Specialty Competencies in Group Psychology

Human beings are born into groups, educated in groups, and belong to many groups, yet routinely attribute individual motives to their actions when in fact group-influenced behaviors are the more likely culprit. The theory, research, and practice of group dynamics, group psychology, and group psychotherapy illuminate useful ways for us to learn group skills and to better understand how we are influenced by groups. In Specialty Competencies in Group Psychology Sally Barlow provides a comprehensive overview of the foundational and functional competencies related to the field of group psychology. Barlow describes the potential treatment benefits of group work and shows how the wide range of applicability makes this a relevant volume across diverse areas, regardless of the population receiving treatment or the theoretic orientation of the therapist. This volume distills the uniqueness and contributions of the specialty in a way that benefits not only psychologists who specialize in group psychotherapy, but also clinicians who have previously taken a more traditionally individual approach to treatment.