Sir: The article by Hull and colleagues, ‘Group psychotherapy: trainee's perspective’ (Psychiatric Bulletin, September 2000, 24, 342-344) gives an interesting and informative account of their experience of group psychotherapy and its place in psychiatric training.
Trainees should also be aware of more formal training opportunities available to them. A number of introductory group courses are run in different centres around the UK under the auspices of the Institute of Group Analysis. They consist of both theoretical seminars and participation in small and large experimental groups. They provide at least three of Yalom's four components of a comprehensive group therapy training cited in the article: a personal group experience, observing an experienced conductor at work and an element of personal therapy (Reference YalomYalom, 1995). The fourth, supervision of group work, can also often be arranged.
In addition, these courses provide a multi-disciplinary peer group. I would suggest that this greatly increases their value for training. It also highlights the comparative absence of multi-disciplinary learning in much of psychiatric training.
In addition to the route taken by Hull and colleagues, or perhaps in conjunction with it, trainees seeking experience of group psychotherapy should be aware of other avenues available to them.
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