Comparative Analysis of the Processes of Group Work in Psychological Training and Psychotherapeutic Groups

The article presents an approach to the analysis of the functioning of psychological training group and therapy group. The following aspects of the functioning of the psychological group are considered: evolution of the problematics and evolution of the relationships. Evolution of the problematics refers to the movement in the field of the content of the problems on which participants focus. Evolution of the relationships signifies the deepening of the contact between the participants in the dynamics of the group’s development. The author analyzes how the balance between these two aspects changes depending on the approach to group psychological work. Both aspects are considered in the context of the development stages of a training or therapy group. As a result, differences in the balance between the evolution of the relationships and evolution of the problematics in two types of groups are formulated. In psychological training evolution of the relationships between participants has an auxiliary value while the evolution of the problematics dominates. In group therapy evolution of the relationships is a key process that provides therapeutic changes.

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