GROUP-PSYCHOTHERAPY OF SEXUALLY ABUSED PA TIENTS

Analytic group psychotherapy for traumatized, especially (in childhood ) sexually abused patients should be taken into consideration, provide d that the patient's ego-boundaries are strong enough, shame tolerance is given and paranoid and projective tendencies are not too extensive . In an initial phase the patient should be supportively accompanied, the regulation of the relations should be in the victim patient's hand . In the phase of working through, when the trauma-corresponding affec ts get into the transference relationship, the group's specific splitt ing of transference and the group's function as a witness is of specia l value for the integration of vehement aggressive and sexualized affe cts. In the phase of termination there takes place the separation from the internalized traumatic system and from the identity as a victim; here again the group's multiple examples of alternative identity and d ifferent relationship qualities are of great value.