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The Virtual Group Therapy Circle: Advances in Online Group Theory and Practice

Editor : Haim Weinberg, Editor : Arnon Rolnick, Editor : Adam Leighton

Reviews and Endorsements

This remarkably comprehensive textbook shaped by contributions from international experts in online group psychotherapy, advances the field in a clear, valuable and absolutely necessary fashion. In presenting the state of the art of online group therapy – research, theory, accrued wisdom and technique - across modalities, and across ages, this textbook responds effectively to a major paradigm shift in contemporary practice. The authors address the implementation gap that exists between what our clients seek and need, and what practitioners must understand to embrace this evolution in our field. It is an essential guide for group therapy clinicians, supervisors, and educators.
Molyn Leszcz, M.D. Past-President, The American Group Psychotherapy Association. Professor of Psychiatry, University of Toronto

This is an illuminating volume that arrives at a perfect time in our post-pandemic world. The Virtual Group Therapy Circle is a comprehensive compendium of up-to-date information, perspectives, and instruction about online group therapy, a burgeoning field that many professionals believed could not work. How does one build an alliance and create cohesion? Don’t we need to need to be able to see the body? To feel the other’s presence? To experience the visceral intensity of the moment? This volume candidly tackles such questions focusing on how different models of group therapy (including Interpersonal, Modern Analytic, Psychodramatic, CBT, Systems-Centered, and more) can achieve successful outcomes balanced by addressing drawbacks to online intervention. The Virtual Group Therapy Circle will undoubtedly be viewed as the essential reference book on the subject on online group therapy.
Joseph Shay, Ph.D. co-author of Psychodynamic Group Psychotherapy and co-editor of Odysseys in Psychotherapy and Complex Dilemmas in Group Therapy

Some might consider "remote group psychotherapy" an oxymoron. Is it possible that the highly interactive and relational form of psychotherapy practiced in a group format can be effective in a remote situation?
There are certainly advantages to remote therapy. It makes therapy available to some who would otherwise be unable to access it. It can be cost-efficient since it reduces office costs, travel expense, etc. It is convenient. There are also obvious disadvantages. It is not the same as sitting together. There are some who do not have the technical skills to properly use remote sessions. Some cannot afford the technology required to participate in remote psychotherapy. Some people’s living situations do not allow sufficient privacy to participate online. Indeed, there is a question as to whether online group therapy can guarantee confidentiality. Nonetheless, prompted by Covid-19, group therapy now is being practiced remotely. Some therapists have found it so convenient that they have decided to offer only remote group therapy henceforth.

Haim Weinberg, Arnon Rolnick, and Adam Leighton present us a comprehensive text to examine this new world of group psychotherapy. They have brought together a stellar cast of authors who examine various aspects of remote group psychotherapy.

The group begins by examining some of the challenges of doing group therapy remotely. The next section focuses on various group process approaches and how they are impacted by being online. The book then examines some specific approaches: Psychodrama and Person-Centered groups online.

The book concludes with the important topic of training, teaching and supervising online groups. This is an important book that focuses on an extremely important topic in the practice of group psychotherapy today.
J. Scott Rutan, Ph.D. Founder, Center for Group Psychotherapy, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Past President, American Group Psychotherapy Association

The Virtual Group Therapy Circle is a highly valuable book for anyone looking to expand their understanding of different approaches to group therapy in the online setting. The authors provide a thorough examination of various techniques and strategies of online work, making it an invaluable resource for both new and experienced practitioners. Weinberg, Rolnick and Leighton have done an excellent job exploring the unique challenges and opportunities that come with online group therapy and provide a wealth of information on different approaches, including cognitive-behavioral, psychodrama, psychoanalytic, training and supervision groups. The book covers all aspects of online group therapy, from the technical to the therapeutic. I highly recommend The Virtual Group Therapy Circle, the first book of its kind, for anyone interested in the field.
Elliot Zeisel, PhD, AGPA-DF, Producer, GROUP - The Series on YouTube, Founder, Faculty, Center for Group Studies

This book facilitates a fascinating overview of the most effective online interventions for group psychotherapy and group processes at large. It　is accessible, easy to read, didactic and practical at the same time. It covers fundamental online skills of the whole range of group approaches of our field being extremely beneficial for the beginner as well as for the experienced practitioner of online group therapy. It will surely become the reference for anyone working with groups online being appropriate for professional therapists, non-therapeutic practitioners　and the general public. Knowing most of the authors personally I can surely guarantee an excellent lecture with an abundant source of ideas and a comprehensive guide to the novelties of online group therapy and group processes.
Dr. Jorge Burmeister, psychiatrist, Jungian analyst, psychodramatist, and former president of the International Association of Group Psychotherapy (IAGP)