Running: An adjunctive group therapy technique

Group therapists who work with severely disturbed patients know that group sessions are often characterized by verbal rambling, frequent and prolonged pauses and high levels of anxiety on the part of group members. This article focuses on the use of a group activity— namely, running—as an adjunct to group psychotherapy. A brief case report will illustrate the application of this innovative treatment technique; then issues that may arise when one leads a running group are dealt with in a question- and -answer format.The author wishes to express his appreciation to Mrs. Vera Kohn for editorial assistance in the preparation of this article.