© British Association of Social Workers
The Group Therapy Interaction Chronogram
Murray Cox M.A., M.B., B.Chir., M.R.C.Psych., D.P.M., D.Obst.R.C.O.G., has been Consultant Psychotherapist at Broadmoor Hospital since 1970. He is also Medical Assistant in Psychotherapy at The London Hospital. He began his training in psychotherapist during his ten years in general practice and entered full-time psychiatric work in 1967
Summary
The group therapy interaction chronogram (G.T.I.C.) is a heuristic device for rapidly recording sequential group therapy sessions. It demonstrates the progressive phases within each session in addition to exhibiting dynamic patterns in successive sessions. It is of particular value where traditional methods of recording such as the tape-recorder or use of a one-way screen are contraindicated.
The introduction discusses the theoretical and practical difficulties of recording content and interaction patterns. There follows a description of the evolution of the G.T.LC. from the author's individual chronogram. The indications for its use and appropriate completion notation are then suggested.
The G.T.I.C. is not the preserve of the specialist psychotherapist It can be used by professional staff from many disciplines to record any group session whether it is formal group psychotherapy, counselling, discussion or case conference.
A hypothetical example of a completed G.T.LC. is given below but it is emphasized that each therapist will choose his own notation depending on the dimensions he wishes to record