Group therapy with the terminally ill

The authors describe their four-year experience with a therapy group for patients with metastatic carcinoma. Patients in the group are helped by helping one another, by moving out of a morbid self-absorption, and by finding that they have much of value to share and to teach. The most important aspect of the group experience is the "presence" it offers; patients find support and the opportunity to express their needs and fears openly. The authors believe that group therapy is a valuable modality for the treatment of terminally ill patients and that much can be learned from such groups for the everyday therapy of the living.