PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP: WHAT, HOW, WHY

Introduction

Human life in modern society is associated with increased stress, and not every person is able to independently successfully adapt to modern social conditions. For many people, the adaptation process is not effective enough, which gives rise to a variety of emotional, personal and behavioral problems. To cope with such problems, a person often needs outside help and support.

One of the ways to provide professional assistance to people with an insufficient level of socio-psychological adaptation is group psychotherapy. A psychotherapeutic group is a model of a microsociety, and therefore group psychotherapy is most suitable for effectively solving problems associated with life in society: psychotherapy in a group provides optimal conditions for this, close to real ones.

Leading a psychotherapeutic group is a complex process of determining the behavior of a psychotherapeutic group and giving it the direction required in order to achieve psychotherapeutic effectiveness of the group. This work is devoted to the analysis of various aspects of the leadership of a psychotherapeutic group.

Concept and features of group psychotherapy

In modern psychotherapy, there are four forms of organizing psychotherapeutic influence: individual, group, collective and family [4].

Group psychotherapy is one of the forms of organizing psychotherapeutic influence, which is based on the use of “factors of group dynamics to solve emotional, personal, behavioral problems of people, as well as to improve the individual” [3]. Group dynamics refers to the entire set of relationships and interactions that arise between group members, including the group leader, and its changes over time [4].

To carry out group psychotherapy, specially organized psychotherapeutic groups are formed. A psychotherapeutic group is “a small target group, a relatively small community of patients who are in direct personal communication and interaction with each other, created to achieve certain psychotherapeutic goals” [4].

The goals of group psychotherapy vary depending on the theoretical orientation taken as a basis in the process of organizing group psychotherapy, and on the characteristics of the contingent of group participants. In general, the goals of group psychotherapy are “disclosure, analysis, awareness and processing of the patient’s problems, his intrapersonal and interpersonal conflicts and the correction of inadequate relationships, attitudes, emotional and behavioral stereotypes based on the analysis and use of interpersonal interaction” [4].

The general objectives of group psychotherapy are considered in three aspects: cognitive, emotional and behavioral. As a result of group psychotherapy, changes are expected in each of the listed areas of the psyche of the participants in the psychotherapeutic group [4]:

Cognitive sphere. Group psychotherapy promotes the patient’s (group member’s) awareness of:
perception of one’s personality by other people and one’s own characteristics of relationships with others;
reasons for the existing problem.
Emotional sphere. Group psychotherapy allows you to solve the following problems of the emotional sphere of the individual:
direct experience and awareness of new experiences in the group and oneself;
accurate recognition and verbalization (verbal expression) of one’s own emotions;
reliving and realizing past emotional experiences and gaining new emotional experiences in a group.
Behavioral area. Group psychotherapy allows a participant in a psychotherapeutic group to:
acquire skills for more sincere, deep and free communication;
overcome inappropriate forms of behavior manifested in the group, including those associated with avoidance of subjectively difficult situations;
develop forms of behavior associated with cooperation, mutual assistance, responsibility and independence;
consolidate new forms of behavior, in particular those that will contribute to adequate adaptation and functioning in real life;
develop and consolidate adequate forms of behavior and response based on achievements in the cognitive and emotional spheres.

Thus, group psychotherapy promotes the development of self-understanding, expansion of emotional experience and improvement of self-regulation. At the same time, in the process of group psychotherapy, as a rule, broader goals are spontaneously realized: clarification of one’s life goals, directions and methods of desired changes, personal improvement [3]. Often, in the process of participation in a group, solutions to problems that are not related to the original goal of group psychotherapy are achieved: “Often the original goal (for example, to get rid of anxiety or depression) as the group develops is transformed into goals related to interpersonal relationships and the desire to communicate. … In a fairly flexible group, individual goals can be adjusted and modified as group experience develops” [5].

The instrument of psychological influence in the process of group psychotherapy is the group dynamics of the psychotherapeutic group: “The relationships and interactions that the patient enters into in the group largely reflect his true relationships, since the group acts as a model of real life, where the patient exhibits the same relationships and attitudes , values, the same ways of emotional response and the same behavioral reactions. The use of group dynamics is aimed at ensuring that each participant has the opportunity to express himself, as well as at creating an effective feedback system in the group, allowing the patient to more adequately and deeply understand himself, to see his own inadequate relationships and attitudes, emotional and behavioral stereotypes manifested in interpersonal relationships. interaction, and change them in an atmosphere of goodwill and mutual acceptance" [4].

I.V. Vachkov [1] highlights the following advantages of the group form of organizing psychotherapeutic influence:

Group experience counteracts alienation and helps solve interpersonal problems. A person avoids withdrawing into himself, discovers that his problems are not unique, that others are experiencing similar feelings - for many people, such a discovery in itself turns out to be a powerful psychotherapeutic factor.
The group reflects society in miniature. This allows group members to see and analyze, under conditions of psychological safety, psychological patterns of communication and behavior of other people and themselves that are not obvious in everyday situations.
Opportunity to receive feedback and support from people with similar problems. In real life, not all people have the chance to receive sincere, non-judgmental feedback, which allows you to see yourself reflected in the eyes of other people who perfectly understand the essence of your experiences, since they themselves experience almost the same thing.
In a group, a person can learn new skills and experiment with different styles of relationships among equal partners. In real life, such experimentation is always associated with the risk of misunderstanding, rejection and even punishment, but in psychotherapeutic groups you can try to behave differently than usual, try new models of behavior - in an atmosphere of benevolence, acceptance and support.
In a group, participants can identify themselves with others because In a group, you need to not only talk, but also listen. Group members can “play” the role of another person to better understand them and themselves and to become familiar with new effective behaviors used by others.
Group interaction creates tension that helps clarify everyone's psychological problems. This effect does not occur during individual psychocorrectional and psychotherapeutic work; creating additional difficulties for the leader, psychological tension in the group can (and should) play a constructive role, fuel the energy of group processes; The leader's task is to prevent tension from getting out of control and destroying productive relationships in the group.
The group facilitates the processes of self-discovery, self-exploration and self-knowledge. Opening yourself to others and opening yourself to yourself allows you to understand yourself, change yourself and increase self-confidence.
The group form also has economic advantages: it is cheaper for participants to work in training than individual therapy (and for many, training work is much more effective); the psychologist also receives both economic and time benefits.

Thus, group psychotherapy is a special form of organizing psychotherapeutic influence, based on the interaction of participants in specially created groups. As a model of a microsociety, a psychotherapeutic group recreates conditions close to reality, and therefore has increased efficiency in terms of group members understanding their problems and finding constructive solutions.

Playing - living - psychodrama group for children

This is a correctional and developmental group aimed at correcting the psycho-emotional sphere of older preschoolers (5-6 years old) and younger schoolchildren (7-9 years old). Participation in a group allows you to solve the child’s main psychological difficulties in the family and in communicating with peers.

In group work, the psychodrama method is used, which is based on symbolic play. During symbolic play, negative experiences that arose during the child’s development occur and are replayed.

Requirements for the leader of a psychotherapeutic group

To lead a psychotherapeutic group and adequately use the capabilities of group psychotherapy, extensive theoretical knowledge and special professional training are required [4].

Requirements for the professional qualities of the leader of a psychotherapeutic group are divided into three main groups: requirements for knowledge, skills and experience [MSCorey, G.Corey, 1987; 3]:

Knowledge requirements. The team leader must know:
Basic theories of group psychotherapy, concepts and differences used in them; Constantly monitor new information about changes in the theory and practice of group psychotherapy.
Basic principles of group process dynamics, group psychotherapeutic factors, mechanisms of their action and their management.
Features of individual psychodynamics and psychotherapy in order to understand not only what is happening in the group, but also with its individual participants. With little understanding of individual psychodynamics, the therapist may incorrectly assess the influence of the group on the participant and his reactions to the group process.
The main tasks of the therapist at various stages of group development.
Requirements of professional ethics for psychotherapeutic work in general and specifically for work with groups.
Your personality, its strengths and weaknesses, your values, in order to professionally perform the functions of a therapist and assess the possible impact of your personality on group members.
Skill requirements. The leader must be able to:
Assess the suitability of participants to work in a psychotherapeutic group and select those who would not interfere, but would help each other in achieving their personal goals, i.e. create a psychotherapeutically potential group.
Use the potential of the psychotherapeutic factors of the group, stimulating changes in the group and in the lives of the participants, their potential.
Be an example of productive participation in the group.
Understand the meaning of nonverbal behavior and accurately interpret participants' nonverbal responses.
Find psychotherapeutic solutions in critical situations in the life of a group.
Use group work techniques without overusing them.
Properly conclude both each meeting and the work of the group in general.
Objectively evaluate yourself and help participants evaluate the results achieved in the work of the psychotherapeutic group.
Professional experience requirements. Before you start working as a leader of a psychotherapeutic group, you must:
Take direct part in training groups.
Carry out practical work under the supervision of an experienced specialist. Comments from a more experienced specialist help to draw attention to mistakes, to things that the therapist did not notice in the group’s work, to incorrectly used techniques.

The effectiveness of a psychotherapeutic group depends not only on the professional, but also on the personal qualities of the group leader: “Each therapist, regardless of his theoretical views, comes to the group with his own unique personal characteristics, values and life experience. This leaves its own mark on every group he works with. However, the personality of the therapist should not interfere with the development of the psychotherapeutic potential of the group; on the contrary, the therapist must be a catalyst for such disclosure” [3].

Summarizing information from various sources, R. Kociunas identifies the following requirements for the personality of the head of a psychotherapeutic group [3]:

concentration on the client, desire and ability to help him;
openness to views and judgments different from one’s own, flexibility and tolerance;
empathy, receptivity, ability to create an atmosphere of emotional comfort;
authenticity of behavior, i.e. the ability to present genuine emotions and experiences to the group;
enthusiasm and optimism, faith in the abilities of group members to change and develop;
balance, tolerance to frustration and uncertainty, high level of self-regulation;
self-confidence, positive self-attitude, adequate self-esteem, awareness of one’s own conflict areas, needs, motives;
rich imagination, intuition;
high level of intelligence.

Thus, the content and specificity of the activities of the leader of a psychotherapeutic group places high demands on both the professional and personal qualities of the group leader.

Organization of the work of a psychotherapeutic group

Managing a psychotherapeutic group involves a long and labor-intensive preliminary stage during which the group’s activities are organized. At the preliminary stage, the following main tasks [3]:

determine the goals of the organized group, taking into account the duration, conditions of future work, and composition of participants;
clarify the main criteria for selecting participants in the group;
solve the issues of forming a group: determine ways to prepare participants for group work, the total duration of the group’s work, the frequency and duration of classes, the place of work of the group, the procedure for paying for participation in the group;
clarify the possibility of combining work in a psychotherapeutic group with individual psychotherapy or counseling, the use of medications, etc.;
determine ways to evaluate the immediate and long-term results of the group’s work;
prepare a report about the psychotherapeutic group being organized.

Correct selection of participants is one of the most important factors in the effectiveness of a psychotherapeutic group. The most important criteria for selecting group members are [3]:

Desire of the applicant (motivation for psychotherapy and participation in the group);
Compliance of the applicant’s personal problems with the goals of the group;
The client has problems in the area of interpersonal relationships;
Having the opportunity to participate in the work of the group (attend classes, cope with assignments, the ability to self-disclose, etc.).

The main criteria for an applicant’s unsuitability to participate in the group include [2]:

Severe mental disorders (psychosis, acute phase of depression, etc.);
Antisocial behavior of the applicant or low self-control of behavior;
Excessive anxiety or sensitivity of the subject;
The presence of a neurotic need for approval.

An important and at the same time unanswerable question is the question of homogeneity-heterogeneity (homogeneity-heterogeneity) of the group in terms of nosology, gender, age, education of participants, etc.

In favor of the heterogeneity of the group in composition, arguments are given such as the presence of a wide range of examples of alternative behavior, the greater representativeness of the group as a model of society. In addition, “differences provide greater opportunities for contradictions to arise and therefore for development... The diversity that arises when a group includes people with different personality characteristics and behavioral characteristics leads to friction and confrontation, which can ultimately be achieved by working through optimal results in personal development and learning” [5]. Heterogeneity of composition is recommended for groups focused on long-term psychotherapy and solving complex and deep problems [4].

In a homogeneous group, mutual understanding, mutual sympathy and support of participants arise faster, which helps to reduce the time required for psychotherapy. Homogeneity of composition is recommended for groups focused on short-term psychotherapy, as well as for the treatment of extreme age groups (teenagers, elderly people, etc.) [4; 5].

The number of participants in a psychotherapeutic group should be 5-8 people [3], 8-12 people [4] or 6-10 people [5]. Groups with fewer than 5 or more than 12 participants lose their psychotherapeutic potential: “The group must be large enough to provide the necessary variety of interactions, and compact enough so that everyone can feel like an integral part of it. As a group grows in size, the likelihood increases that the time allotted for its work will be usurped by one of the more talkative, dominant members and that subgroups and factions will form within it... When a group is too small, it ceases to function as a group, and its members become involved in individual consultations or psychotherapeutic sessions conducted in a group setting” [5].

The optimal duration of one group meeting (session) is 1.5-2 hours [3]. The frequency of meetings can vary from 1 to 5 times a week, and the total duration of group psychotherapy depends on the goals of the group, the frequency of meetings, etc. The average duration of a group psychotherapy course is 40 sessions [4].

The meeting place for group members should be a separate room, quite cozy and free of distractions in its interior. The room should be neither too spacious nor too cramped. Group members, as a rule, sit in a circle: “If you do not adhere to the principle of a circle, when some participants, sitting in the same row, cannot see each other, then the network of interpersonal interactions is disrupted. The circle is a symbol of completeness, completeness, integrity; in many cultures, magical powers are attributed to it” [3].

To prepare selected individuals for group psychotherapy, it is advisable to organize a preliminary meeting , the purpose of which is to familiarize yourself with the process of group psychotherapy, prepare for the role of a group member, and facilitate the inclusion of participants in the group. At the preliminary meeting, the following aspects of the upcoming psychotherapy are discussed [3]:

The leader reports that the group is “a kind of social laboratory in which a sincere and open discussion of relationships with other group members constantly takes place. This helps you better understand yourself and your relationships with other people. The therapist emphasizes that talking about relationships with other participants is not easy... But it is impossible to avoid this if you are trying to establish contact with people you do not know before. On the other hand, the experience gained in a group can be transferred to everyday life situations. It is very important to see the interpersonal context of your problems. ... the greatest benefit in a group can be obtained by openly and sincerely expressing your feelings that arise in the group. This is fundamental to the group’s work” [3].
The leader warns that at the beginning of work, group participants, as a rule, experience great tension, anxiety, dissatisfaction; most people initially find it difficult to talk about themselves, to express their feelings, since this contradicts our usual communication patterns. However, subsequently the negative experiences disappear and a psychotherapeutic effect occurs.
It is necessary to bring to the attention of the participants the organizational aspects of the group’s activities: time, place, duration, frequency of meetings, as well as the total duration of the group’s work.
The leader introduces the participants to the pre-developed rules for participation in the group: confidentiality (non-disclosure of information relating to other group members), openness and sincerity, attendance (the need to attend all group classes), a ban on communication between participants outside the group, etc.

A high-quality solution to the problems of the preparatory stage is a necessary condition for achieving maximum effectiveness of group psychotherapy.

How work happens at psychotherapeutic group meetings

The group is a model of the real world, in which the key behavioral stereotypes of everyone are visible. It's like taking yourself and your relationships with others under a microscope. That is, you can see yourself through the group: it shows reactions to certain problems, ways of communicating with people, habitual mechanisms for resolving conflicts and awkward moments. And it is also a place to practice new ways of interacting. In the group there is an opportunity to explore both how I behave with different people, and how other people react to me and how they see me.

In the process, each group member learns to solve life's problems and live life to the fullest . That is, the way you really want.

We actually sit in a circle and talk. You can ask participants a question and hear different points of view on the situation. You can ask for feedback and find out how others see you from the outside. You can try to say or do something that you don’t have the courage to do in real life and see the consequences.

During the process, the facilitator draws the participants’ attention to their feelings, reactions, motives and helps them see what is happening from a different angle .

Pauline:

For me, as a participant, the group was a powerful push and release of energy, which I was able to channel into initiating some very difficult conversations for me that were difficult for me to start before. Some of them unfolded through clarification and resolution, while others led to completely different, more distant relationships. However, I stopped hitting the wall of my helplessness.
What I got was the opportunity to talk about my feelings, which were the most difficult for me , and therefore difficult to present to loved ones, and the fact that I received different responses to this (not always clear to me and always pleasant), but no one “disappeared” from this. Neither I nor those to whom I addressed. I realized that I can already, to some extent, have different reactions to myself, and this does not “destroy” me, as I felt before.
Another very important experience for me at the group was the moment of experiencing pain with others, when I can’t even say anything about this pain , when it just rises from somewhere and almost floods me. It’s important for me to just live it with someone. Just to be close. Not talking about her is even a hindrance. And here’s how it happened, for example, to sing. Previously, long ago in childhood and adolescence, when I felt bad, I sang to myself, it helped me experience feelings; I could talk to few people about what hurt. The experience in the group has become a powerful resource in terms of what you can ask for and get such a response.

Oksana:

Constraining feelings - Fear and Shame .
Fear of presenting my story, not wanting to go into the tension that arises when contacting others, fear of the reactions and feelings that I can cause in them. This is what overwhelmed me for the first few minutes of the group’s work. No matter how much I built protection around myself, gradually, fear gave way to interest in the personal stories of the participants; it was interesting to observe myself, to recognize myself in other people’s stories, this gave me strength.
It’s more complicated with shame, although I couldn’t help but think that shame is born in contact with others, which means that a certain reverse process also takes place in contact with people.
The group helped me see (notice feelings, track my thoughts) the features of my relationships with others, notice how my partner perceives me. When more than one person reacts to my words, but there is an opportunity to receive feedback from several at once, this created new contact experiences that would not hurt you.

Leadership of a psychotherapeutic group

The main goal of the group leader is to create conditions for maximum disclosure of the psychotherapeutic power of the group. The psychotherapeutic power of the group lies primarily in the interaction of group participants, therefore it is necessary that “the group therapist be an effective assistant for the participants, and not work for them, to help them improve, and not tie them to themselves in bonds of dependence” [3].

Tasks of the head of a psychotherapeutic group [4]:

Encouraging group members to express attitudes, attitudes, behavior, emotional reactions and discuss and analyze them, as well as analyze proposed topics.
Creating conditions in the group for patients to fully disclose their problems and emotions in an atmosphere of mutual acceptance, safety, support and protection.
Development and maintenance of certain norms in the group, flexibility in the choice of directive and non-directive techniques of influence.

The group leader must be able to competently apply the basic methods of group psychotherapy , which include [4]:

Group discussion;
Psychodrama (acting out role-playing situations);
Psycho-gymnastics (non-verbal interpersonal interaction);
Projective drawing (drawing on a specific topic).

The leader implements the listed methods of group psychotherapy and his functions using the following means of influence [4]:

Verbal – structuring the course of classes (one of the most important functions of a psychotherapist), collecting information, interpretation (reflection of emotions, clarification, confrontation, interpretation itself), persuasion and persuasion, providing information, setting tasks;
Non-verbal – facial expressions, gestures, intonation.

It should be emphasized once again that the influence of the leader on the participants of the psychotherapeutic group implies not so much the activity of the leader himself, but rather the stimulation of group members to certain types of activity that are consistent with the goals of the group.

The following styles of leadership of small, including psychotherapeutic, groups are distinguished [3; 4; 5]:

Authoritarian – the leader alone determines and directs the behavior of the group;
Conniving - the leader allows group members to independently direct and determine their behavior;
Democratic - the leader shapes the behavior of the group through group discussion.

The most effective leadership style of a psychotherapeutic group is democratic [4; 5]. However, this rule is not universal: in the process of leading a psychotherapeutic group, it is more important to be flexible and be able to use different leadership styles depending on the requirements of the situation. For example, in the initial stages of group work, when group members are experiencing anxiety and tension, and also in cases where the task is rigidly structured, group members are under great stress, or group dynamics are so unclear to the participants that they cannot fully and accurately understand What happens is that an authoritarian style of group leadership is most appropriate. In cases where the group behaves actively and effectively, the leader is required to have minimal intervention in the process of the group’s activities (permissive leadership style) [5].

In addition, the leader needs to flexibly apply the main roles (functions) of the group leader [5]:

The role of the expert is the function of explaining, commenting on the processes occurring in the group: “These comments help group members understand how they behave, how their behavior affects others and, ultimately, how it affects their self-image and the current circumstances of their lives " [5].
The role of a catalyst is the function of encouraging group members to take certain actions, in order to help group members see and understand what is happening in the group.
The role of the arranger is to prevent inappropriate behavior by group members, protect individual group members from unjustified attacks from other members, support group members who show confusion, etc.
The role of a model participant is the function of providing group members with an example of effective behavior for subsequent imitation.

Thus, leading a psychotherapeutic group is a complex and multifaceted process that requires the group leader to be able to effectively solve many problems at the same time, the ability to respond sensitively to all possible situations, a high level of professional skill and flexibility.

What results can participants expect from a psychotherapy group?

Group identifies self-destructive behavior
We all have maladaptive behavioral skills. Once they were formed to solve a certain problem and helped solve it.
For example, do not react to your dad’s negative comments about your appearance. As a teenager, these were comments that hurt. I had to build an emotional defense. Now even compliments from colleagues cannot get through it.
But this was then an effective defensive behavior. It used to work, but now it just gets in the way. The situation has changed. And group therapy is the arena in which we remove such “defenses” that are irrelevant and interfere with a full life.
The group allows group members to understand how others perceive them
During group work, participants react to each other freely and without reservations due to a lack of interest in maintaining relationships. As is the case, for example, with work or family ties. Frankly expressing your opinion helps you see yourself from a different perspective and gives you a chance to change your behavior or understand the reactions of others.
The group helps you learn about different points of view on your behavior
And these are not just reactions, but various reactions. In polite society, those who react negatively to us usually simply withdraw. And they rarely tell us how we are perceived. As a result, feedback from other people turns out to be distorted.
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Group therapy provides an opportunity for self-determination here and now
An instant group assessment occurs. As a result, you can understand how I look, how I behave, how I really feel when I deal with people. The value is that people can instantly understand themselves by becoming aware of feelings that are important but which escape awareness in everyday life.
The group gives you a chance to try to behave differently
Group psychotherapy creates “life situations” in which you can try to structure your behavior differently. Try and rehearse interacting with people in a new way. There are an infinite number of behaviors that we are accustomed to, but which we do not analyze and reproduce out of habit. Thanks to the group, there will be an opportunity not only to recognize and explore them, but also to try to respond differently.

Thus, during meetings we pay attention to how we live our lives , what we spend time on, without always realizing this choice , and how we can do it differently .

Nastya:

My achievement during the work of the group is the destruction of the image of an ideal person . Ideal self.
The group shows everything. Litmus test. For example, I was afraid that I would be the most incapable and least advanced participant. Damn, this is about my life: to be better.
During the group, she took off the mask that she always covered herself with. I saw that “being imperfect” is equal to “being alive . And I saw similar fear in the words and actions of the participants. And their fear surprised me. What, are you afraid to show up? Do you think no one is interested? Damn, I'm interested in you. How could you have such an idea? And these fears are about one thing. And on the one hand, I understand how others and, apparently, me are mistaken. On the other hand, this commonality of fears is very supportive. If everyone is afraid of the same thing, it’s not so scary anymore, right?
It was important for me to try to manifest myself differently and see: a catastrophe does not happen . They don't turn away from me. It probably sounds banal. It's like being at a music concert that is enchanting to the point of trembling and talking about it. Of course, you need to live it. Understanding a problem and getting out of it are not the same thing. We must act, live, manifest ourselves. Instead of accumulating knowledge and jumping from one explanation of behavior to another.
I met myself. With yourself. Not ideal. Alive. Uncomfortable. Interesting. And how great it is.

Pauline:

Those moments of honesty and sincerity that occur in the group are what especially attracts me. This is so little of my experience in everyday life that it is definitely one of my motives for doing groups. This gives you some kind of new vision of yourself. Internal permission to be a little more real . And be different. In the process of living the difference in the group, I noted how I began to be more patient with the difference outside the group. This feeling is not very stable and “dissipates” over time, but it has already happened and this is more important.

Bibliography

Vachkov I.V. Fundamentals of group training technology. – M.: Publishing House “Os-89”, 1999. – Library of the Foundation for Promoting the Development of Mental Culture (Kyiv): https://www.psylib.kiev.ua.
Whitaker D.S. Groups as a tool for psychological assistance. – M.: Nezavisimaya, 2000. – 432 p. – (Library of psychology and psychotherapy).
Kociunas R. Psychotherapeutic groups: theory and practice. – M.: “Academic Project”, 2000. – Library of the Foundation for Promoting the Development of Mental Culture (Kyiv): https://www.psylib.kiev.ua.
Psychotherapeutic Encyclopedia / ed. B.D. Karvasarsky. – St. Petersburg: Peter Kom, 1998. – 752 pp.: (Series “Masters of Psychology”).
Rudestam K. Group psychotherapy. Psychocorrectional groups: theory and practice. – St. Petersburg: Peter Kom, 1998. – Library of the Foundation for Promoting the Development of Psychic Culture (Kyiv): https://www.psylib.kiev.ua.