Concentric Interactive Group Model: a unique experience for patients and staff

The purpose of this article is to describe the Concentric Interactive Group Model, a unique psychotherapeutic group therapy model, for the treatment of patients with difficulties related to aggression. In the first of three phases of the group, the patient discusses his/her aggression while staff observe; in the second phase, the staff discuss what occurred in the first phase while patients observe; and in the third and last phase, patients and staff discuss, clarify, and reinforce what was learned in the previous phases.

The uniqueness of the model is in the opportunity it offers the patient to learn to manage aggression through both dialogue and observation.

Nurses can use this observation and modeling as a potentially powerful intervention for addressing maladaptive aggressive behaviors in their patients.