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To the authors of A Practicum of Group Psychotherapy "practical" sometimes signifies knowledge of handling dream material or the efficacy of mixing neurotics and psychotics. At other times it might suggest the use of beanbag ashtrays, hard-back chairs for pregnant patients, or the carrying of malpractice insurance. These are a few of the broad topics discussed in an effort to cover the "significant practical aspects of group psychotherapy" for workers in various settings and at different levels of competence. Theory is minimized and presented only when necessary. Three of the four authors are connected with the New York Postgraduate Center for Psychotherapy. Dr. S. H. Foulkes, their English colleague, has written an introductory chapter.
Dr. Foulkes writes that group psychotherapy's contribution lies in enabling patients to enter into new sets of interactions while in therapy. In a sense they are starting out fresh. He points out that this factor is