FAMILIAR AND FOREIGN - AMBULATORY ANALYTI CAL SMALL-GROUPS IN A LARGEGROUP SETTING

The article describes the experimental combination of patients from fi ve ongoing ambulatory analytical small groups (in which I am therapist ) into a large group meeting for 1 1/2 days in five 90-minutes session s. Two such meetings to date within a one year time span were attended by approximately 30 patients. The leader of each of the two large gro ups was colleague, I myself was one of two co-leaders together with th ree observers. Description and reflection here focus on the polarity b etween 'familiar' and 'foreign' which seems to be typical for this set ting. It also proves to be quite effective in facilitating deep emotio nal experiences and in fostering the therapy process for most patients . The patients adapted quickly to the new setting and developed a leve l of trust which enabled them to be sincere and straight-foreward even toward, 'foreign' patients from other small groups. Many of them had experiences which had not been possible til then in their small group setting. Considering the threshold situation of this large group setti ng between the subjective 'family' background of the small group and t he 'public' character established by the 'foreigners', I suggest the d esignation 'transitional group'.