Vitalizing the group--and me

Emotional liveliness in a psychotherapy group can take various forms. Maintaining this liveliness can be a challenging task in a group, particularly when both the patients and the therapist face deeply rooted inhibitions, including fears about competition, being judged, and being destructive. The author of this paper, a candidate and group member in a postdoctoral group psychotherapy training program, recounts some of her experiences as the leader of a newly formed and developing group, particularly as they relate to her efforts to become and remain a "libidinal" (i.e., life or vital force) leader, despite the impact of the group members' and her own anxieties. Clinical anecdotes and insights about the author's own growth, both personally and professionally, as they relate to establishing and maintaining vitality are presented.