Some considerations on “The Large Group in Training” by Cilasun et al. and on the use of large format experiential settings in psychotherapy training

The author develops a commentary on the article by Cilasun et al. (2021) titled “The Large Goup in Training” through the lens offered by the “National Workshop” of COIRAG, a training context aimed at psychotherapy trainees of COIRAG, where experiential devices and Large Groups are extensively used. Starting from the observation that the use of Large Groups has been widely explored in various contexts, but their use for educational and training purposes has been relatively understudied, the paper addresses the topic of the time of analytic training, the distinctive features of experiential Large Groups, and the difficulty of describing them using the vocabulary of group-analysis. It is also discussed the possibility of reading institutional and social dimensions in large-format groups. Specifically, it is asserted that the process of constructing the subjectivity of psychoanalytic and group-analytic psychotherapists requires exploration of the boundaries between self, us, and others, and the establishment of constructive interpersonal relationships, while considering the role of the institutional and cultural context. In this journey, the Large Group in training creates a dynamic balance between self-expression and listening, becoming a space for exploring and understanding group dynamics, the relationship with the training organization, and professional identity, where social forces can be understood and engaged with, and ultimately, a sense of belonging to a community can be constructed, in which each individual is simultaneously a member and an heir in a chain of transmission.

Keywords: ; Large Group; Experiential training; Sense of community

Giovanni Di Stefano, Alcune considerazioni su “Il Grande Gruppo nella formazione” di Cilasun et al. e sull’utilizzo di setting esperienziali allargati nella formazione alla psicoterapia in "GRUPPI" 1/2022, pp 45-54, DOI: 10.3280/gruoa1-2022oa17963