Attachment theory is influencing how we understand interpersonal relationships and how psychotherapy can help facilitate change for those struggling in relationships. More recently, researchers and clinicians have applied attachment theory to group treatment, one of the most effective forms of psychotherapy to address interpersonal difficulties. This book highlights some of the bridges between attachment theory and contemporary approaches to group treatment. In addition to applying attachment theory to innovative treatments, each chapter addresses a specific way in which attachment impacts the members’ capacity for empathy and perspective taking; the development of cohesion in the group; the automatic fight-flight response during group interactions; members’ ability to tolerate diversity; and the leaders’ capacity to foster safety within the group. This book will help group leaders gain a richer understanding of attachment theory and attachment based techniques that will ultimately benefit their groups. This book was originally published as a special issue of the International Journal of Group Psychotherapy.

"This book applies attachment theory to group therapy, explaining how group therapists can work effectively with members who have different attachment histories and current interpersonal strategies. Indeed, an understanding of attachment theory will help group therapists even before the first session of therapy. Screening potential group members, determining who is appropriate for group therapy, and preparing new members before they begin group therapy are critical to successful outcomes. Some individuals are more at risk of dropping out of the group, are inclined to be a scapegoat in the group, struggle to remain engaged in the group process, and avoid emotional intimacy. This book explains why such individuals may have these problems, how to screen for them, whether to assign them to group therapy, and if they are assigned to group therapy, how to prepare them beforehand to maximize the likelihood of a successful outcome. The book also provides group leaders with a structure for ameliorating these problems in group sessions. Because attachment theory is relevant to a wide variety of presenting problems, this book will appeal to all group therapists. It explains how the leader can facilitate emotional regulation and changes in maladaptive beliefs for those members who struggle with insecure attachment"--Introduction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved).

Our early attachment experiences with our primary caregiver influence the adult that we become. These experiences forge our patterns of communication, emotional experience, intimate relationships, and way of living in the world. If our early attachments are secure, we learn to access and communicate adaptive feelings, thoughts, and behaviours. In contrast, if our early attachment experiences are insecure, we may struggle with dysregulated, maladaptive emotions and have difficulties in our intimate relationships -- leading to anxiety, depression, and excessive or misdirected anger. This book presents an attachment-based approach to therapy that addresses the limiting and detrimental effects of negative early attachment experiences. Attachment-based psychotherapy has two major components: establishing a security-engendering therapeutic relationship and helping the patient to communicate more openly and thus to access more adaptive feelings, thoughts, and behaviours. Psychotherapists of various theoretical orientations will appreciate this book's richly detailed conceptualisation of common human problems, as well as clear treatment approach for addressing these problems.

This book synthesizes research on groups from two separate but related fields--social psychology and clinical psychology--and encourages collaboration among researchers who are interested in different types of groups.

This work shows how to give substance abusers an attachment experience and a sense of community where they feel they are accepted and belong. Therapy, directed along the lines described, allows the person to get close to others who are accepting of him without a cost to his identity and autonomy.

In a book for front-line clinicians, Irvin Yalom turns to the inpatient psychiatric setting and offers new ways of conceptualizing the techniques of group therapy for use on acute wards. While some group therapy occurs in all psychiatric hospitals, it is rarely handled systematically and is not properly supported by the psychiatric leadership. Arguing from his own research results and from his years of experience, Yalom makes a strong case for the importance and efficacy of group therapy on all acute wards. "An eminently practical guide to what works".--Marc Hertzman, Dir., George Washington Univ. Medical Center. Notes, Appendix and Index.

In this newly revised edition, Philip J. Flores, a highly regarded expert in the treatment of alcoholism and in group psychotherapy, provides you with proven strategies for defeating alcohol and drug addiction through group psychotherapy. For the first time, practical applications of 12-step programs and (ital) psychodynamic groups are jointly explored, jointly explained, and jointly brought into therapeutic use. You'll examine the constructive benefits of group therapy to chemically dependent individuals--opportunities to share and identify with others who are going through similar problems, to understand their own attitudes about addiction by confronting similar attitudes in others, and to learn to communicate their needs and feelings more directly.Group Psychotherapy with Addicted Populations covers the key areas of group psychotherapy for chemically dependent persons including: alcoholism, addiction, and psychodynamic theories of addiction alcoholics anonymous and group psychotherapy use of confrontational techniques in the group inpatient group psychotherapy characteristics of the leader transference in the group resistance in groups preparing the chemically dependent person for group the curative process in group therapy Along with his powerful chapters that emphasize the positive and constructive opportunities group psychotherapy brings to the chemically dependent individual, Flores has added these new sections: integrating a modern analytic approach a discussion of object relations theory group psychotherapy, AA, and twelve-step programs diagnosis and addiction treatment treatment issues at early, middle, and late stages of treatment a discussion of guidelines and priorities for group leaders countertransference special considerations of resistance to addiction termination of treatment Those working in group therapy will find this expanded second edition a valuable resource for better recognizing and serving their group members'needs, and they will feel a sense of fulfillment as Flores reaffirms the positive effects of group psychotherapy.