Group psychotherapy with alcoholics; special techniques.

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Abstract
Special problems that arise in working with groups of alcoholics are discussed and suggestions for the management of each problem are offered. Therapists must be prepared to respond to challenges to disclose information about their drinking habits; to offer outreach and intervene when patients miss a meeting and may be drinking; to deal with confusion about group expectations when members simultaneously belong to other kinds of groups, e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous; and to resolve problems of confidentiality. Effective handling of these issues requires an explicit treatment contract that clarifies what will be expected of group members and what they in turn can expect. This agreement should be established in a pregroup interview and should include a statement regarding minimum tenure in the group; attendance expectations and advance notice of tardiness, absences or withdrawal from the group; commitment to abstinence and willingness to talk about fears of drinking or actual slips; commitment to talk about other issues in the patient''s life that cause difficulty; commitment to talk about what is happening in the group itself as a way of better understanding oneself; limits on outside-of-group contacts among group members and the nature and extent of communication between group leaders and outsiders.

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