Ethics of Group Psychotherapy

Virginia Brabender, PhD, ABPP, is a professor in Widener University’s Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology. She has written five prior books on group psychotherapy and numerous articles. Rebecca MacNair-Semands, PhD, is a co-chair of the Science to Service Task Force for the AGPA Board of Directors. She authored the first edition of the Ethics of Group Psychotherapy.

• 1. Ethical, Legal, and Professional Fundamentals, 2. Privacy, Confidentiality, and Privilege, 3. Ethical Issues Related to the Role of Therapist/Leader, 4. Selection, Preparation, and Norm Development among Members, 5. Informed Consent, 6. Supervision, 7. The Group as Decision-maker: Process and Product

"In this remarkably thoughtful and well-crafted textbook, Brabender and MacNair-Semands provide a most welcome and much-needed resource that is relevant to every group psychotherapist. They detail principles that promote ethical care in group psychotherapy and foster group therapists’ deeply informed reflection on the ethical underpinnings of this work. Always of great value, the ethics of group psychotherapy has never been more important than it is in this era of great complexity, in which quality of care, social justice, race, racism and identity are prominent in all our therapy groups." — Molyn Leszcz, MD, FRCPC, CGP, DFAGPA, president, American Group Psychotherapy Association, professor of Psychiatry, University of Toronto "The Ethics of Group Psychotherapy is an outstanding book addressing a wide range of ethical and clinical issues that therapists are likely to encounter in group psychotherapy. Modules include illuminating examples, discussion questions, boxes highlighting important points, and vignette/role plays. It is clear that Virginia Brabender and Rebecca MacNair-Semands did extensive research. The references are amazing. This extremely well written and comprehensive book is essential for group psychotherapy leaders." — Linda K. Knauss, PhD, ABPP, professor, Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology, Widener University"That group psychotherapy works is well documented; less is known however about its potential for harm and, as we’ve learned in this age of pandemics, both safety and efficacy are paramount when evaluating treatment interventions. In this up-to-date, comprehensive and clinician-friendly volume, Brabender and MacNair-Semands studiously cover those many ethical challenges that can arise in the complicated arena of group psychotherapy and offer useful safeguards for both novice and seasoned clinicians to minimize harm and optimize the autonomy and well-being of their clients." — Les R. Greene, PhD, past president, American Group Psychotherapy Association; clinical faculty, Yale University Department of Psychiatry