Long-term Group and Premature Drop out Groups in Psychotherapy: Yalom's 'Here and Now' Techniques

Abstract

The Yalom’s ‘here-and–now’ techniques-activation and illumination is worked particularly in each session of long-term group psychotherapy. Both activation and illumination help therapist interpret, reflect, and clarify individual’s behaviors. In the premature, dropping out of group, the therapist also used both in order to do following benefits: reduce the clients’ psychological distress, increase individual’s self-esteem, and foster client’s hope in group session as well as maintain positive outcome of long-term group psychotherapy. The volunteers in long-term group psychotherapy of the Thai Psychotherapist Association was observed and recorded the ‘here-and-now’ techniques by an observer when the premature drop out presented in the group process. The result of this study showed that most of Yalom’s ‘here-and-now’ activation was demonstrated in premature drop out group.