Yalom writes about here-and-now practice including important elements and techniques. He states an important principle, which he deems one of the most important points he makes in his Group Psychotherapy book. This principle is, “the here-and-now focus, to be effective, consists of two symbiotic tiers, neither of which has the therapeutic power without the other” (Yalom, 2005, p. 141). The first tier is an experiencing one. During group, the members “develop strong feelings toward the other group members, the therapist, and the group” (Yalom, 2005, p. 141). The second tier is the “illumination of process,” which is done when the group examines itself, studies its own transactions” and takes what is experienced outside of therapy and apply it …show more content…
149). He stated, ‘I want to interrupt you for a minute… because I think something important just happened here a few minutes ago I want to focus on for a second. I’m real interested, Bob, in what you just said about your own gay experience from when you were younger.” This comment from Yalom redirected the group back to a significant thing that happened. Bob shared some personal information for the first time. He had only shared this with one other individual, a previous therapist. The fact that he shared this in group, in front of a group of peers and therapist, is a huge breakthrough. Yalom recognizes that and allows Bob to recognize and verbalize it himself through …show more content…
This comment allowed Allen to reflect on the fact that Bob mentioning this in group, directly toward him, was progress and something unprecedented that should be recognized for both individuals. Allen commented that he gets so caught up in his own emotions that he doesn’t think about other people’s feelings. “I guess that’s what Betty meant when she told me about it a couple weeks ago” (LDS Counselor, 2011). This realization and breakthrough on Allen’s behalf, beginning with the comment of Bob’s disclosure, stemmed further back in group and is most likely a realization that will go beyond group into life outside of group. Corey et. al. support this by saying, “the way members behave in the present context of the group is reflective of how they interact with others outside the group…members learn a great deal about how they function interpersonally in their world by becoming aware of their patterns in the group sessions” (Corey, et. al., 2014, p. 175). The goal would be for Allen to move to tier 2 and practice empathy of others outside group, as he is beginning to do with this situation between he and Bob. My interpretation of this particular instance is that Yalom understood that Allen doesn’t always recognize things others do or what they experience and was trying to help him consider that. Yalom followed up with whether Allen felt done or if there was more he wanted to work on with