There are some occasions when the leader must remove a member from the group, for at least two reasons; one is based on the member’s inability or unwillingness to live in peace in a family. They derive too much gratification from indulging their transferential rage. This type of member is so disruptive that they threaten the emotional and at times even physical safety of the others. The decision to remove them is based on the principle that the integrity of the group takes precedence over the needs of any individual group member. One such member had so antagonized the group by spewing venom derived from a childhood of emotional and physical abuse that her presence became intolerable. This became decidedly apparent to me when she verbally assaulted a gay member that proudly announced to the group that he had come out to his family and she called him a ‘pathetic faggot’. I knew that she had to leave when I found myself dreading her attending group after that. The most basic principle of group therapy is that the leader must enjoy the work. If this is not the case, the leader cannot function effectively. There are other group members who are so fearful that they are not ready for group. The leader may have misjudged their readiness and ability to tolerate the ‘tough and tumble’ of group; it’s akin to placing an infant into kindergarten. On one occasion, I made this mistake and placed a regressed young woman in group and she literally sat curled in the fetal position for the entire session. She had to be removed but was able to return some time later after we worked through her terror of emotional contact. This decision is based on the principle : Never be an aggressive force in a frightened woman’s life. These two incidents are clearly different. In the first instance, the member’s murderous oedipal rage and their wish to annihilate siblings informs the leader’s decision, in the second, it’s the member’s terror.
The Oedipal Group Member
By Robert S. Pepper, Phd.|2015-08-01T07:29:47-04:00August 1, 2015|Uncategorized|Comments Off on The Oedipal Group Member
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About the Author: Robert S. Pepper, Phd.
Dr. Pepper has been running groups for over twenty-five years and specializes in group therapy. He has a special gift in helping member's resolve conflicts with.