Esay descripition and analysis - Essay Example

Essay and analysis Paul Solotaroff, in his significant novel Groups, deals with his ultimate fly-on-the-wall experience and it is a storyof six people in search of life. In this work, the author provides a real-life account of the personal struggles of six adults who are diverse, savvy, and spirited. These six characters are patients in a psychotherapy group in New York City and the author helps them solve their problems in life. Paul Solotaroff captures the unique drama of this form of therapy and story has been appealing to a broad audience, especially individuals of the professional community.

It is interesting and vital to undertake a profound analysis of the character of Dylan, a 48 year old musician, who is going through depressed moods. In a close understanding of the story, it becomes lucid that Dylan, who writes songs for his living, is an alcoholic due mainly to his experiences. He is undergoing a divorce and he adores his two beautiful children. The basic problem with this character is that he does not any longer have respect for himself and he thoroughly feels helpless at times.

"To overcome his depressed moods, he self medicates with near lethal doses of alcohol. But it is a condition of the treatment that he turns up sober to the sessions. In his sobriety, and under the group's gaze, he must face up to his compulsive behavior." (Yamey, 2000). Through the slow but skilful efforts of Charles Lathon, the therapist, the group in general and Dylan in particular discovers the factors behind the 'suffering conversations'. Therefore, the character of Dylan in the story has a major role to play in the group as he proves how Tuckman's model of group development fits to this group of six young men in search of life.

The novel Groups gives a real-life account of the personal struggles of six young men and the experience of Dylan in the form of psycho therapy. Paul Solotaroff, the author, who is a journalist by trade and a former patient of a pseudonymous 'Dr. Lathon,' a psychiatrist in private practice presents the experience of Dylan in a convincing manner. "Solotaroff suffered from a panic disorder throughout his adult life and did not feel significantly helped by the psychotherapy he received from several therapists.

He credits Dr. Lathon with giving him a correct diagnosis, treating him with effective pharmacotherapy, and transforming his life through group psychotherapy. After termination of therapy, Solotaroff was so moved by his experience that he proposed to write a nonfiction account of one of Dr. Lathon's upcoming therapy groups." (Delvey, 2000, p 1030). In this story, sanitized but honest, raw, and real, the author effectively presents the group process with all its messiness and unpredictability.

The character of Dylan is an essential instrument in dealing with the group psychotherapy as well as individual psychotherapy in the book. The author identifies patient selection, therapeutic frame and boundaries, transference and counter-transference, resistance and interpretation, competition and aggression, the uses of empathy and humor etc in the process of the therapy. In a profound analysis of the character of Dylan, it becomes palpable that "Lathon's therapeutic technique is strictly Freudian, linking patients' current emotions to their faulty upbringing.

Perhaps, more importantly, the group as a social unit tackles its collective distress, providing a safe space to talk and fresh perspectives on deeply rooted problems." (Yamey, 2000). Through the character of Dylan, Lathon demonstrates how the equipped clinician can develop a unique model of treatment and apply it thoughtfully and responsibly. The employment of Psychotherapy and the group therapy seems to be the most effective alternative for the type of disorder exhibited by Dylan. References Delvey, Joseph. (2000). "Group: Six People in Search of a Life.

" Book Forum: Psychotherapy. American Journal of Psychiatry. 157. p 1030-1031. Retrieved July 10, 2009, from http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/157/6/1030Yamey, Gavin. (2000). "Book review: Group: Six People in Search of a Life." studentBMJ Archive. Retrieved July 10, 2009, from http://archive.student.bmj.com/issues/00/09/reviews/342b.php