WORKING WITH SPIRITUAL AND RELIGIOUS THEMES IN GROUP-THERAPY

This article explores the analytic therapy group as a spiritual commun ity that can deepen the implications of group transference. From this perspective, group-as-a-whole dynamics include a spiritual dimension i n addition to the recapitulation of the family of origin. Clinical vig nettes are introduced from a midphase group to illustrate a means of w orking with spiritual and religious themes psychodynamically through m anaging them like dreams. Amplification and interpretation of the symb olic themes guide members through the transference to the family of or igin. There, members gain access to childhood memories and to the chil dhood transitional space of religious experience where they created th eir God representations as a means of solving their self and object di lemmas. The working-through process facilitates the integration or tra nsformation of new self and God images.