Evaluation of the parent group experience. What helps and what hinders

This paper describes the responses of parents to questionnaires filled out as part of a group therapy program for parents whose adolescents exhibit conduct problems and refuse interventions. A brief description of the youth, parents and the program is followed by representative examples of the comments parents made at their termination from the group about their experiences and what helped them or hindered them in dealing with their situations and emotions. Their responses are compared and contrasted with the responses to Irving Yalom's adult groups responses to a Q-sort, which rated aspects of their groups from most helpful to least helpful. Parents' experiences are an informative guide as to their perceptions and what they feel helped or hindered them in this program.