Video self-portraits: a novel approach to group psychotherapy with young adults

A group therapy model was formulated for exploring the intersubjective processes of adolescents and young adults whose group bonds had been fragmented by their severe emotional illnesses. The model involved having adolescents and young adults who were psychiatric inpatients make video self-portraits; that is, videotapes which focused on various aspects of their emotional pathology. These tapes were then presented before a larger group of nine patients for discussion. The video team method is shown to aid in self-disclosure and facilitate the working through of severe emotional conflicts in this age group. It is an especially useful method with more severely disturbed patients for whom narcissistic self pathology is a prominent feature.