• Pretherapy training for group psychotherapy is conceptualized in terms of learned conditions of preparedness (objectives) and in terms of methods of preparation (procedures). Controlled studies of pretraining for group psychotherapy were reviewed in reference to these two dimensions and their effects. A controlled study of pretraining involving five outpatient therapy groups that used a new cognitive-experiential approach to pretraining was performed. Pretrained groups had significantly higher patient attendance and significantly fewer dropouts than nonpretrained groups.