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IN the Fall of 1969, three consultants, including this writer, were invited by Professor John Kemph to introduce, teach and supervise adolescent group psychotherapy in the Child Psychiatry Service of the Downstate Medical Center. On November 11, 1969, there was held the first session of a demonstration group, consisting of boys and girls aged fifteen to eighteen. The adolescents reside on one floor, one side for girls and the other for boys. Each side has its own ward psychiatrist and social workers. There was complete cooperation from all concerned in the formation of the demonstration group.
The author felt that a coed group was preferable1 as it would promote richer interactions and would reproduce the usual life situation more closely. From the beginning, this mixed group of boys and girls was called a coed group and was afterwards known by that name. There were from eight to ten adolescents in the group, usually one or two more girls than boys. The group met once weekly, and the sessions lasted one hour. On occasions when the group was at a high peak of involvement at the end of the session, the time was prolonged ten or fifteen minutes.
The length of stay in the hospital was much shorter for the boys than for the girls. While some girls remained many months, the average stay for the boys was two or three weeks. Many of the boys were court cases. Disposition for the boys and girls was either back to their homes, to a state hospital or to a residence.
Always present at each group session were a social worker for the girls, and a social worker for the boys. A Fellow at the training center was also present as an observer. There were various difficulties in getting the group started and keeping it going week after week as an ongoing, effective therapeutic procedure. Both patients and staff had to be indoctrinated with the concept that group therapy was one of the most important elements of the therapeutic program while at the hospital. The day room on the boys’ side w