The missed session in psychodynamic group psychotherapy

Missed sessions in group psychotherapy are often overlooked or not talked a bout, thus forfeiting an important therapeutic opportunity. Group members m iss meetings for many different reasons, be they the result of real-life ev ents or clinically driven occurrences. Missed sessions can have important e motional and metaphorical meanings for the missing member, the other group members, and the leader. Countertransference difficulties may interfere wit h optimal exploration of the many meanings of missed sessions. Five clinica l examples illustrate meanings that may reside in the missed session. A can cellation policy that provides a framework for such exploration is recommen ded.