Group Treatment

Abstract

Although individual treatment of psychological problems has been the characteristic therapeutic response to patients with PTSD, the emergence of the Vietnam combat veterans’ self-help movement and “rap groups” (Shatan, 1973) brought focus to the use of group therapy with this population. In many ways the group approach to veterans with PTSD grew out of the rap groups of the 1970s. Walker and Nash (1981) argue that group treatment of Vietnam veterans can be of tremendous benefit to patients who avoid individual treatment out of a feeling that they cannot be understood by the therapist. The presence of other patients with similar experiences and problems is beneficial in reducing resistance. Walker and Nash (1981) also argue that mistrust is also easier to deal with in a group setting, since trust tends to develop relatively naturally between group members.