ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN LEADING THERAPEUTIC AND QUASI-THERAPEUTIC GROUPS: ENCOUNTER AND SENSITIVITY GROUPS*

Abstract

Many ethical issues have been raised with the proliferation and mushrooming of new group approaches in the field. There is a need to clarify these ethical issues so we can move ahead with new explorations, and yet protect people from being hurt or manipulated in the process.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

"Therapeutic groups" will be defined as groups that have a goal to reconstruct personality and/or help people who have emotional problems that are preventing them from functioning and utilizing their capacities for growth and expansion of their personalities.