Experience and Effectiveness in Group Therapy

© Laureate Education 2012

CPSY 6250/PSYC6250/PSYC8251: Group Process and Dynamics Colleague Calling – Week 8

Program Transcript [BEEP] FEMALE SPEAKER: Thank you so much for taking some time to provide a peer consultation to me. I've heard you speak at professional meetings, and I really respect your opinions. I wanted to get your take on a situation that has come up. In a nutshell, for the last three months at my facility, I've been doing group therapy for substance abuse in an intensive outpatient setting. I did a little bit of group work during my training, but that was years ago, so I'm a little rusty. I feel like I've been managing fairly well, but there is one group member who has been extremely challenging. Specifically, he keeps asking me if I've ever used or had a problem. He turns the focus away from himself, and onto me and my background. I smoked a little pot while in college, and occasionally have a glass of wine with dinner, but that's about as extreme as I get. So, I see his point, but don't want him to take over the group. He's right in that I don't know what it's like, so can I still be effective with this population? What should I say to him about my personal use? How should I handle this?