Acting out in group therapy: avoiding authority struggles

Acting out is the indirect expression of a feeling, wish, or thought through action rather than in words, and is a frequent occurrence in group therapy. Acting out may take obvious forms such as lateness or premature termination, or it may be more subtle, such as rambling, withholding, or avoiding specific affects. Working through occurs as the group confronts the acting-out behavior with curiosity and concern rather than pressure or criticism. When group members themselves address acting out, they are more likely to avoid power struggles with authority figures than when the clinician enforces the rules.