title: Existential dialectics in therapeutic groups.
abstract: The paper proposes that existential dialectics is one way of reaching clinically inaccessible material in group psychotherapy. Existential dialectics aims at fusing intra-personal, subjective reality with transubjective, social one, with the aid of face to face encounters with others. Its "techniques" include antithetical and synthetical questioning and attentive listening. The specific psycho-social dialectics outlined include participant-observation and the play of norms and counternorms. These dialectics are especially designed to help patients find meaning, reality, approval and feelings.
mesh_terms: D004644:Emotions; D005086:Existentialism; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D007207:Individuation; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007600:Judgment; D010551:Personality; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D011936:Reality Testing; D012945:Social Values