INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS IN THE GROUP-PSYCHOTH ERAPY SETTING OF THE PSYCHOSOMATIC REHABILITATION CLINIC

In the theory of ward psychotherapy which originated in the institutio nal context of university or general hospitals individual sessions in the group psychotherapy setting have only a maginal and subordinate fu nction and are of minor importance for the group-centered treatment. I n-patient psychosomatic rehabilitation, however, has particular featur es from which results an independant role of individual sessions in th e clinical group psychotherapy setting. This concerns foremost the int egration of psychotherapeutic and rehabilitative work, the coordinatio n of the comprehensive psychosomatic-rehabilitative treatment, and the orientation towards the special characteristics of patients in psycho somatic rehabilitation institutions. From this result a considerable n umber of functions of individual patient-therapist sessions which are constitutive for ward treatment arrangement. Thus, in clinical psychos omatic rehabilitation individual sessions are the second supporting el ement of the group psychotherapy setting. The further elaboration of t he theory of ward psychotherapy in psychosomatic rehabilitation has to take account of the particular conditions and institutional facts of this part of the health system.