Group Psychotherapy Concepts and Interpretation Techniques
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Research ArticleInternational Journal of Family Medicine & Healthcare
Group Psychotherapy - Concepts and Interpretation Techniques
Alina MAPN da Silva1, Luiz Carlos Miller Paiva Nogueira da Silva1, Anita L R Saldanha1, Ana Paula
Pantoja Margeotto1, André Luis Valera Gasparoto2 and Tania Leme da Rocha Martinez1*
*
Correspondence:
1
Nephrology Department, BP - A Beneficência Portuguesa de São Tania Leme da Rocha Martinez, Rua Comandante Ismael
Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Guilherme, 358 - Jardim Lusitânia 04031-120, São Paulo, Brazil,
2
Intensive Care Unit, BP - A Beneficência Portuguesa de São Phone: 55 11 98323-9863, Fax 55 11 3842-3789.
Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Received: 03 Mar 2024; Accepted: 01 Apr 2024; Published: 10 Apr 2024
Citation: Alina MAPN da Silva, Luiz Carlos Miller Paiva Nogueira da Silva, Anita L R Saldanha, et al. Group Psychotherapy - Concepts
and Interpretation Techniques. Int J Family Med Healthcare. 2024; 3(2): 1-3.
ABSTRACT
The concept of group interpretation, arising from the opposition to the concept of individual interpretation,
necessarily had in its origin a teleological character. Group would be the interpretation that benefits the group
and not any of its components, in which case the interpretation would be individual, although done in a group.
It is understood that only in theory are there interpretations that deserve, rigorously, the name of individual
interpretations in groups. In fact, for an interpretation to reach only one of the components of a group, it would be
essential that there is no intercommunication between the affected patient, the beneficiary, and the other components
of the group. It has never been possible to observe groups in which such intercommunication did not exist entirely.
It seems to us that it always exists in all groups, even those in which integration is minimal. Good integration, it is
time to remember, presupposes intercommunication.
Keywords Metapsychological concepts are essentially observed in the
Concepts Psychoanalysis, Group Therapy, Interpretation, individual, although in certain circumstances and in certain
Psychotherapy. phases of the group-analysis their dissemination may be
verified throughout the group or in some of its members [1,2].
Introduction Recently, psychotherapists who deal with interpretation in
Psychoanalysis and groupanalysis are conceptualized and group psychotherapy have insisted on the desirability of group
described as methods of investigation and therapy with common interpretations and the inconvenience of individual group
theoretical bases but different operative procedures. This interpretations. However, they are incomplete in defining what is
difference is based only on the object of immediate therapeutic and what is not group interpretation. There is, therefore, a lack of
relationship. In psychoanalysis, the analyst fosters the relationship studies on the concept of group interpretation and its technique.
with the analysand and his internalized partial objects and objects. Its importance, however expensive it may be, will hardly be
In group-analysis the analyst fosters the same relationship with the overestimated, since the whole efficiency of group analytic
analysand, but here he also encourages (groupanalytic pattern) the psychotherapy, as well as of analytic individual psychotherapy,
flourishing that springs from the relationship of each analysand depends, of course, on properly formulated interpretations.
with fantasized objects and with real objects, represented in the
other analysands. For everyone, and for each one in particular, these Based on the results of the re-examination of observations that
fantasized and/or real objects will gradually assume a significance we have had the opportunity to make in recent years, there have
as a psychic representation of past and significant object relations been frequent innovations in the technique of interpretation,
(groupanalytic matrix). rehearsed with the purpose of verifying the extent to which the
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interpretations were related to each or all of the components presented to the therapist. Also similar to what occurs in individual
of the psychotherapeutic group [3-6]. The concept of group psychotherapy, the therapist, in group psychotherapy, can achieve
interpretation, arising from the opposition to the concept of understanding based on many of the elements provided not by
individual interpretation, necessarily had in its origin a teleological one, but by two or more patients; consequently, it may formulate
character. Group would be the interpretation that benefits the group an interpretation covering statements by several members of
and not any of its components, in which case the interpretation the group. These interpretations would correspond to those that
would be individual, although done in a group. we have just examined, when we have examined two possible
modalities of interpretation in individual analytic psychotherapy,
It is understood that only in theory are there interpretations called global interpretation.
that deserve, rigorously, the name of individual interpretations
in groups. In fact, for an interpretation to reach only one of the We understand that the title group interpretation fits more
components of a group, it would be essential that there is no appropriately than the other interpretations, and it is on this that the
intercommunication between the affected patient, the beneficiary, understanding of manifestations of two or more patients of a group
and the other components of the group. It has never been possible is based. Logically, according to this criterion, an interpretation
to observe groups in which such intercommunication did not exist would be all the more worthy of the qualifier of group the greater
entirely. It seems to us that it always exists in all groups, even the number of patients in a group whose manifestations it covered.
those in which integration is minimal. Good integration, it is time
to remember, presupposes intercommunication. Let us examine the concept that has just been formulated, to see
if it harmonizes with what is originally considered to be a group
It should be concluded, therefore, that, to a certain extent, group interpretation. The concept of group interpretation originated from
interpretation is any and all interpretations made in a group, the confrontation between individual interpretations, well known
even when it only clearly refers to one of its members, since, if in individual analytic psychotherapy, and those interpretations
directed to a single patient, it will certainly reach others who are made in group therapy and which deserve special designation
in intercommunication. By taking advantage of one directly, the because they affect not a single patient, but, at the same time, a
others will indirectly take advantage of it. However, although group of patients. To the latter, let us continue to recall, the name
interpretations clearly addressed to only one of the members of of group interpretation came to be applied. The characteristic
a group are, strictly speaking, group interpretations, are there not stamp of group interpretation, when confronted with individual
other interpretations to which the group qualifier is better applied? interpretations, would therefore be in its power to reach more than
We understand that. one patient, that is, a group of patients.
In order to clarify the conceptualization of interpretations, This power to reach more than one patient is favored, in the
in particular what would more appropriately be called group interpretations we consider to be the ones that do the most justice
interpretations, we turn our attention to unquestionably individual to the name of group interpretations, by the explicit, verbalized use
interpretations, such as those made in individual analytic of material provided by several members of a group. The concept
psychotherapy. Sometimes, it happens that, when interpreting, the defended by us is thus in tune with the origins of the use of the
analyst only uses a few data collected by him from the much he expression group interpretation.
has heard from the patient or observed in him. In order to better
characterize this interpretation, we will call it partial, since it The enunciation of group interpretations, which we have just
uses a small part of the elements provided to the therapist. Other conceptualized, is not always done in a single step. The various
times, it happens that the therapist reaches an understanding stages of a group interpretation appear prima facie to be individual
that encompasses much of what he has been able to hear and interpretations. However, as they succeed each other, they reveal
observe and, based on this broad understanding, formulates an themselves as parts of a group interpretation that will gradually
interpretation that involves a lot - and not a little - of the material take shape.
at his disposal. In order to better establish what characterizes this
interpretation, we will call it the global interpretation. In group analytic psychotherapy, nothing prevents and everything
recommends that the technique of interpretation be the same as that
Comparing individual analytic psychotherapy with group of individual analytic psychotherapy. The difficulties in applying
psychotherapy inspired by psychoanalysis, it will be noticed that the psychoanalytic technique to analytic group psychotherapy are
the interpretations, little called partial interpretation and global more apparent than real. Everything is easier as long as the therapist
interpretation and practiced in individual analytic psychotherapy, considers the successive manifestations of several patients in a
have equivalents in group analytic psychotherapy. In this case, group in a similar way to what the psychoanalyst considers the
when interpreting, the therapist can make use of elements provided successive manifestations of a single patient in individual analytic
by a single patient or even parts of these elements, ignoring psychotherapy. Just as the psychoanalyst, if he follows the norms
everything else that has been possible to hear from him or her and of interpretation defended by Strachey, takes into account, when
from the other patients. This interpretation deserves to be described beginning an interpretation, the most urgent anxiety of his single
as partial because it is limited to a small part of the material patient, in group psychotherapy, when beginning an interpretation,
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the therapist will take into account the most urgent of the anxieties of the facts. The manifestations of any of its members would
manifested either by one or several patients who are members of express what any of the others would manifest. Consequently, the
the group - and so on. In the analysis of the defenses and in the manifestations of any one would be manifestations of all; they
presentation of the latent content of the symptoms [7]. would be, ultimately, manifestations of the group. In this idealized
group, the therapist would have nothing to do, because all its
The adoption of the psychoanalytic technique in group members see reality faithfully, which constitutes the final goal of
interpretation offers fewer difficulties when group cohesion is the treatment.
great. In this case, the group of patients behaves as if it were a
single patient, an individual. It should be noted, moreover, that the Acknowledgments
individual is a group of vital needs, of instinctive impulses, and, In memoriam: Luiz Miller de Paiva.
from this angle of observation, resembles a group of patients.
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© 2024 Alina MAPN da Silva, et al. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
