Group therapy with mothers of incest victims, Part I: Structure, leader attributes, and countertransference.

Reality-based, ego-supportive group therapy is an intervention with mothers of children who were sexually abused by a father, stepfather, or man in the paternal role. Structure and process of a mothers' group that was co-led by the authors and met weekly for 2 years are described in this two part article. In Part I of this article, the structure of the Mothers' Group is described: setting and referral sources, purpose and goals, format, and group composition. Also discussed are the influence of leader attributes on group process, therapeutic interventions related to these attributes, and strategies to handle the potential for counter-transference and minimize its antitherapeutic effects.

Group therapy with mothers of incest victims, Part II: Therapeutic strategies, recurrent themes, interventions, and outcomes.

Part II of this article continues the discussion of group process in a reality-based, ego-supportive therapeutic group for mothers of incest victims that was co-led for 2 years by the authors. Strategies are discussed that fostered development of a therapeutic group. Recurrent themes that emerged in the group are identified. Interventions that provided opportunities for corrective interpersonal experiences are described, as are therapeutic values and beneficial outcomes.