Buried treasure: money, ethics, and countertransference in group therapy

Exploring money in the context of group therapy highlights the powerful way that groups can magnify the most intimate and charged aspects of our patients as well as ourselves.A thorough self-examination that includes an ethical framework for decision-making about money matters can safeguard against problems resulting from therapists' and patients' unconscious relationship to money. This paper addresses the setting and raising of fees, pre-group evaluations, third-party payers, handling of payments and statements, as well as combined treatment. Special attention is paid to countertransference with an exploration of the particular difficulties inherent in reconciling one's identity as a healer with the business of clinical practice.