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Article
Co-Creating Meaningful Structures within Long-Term Psychotherapy Group Culture
International Journal of Group Psychotherapy
  • Robin G. Gayle, Department of Counseling Psychology, Dominican University of California
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-1-2009
Disciplines
Department
Counseling Psychology
Abstract

Meaningful group structures are co-created within the long-term outpatient psychotherapy group through a hermeneutical interaction between structure and immediate experience of structure by individuals embedded in personal and collective contexts. Co-created meanings expand original group and self understandings and further evolve structures that are stable yet do not exist independently of the narratives and affects of the members who interact with them. Group structures do not reduce, expand, or dissolve but change in connection to the experiences and meaning attributions within the group. This intersubjective process mediates the emphasis within group theory upon leader responsibility for culture building that risks over promoting certain psychotherapeutic cultural intentions over others. Three examples of long-term psychotherapy group intersubjective hermeneutical interaction lend insight into global, cultural, and societal groups.

Citation Information
Robin G. Gayle. "Co-Creating Meaningful Structures within Long-Term Psychotherapy Group Culture" International Journal of Group Psychotherapy Vol. 59 Iss. 3 (2009) p. 311 - 333 ISSN: 0020-7284
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/robin_gayle/27/