| Abstract [eng] |
The phenomenon of self-disclosure in a psychotherapy group was studied in this master’s degree work. Self-disclosure plays an important role in group psychotherapy, whereas the ability of group psychotherapist to encourage the self-disclosure of group members is a skill, which is necessary to acquire for the successful group guidance. In the introductory part of this work the notion of self-disclosure is defined, and a psychotherapy group itself is presented as a part of the broader context of interpersonal relationship. The types of self-disclosure are abstracted; also the peculiarities of self-disclosure in existential, encounter and gestalt therapy groups are presented. The aim of this work is to explore in what way the phenomenon of self-disclosure is perceived and experienced in a concrete psychotherapy group, what is the content of the conception of self-disclosure, and what is the dynamics of the process of self-disclosure in a psychotherapy group. The method of focus groups was used in this research. Focus group is a way of collecting qualitative data, and this involves engaging a small number of people in an informal group discussion, focused on a particular topic. Focus groups were organized in the context of short-term psychotherapy groups. Focus group schedule was devised, which included the questions about the members’ experience of self-disclosure in a psychotherapy group. 23 participants took part in focus groups – 4 men and 19 women; all in all 3 focus groups were conducted. Moderator (the author of this work) and his assistant have guided the groups. The discussions in focus groups were lasting from 1,5 to 2 hours and were audio and video taped. The original texts of discussions in focus groups were gained by transcribing the records. On the ground of these texts the 4 stages analysis of the investigated phenomenon was performed: (1) formulation of the generalized statements; (2) organization of the generalized statements; (3) comparison of the generalized statements and formulation of the description of the structural parts of the phenomenon; (4) formulation of the final description. The result of this research – a comprehensive description of the phenomenon of self-disclosure in a psychotherapy group, which consists of 3 parts: experiences before, during and after self-disclosure in a group. The final description of the phenomenon has also reflected the experience of the factors, which stimulate or suppress the process of self-disclosure in a psychotherapy group. This concrete description not only confirms but also extends and significantly complements the assumptions of the theoretical part of the work. |
