Broaching and Exploring the Question of Combined Group and Individual Therapy

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Abstract
Combined therapy is defined as concurrent dyadic and group therapy with the same therapist. This paper focuses on a neglected aspect of combined therapy: broaching and exploring this question with one's individual, patient. The author shows how raising this question: (1) alters the therapeutic field whether or not the patient joins; (2) can sharpen the therapist's understanding of the indications and contraindications for group membership; (3) offers untapped therapeutic approaches and opportunities to clarify issues in the individual treatment; and (4) stirs up countertransference issues related to issues of profitability, the transference of the patient in individual treatment, and the transference of the group-as-a-whole. Several case examples are provided.