Reviews
"Klein and Schermer are brilliant scholars, and their contributions are the glue that unites this sophisticated collection. Chapters offer disparate perspectives on what the editors refer to as 'creating a healing matrix.' In particular, the volume addresses the group's specific power to bring together the dissociated aspects of the traumatized patient's personality by engaging the whole group and its members as mirrors and healing agents. This book is ideal for seasoned clinicians, researchers, and teachers, although novices also might find huge benefit in the liberal use of clinical examples. Bravo to the editors for producing a volume of great value to the group therapy field, with a clarity that is badly needed in the area of healing trauma."--Anne Alonso, PhD, Past President, American Group Psychotherapy Association; Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School "Klein and Schermer have brought together clinicians from diverse perspectives, who present practical and innovative ways of using group treatment in overcoming the impairments caused by a wide spectrum of traumata. All therapists will find important insights in this book. I recommend it to anyone seriously interested in gaining deeper understanding into the manifestations and treatment of trauma in group psychotherapy." --Walter N. Stone, MD, Past President, American Group Psychotherapy Association; Professor of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine "This is a pioneering book. It provides a comprehensive overview of an important clinical area that has not previously been discussed in this kind of depth. The book's strengths are its attention to the clinical needs of survivors of a wide range of traumatic life experiences, the explicit theory base of most chapters, and rich illustrative clinical material in every chapter. This is a must-have manual for therapists who plan to do group therapy with trauma survivors. It is an appropriate text for graduate-level courses in group therapy, as well as a resource for therapists who are currently running groups." --Laurie Anne Pearlman, PhD, Traumatic Stress Institute "This is a timely, expertly edited volume that provides an in-depth view of the current state of the art. Group approaches for psychological trauma are proving to be of enormous value in treating a variety of traumatic experiences, and this volume should be extremely useful to group clinicians." --Irvin Yalom, MD, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry, Stanford University, "This organized and lucid book offers a comprehensive and thoughtful approach to the subject. The authors are clearly highly committed and expert in their field....each chapter engages the reader, and the authors offer sound psychodynamic bases for their suggestions. This text successfully integrates psychodynamic principles with techniques specific to the treatment of traumatized patients....this book is excellent, well-edited, and impressive....I warmly recommend this book to all group therapists, who will find much of value in it."--The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry "The volume's instructive chapters cover a remarkable range of topics with each having the central focus of group trauma work. The book is scholarly enough to be used as a primary resource by experienced clinicians and, at the same time, basic enough to be helpful to trainees of all mental health professions involved in trauma work. It will hopefully also serve as a stimulant for group therapy researchers interested in studying the process and outcome of trauma groups."--Journal of Clinical Psychiatry "This book represents a large variety of viewpoints....This book is a wonderful synthesis of psychodynamic approaches to the group therapy of trauma victims....This is a uniquely valuable compilation of complex and important chapters on the treatment of traumatized individuals from a psychodynamic, exploratory point of view. The chapters are rich in their conceptualizations and based on vast clinical experience. This expertise allows these authors to spell out the complex promises and pitfalls of a variety of trauma populations, providing insight, understanding, and practical guidance for approaching the structure and function for therapy groups with traumatized populations."--International Journal of Group Psychotherapy "...an outstanding contribution to the literature on trauma....A welcome addition to the literature on both trauma and group work, this is a valuable resource for any practitioner working with traumatized clients, and a fitting text for graduate-level courses in group work." --Readings
Table Of Content
Contents I. Concepts, Theories, and Strategies 1. Introduction and Overview: Creating a Healing Matrix Robert H. Klein and Victor L. Schermer 2. Initiating, Screening, and Maintaining Psychotherapy Groups for Traumatized Patients Marianne Goodman and Daniel Weiss 3. Management of Trauma-Related Affect, Defenses, and Dissociative States Elizabeth Hegeman and Agnes Wohl 4. Group-as-a-Whole Dynamics in Work with Traumatized Patients: Technical Strategies, Their Rationales, and Limitations Ramon Ganzarain 5. Hazardous Terrain: Countertransference Reactions in Trauma Groups Maggie Ziegler and Maureen McEvoy II. Special Populations and Trauma Groups 6. Group Psychotherapy for the Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder David Read Johnson and Hadar Lubin 7. Group Psychotherapy for Survivors of Sexual and Physical Abuse Bonnie J. Buchele 8. Group Psychotherapy for Psychological Traumata of Prolonged, Severe, and/or Terminal Illness Myrna Marcus and Harold S. Bernard 9. Children of Trauma and Loss: Their Treatment in Group Psychotherapy Janis L. Keyser, Kathy Seelaus, and Gloria Batkin Kahn 10. When Trauma Affects a Community: Group Interventions and Support after a Disaster Mark L. Dembert and Edward D. Simmer 11. Group Psychotherapy for Victims of Political Torture and Other Forms of Severe Ethnic Persecution Andreas von Wallenberg Pachaly 12. Group Psychotherapy in the Treatment of Dissociative Identity Disorder and Allied Dissociative Disorders Catherine G. Fine and Nancy E. Madden 13. Group Treatment of Severe Clinical Disorders, Personality Disorders, and Substance Use Problems Richard E. Gallagher and Howard D. Kibel
Synopsis
This indispensable book is designed to help practitioners create, initiate, and maintain therapy groups for traumatized individuals. Written by an array of experienced group therapists, the book addresses general aspects of trauma group therapy as well as issues specific to different populations and clinical problems. Cogent, practical information is provided on such important topics as screening and selecting members, understanding the impact of trauma on group dynamics, managing the effects of flashbacks, addressing dissociative states, working with countertransference reactions, and dealing with clients' emotional crises. Approaches and strategies are discussed for diverse groups, including survivors of sexual and physical abuse, clients with severe medical illnesses, bereaved children, survivors of catastrophic events in the community, victims of political and ethnic persecution, and those with diagnosed mental disorders in which trauma plays a significant role. Filled with illustrative case material, the book offers essential insights and tools for therapists, supervisors, and trainees from a range of orientations. Winner--American Group Psychotherapy Association Alonso Award for Excellence in Psychodynamic Group Theory
