Applying Yalom's principles to crisis work...some intriguing results

In this paper, the writer has shared some of the results of an innovative eight- to sixteen-week, open-ended crisis group developed at the Community Mental Health Center at Strong Memorial Hospital. The group has been running for over a year and a half. Some of the significant findings were that process interventions can be creatively used in a modified manner to enhance the group interaction, while maintaining the crisis-oriented focus. There were two dimensions of process commentary described, the sense data material of an individual, interpersonal nature, and the mass group interventions with a broader, group development focus. In addition, the secondary function of the group, which was to serve as an assessment tool for an individual's capabilities in long-term group work, proved to be reliable for eighteen out of the twenty members, eventually referred to other groups. A theoretical framework, based on Yalom's work, as well as the writer's synthesis of previous crisis group theory, was outlined. Two clinical illustrations were described, using the paradigm. In closing, the writer wishes to validate the impression that crisis group work is indeed an exciting, clinical adventure. Each week the gestalt of the group varies, so that the crisis therapist must remain a versatile strategist and sensitive role model of communication theory. The interweaving of process issues with more concrete, content-focused group work provides the members with an in-depth, sharply practical interpersonal arena for growth.