Preface Introduction 1. Beginnings The Parable of the Long Spoons Demystifying the Group Experience Considerations in Starting a Group How Group Can Add Value to Individual Treatment How Group Can Free Up the Therapist Introducing Group Clarifying How Group Can Help 2. Theory that Has Informed My Group Perspective Wilfred Bion Melanie Klein Otto Kernberg D. W. Winnicott Margaret Mahler René Spitz Yvonne Agazarian 3. Things to Keep in Mind When Introducing Group Translating Symptoms, Presenting Problems, and Complaints into Therapeutic Goals Differentiating Self-Esteem from Self-Image Character: Patterns of Behavior that Endure Over Time 4. A General Approach to Facilitating Group Continuing to Do What They Do or Trying Something Different Engaging Role Locks 5. General Considerations in Facilitating Group The Support Trap Patients in the Victim Position Trauma Self-Disclosure of the Therapist Countertransference Approaching Dreams in Group 6.

Frames of Reference All Behavior Has a Purpose Me/Not Me Empathic Attunement Know Your Chickens Disbelieving the Patient There Is No Objective Reality Look-Alike Events Making the Relationship More Important than the Content Should We Care about Our Patients? Support Groups What Didn''t Work in Your Last Therapy? 7. Therapeutic Stance with Patients Your Nickel in the Dime Observing Self/Experiential Self Differentiating the Therapeutic Alliance from a Positive Transference 48 Establishing Mutual Assumptions General Therapeutic Posture and Interventions Reinforcement of Perspectives, Patterns, and Mutual Assumptions Initial Consultation General Interview Questions 8. Practical Considerations To Zoom or Not to Zoom: Dealing with Technology Fees, Payments, and Other Practicalities 9. Preparing the Patient for Group The Parallel Process in the Here-and-Now Experience Group Norms and Agreements Importance of Not Taking Feedback Personally Finding Leverage in Dealing with the Secondary Gains of Dysfunctional Behavior Goodness of Fit Adding New Members The Group Contract 10. Establishing A Group Therapy Culture Useful Interventions in Developing a Group Culture Challenging Moments: Using a Group-as-a-Whole Perspective Framing an Experience Ambivalence Framed as Competing Parts of the Patient Helping Patients Shift Their Communication Pattern from Explaining to Relating Effectively: Using Agazarian''s "Explain vs. Explore" Helping Patients Move from Intellectualization Helping Patients Identify Their Feelings Dysfunctional Roles that Emerge in Group 11. Character Styles that Are Common in Group Borderline Personality Disorder and Tendencies Splitting Bipolar Symptoms and Borderline Tendencies Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Tendencies Confusing a Narcissist''s Need for Love with Love for the Patient Witnessing a Rupture and Repair in Group Projection and Projective Identification Recognizing and Addressing Dysfunctional Roles and Role Locks 12. Common Clinical Issues Encountered in Group Working with Depression Happiness Cannot Be Pursued--It Must Ensue Boredom Working with Anger Reminding the Group to Stay in the Here and Now Using Present-Focused Language Patients Who Have Difficulty Accessing Feelings Patients Who Feel Nothing Chitchatting A Goldilocks Moment Addressing Avoidance and Distraction 13.

Common Challenges in Group Scapegoating Handling Enactments Member Dropping Out Abortively The Silent Group Making a Group Member the Identified Patient Dysregulated Patients Addressing the Protest of "Blaming the Victim" The Parable of the Sixteenth Dragon Conflict vs. Deficit Flooding Addressing Breakdowns in Communication The Defensive Use of Asking Questions 14. The Use of Fables Kissing the Frog The Three Little Pigs Sleeping Beauty Icarus The (Other) Parable of the Sixteenth Dragon 15. Challenging Moments in Group Addressing Potentially Explosive Topics Useful Interventions in Challenging Moments Dealing With the Elephant in The Room Witnessing Repair in Group Tolerating Guilt and Shame Recognizing Cognitive Dissonance in Group Dealing with Cognitive Dissonance The Good Fortune of Being in a Group with Members You Can''t Stand The Experience of Safety in Group Exploring the Experience of Safety 16. Group Snapshots A Solution to Being Lost in the Woods Reinforcing "What Do You Need from the Group Right Now?" Witnessing in Group Defensive Styles in Group Process vs. Content The "Don''t Ask, Don''t Tell" Group Group Member Bolts Out of the Session Tendencies to Blame and Complain Addressing Nonverbal Provocations Using the Patient''s Words 17. Endings Reframing "We''re Going Around in Circles" The Process of Termination It''s All Grist for the Mill References Index.