Jeff Roberts

Group-Analytic Training Conducted through a Language Interpreter: Is the Experience Therapeutic? is it Group-Analytic?

Three of the authors ran an Introductory Course in Group Analysis in St Petersburg, using language interpreters in the small experiential groups. The members identified the most important event in the group at the end of each day. These responses were used to explore two questions: Were the groups therapeutic? Were they group-analytic? Using Yaloms model of group therapeutic factors indicated that similar therapeutic factors were operating as in outpatient therapy groups, although a large proportion of responses could not be coded within this format. Using our own group-analytic markers suggested that the group sessions could also be rich in group-analytic qualities. While the data is inferential, a combination of quantitative results and illustrative examples provides convincing support for the view that the group members were engaged in an experience that was both therapeutic and group-analytic.

Group-Analytic Training Conducted through a Language Interpreter: Are We Understanding Each Other?

In 1995 the authors ran an Introductory Course in Group Analysis in St Petersburg, using language interpreters in the small experiential groups. The effectiveness of simultaneous translation was evaluated using daily rating scales completed by trainees, conductors and interpreters, examples of mistranslations and audiotapes of sessions. The evidence obtained suggests that a high level of mutual understanding is possible. The most comnmon difficulties concern the omission of potentiallv significant material during rapid exchanges, and gaps and misunderstandings of cultural significance. The work is hard and stressful for interpreters. Our experience suggests some guidelines to maximize the effectiveness of the interpretation process. This article complements another article (Kennard et al., 2002) that explores evidence from group members about whether the groups were effective as therapeutic and as group-analytic experiences.

The Group Analyst as Consultant to a Therapeutic Organization

a large organization the Northfield Military Hospital. Foulkes’ role as a consultant in this setting no doubt contributed substantially to the way in which he became a group analyst. Since that time group analysts have concentrated largely on the development and dissemination of techniques for working with small therapeutic groups and large taskless groups. From time to time nonetheless, group analysts have become consultants to organizations rather than within them. One example of this would be the work of Malcolm Pines in a ward run as a Therapeutic Community at the Atkinson Morley Hospital. At present there appears to be in the UK a growing number of opportunities for group analysts to become consultants to small therapeutic organizations such as local authority day centres and hostels and drug and alcoholism

Kairos, Chronos and Chaos

This paper explores the ancient Greek quasi-mystical concepts of Chronos and then Kairos, particularly in relation to group analysis and individual analytic psychotherapy. It concludes with some thoughts on the nature of time and space and introduces Chaos, a third Greek concept, with a consideration of the chaotic patterns of movement in space-time which are, it seems, self-organizing and have led to the emergence from the matrix of space-time of matter, life and ultimately mind.

Group-Analytic Society (London) - Scientific Meeting Reports

occurs in every group and moves through time and space in the group. This focus therapists can pick up and trace around the group; it is the area of greatest (authentic) activity in the group and a point in the group where there is the greatest expenditure of energy into movement. It is contingent on a concept that the group has available to it expendable energy, behaving as if it were a living organism or creature. Harold Behr went on to suggest that the group has certain properties of life, namely: