The missed session in psychodynamic group psychotherapy

Missed sessions in group psychotherapy are often overlooked or not talked about, thus forfeiting an important therapeutic opportunity. Group members miss meetings for many different reasons, be they the result of real-life events or clinically driven occurrences. Missed sessions can have important emotional and metaphorical meanings for the missing member, the other group members, and the leader. Countertransference difficulties may interfere with optimal exploration of the many meanings of missed sessions. Five clinical examples illustrate meanings that may reside in the missed session. A cancellation policy that provides a framework for such exploration is recommended.