The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy: By Irvin D. Yalom. New York: Basic Books, Inc., 1970. 398 pp.

Despite certain limitations, this is one of the best books on group therapy available at the present time. The limitations are related to the author's theoretical point of view which limits description of analytic approaches. However, the description of how a group is formed and how group therapy operates is clear and the clinical material and comments are excellent. The result is a well-rounded book on group therapy.

Yalom attempts to differentiate the basic therapeutic 'mechanisms of change'—which he calls the 'curative factors'—from the specialized language, techniques, etc., of the different schools of group therapy. He feels the 'curative factors' are basically the same, no matter how they are designated. He first discusses what he calls the minor curative factors—the imparting of information, the instillation of hope, universality, altruism, the 'corrective recapitulation of the primary family group' (to correct maladaptive relationships), development of socializing techniques (including role playing), and imitative behavior. He feels these fairly self-evident factors contribute considerably to the treatment.