From Defence to Understanding: The Evolution of a Group of Young Psychotic Patients and of its Leader

Abstract

This article documents the change taking place within a psychotherapy group for psychotic patients. At first, the author used a mediating discussion in order to distance the relationship, later realizing, with the help of supervision, the defensive nature of the method employed. A greater capacity for learning from experience enabled him to come into contact with the group fantasies and increased his confidence to contain and understand the group dynamics of the psychotic world.