GROUP THERAPY AND THE SOMATOFORM PATIENT: AN INTEGRATION

Recent reports and literature reviews suggest that psychotherapeutic interventions with somatoform patients have efficacy. From their clinical experience with somatoform patients in general, the authors identify helplessness as the central psychotherapeutic issue for these patients. It is proposed that effective group therapy interventions have their impact through the addressing and working through of this affect. It is further proposed that there are certain paradigmatic stages in the group therapeutic process of addressing helplessness in somatoform patients. Technical issues with regard to membership selection and leadership style with this intervention are proposed.