Although material from the members' lives is important to consider, the events, mood and tone of the group at the time it meets are the most important elements to examine. The premise is that a patient's behaviour is what can be observed and reacted to, with the knowledge that the same behaviour occurs in his general life. His intra-group behaviour is what can be observed and reacted to, with the knowledge that the same behaviour occurs in his general life. This makes group therapy a present and future oriented activity with only minor emphasis on the factors which originally led to the patient's problems.