A LONG-TERM PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP FOR CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC MEDICAL ILLNESS

Group psychotherapy for children with chronic medical illness can be a powerful tool in facilitating their social and emotional adjustment t o their condition. In this article, the author addresses the theoretic al issues in developing and managing such a group, drawing on his expe rience with a long-term psychotherapy group of four children of varyin g ages and medical conditions. Themes arising from this group included universality of experience, understanding the disabilities of others, sharing, relationships with parents, and grief and loss. In addition to addressing developmental tasks of individual group members, the aut hor presents therapist-related issues (e.g., transference, countertran sference, the cotherapy relationship, and the therapist-parent relatio nship). The author concludes that participation in an ongoing psychoth erapy group can provide medically ill children with considerable oppor tunity for growth, understanding, meaning, and adaptation.