The External Space in Group Work

Abstract

The creation of the external space is about a room: a space, with a physical boundary, containing chairs, a table and a certain harmony in decor It is defined in time. The space is carefully set in an external network of referral sources, secretaries, administrators and departmental colleagues. The central purpose in all of these arrangements is to assist in the creation of a reasonably safe and secure base for the group members and to prevent them from using a reality-based external-space difficulty as a defence. Within these arrangements seven or eight people are brought across the intermediate space into the internal space, where hopefully they will be able to explore their unconscious life, their relationships, and play a little.