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Marathon Groups: Reality and Symbol represents an important contribution to the field of psychoanalysis and group therapy. The power of a marathon encounter group is rooted in its ability to function as both a reality experience and a symbolic experience. Marathon therapy is not artificial, nor is it a self-indulgent orgy. The intensity of a marathon promotes self-clarification, leading the participant toward a more viable self-image.
The nature of the marathon group is defined thus: “It is a group of people who remain in continuous involvement with one another for a prolonged period of time, typically at least twenty-four hours.” A discussion of the time span, encouraging feelings of safety, the emphasis on the here and now, the role of the leader, and the movement from conscious to unconscious material are pursued and related to psychoanalytic theory. A historical accounting of the group movement from Bion and Perls to the present is also informative. The author reports group sessions verbatim and includes specific interventions and groups' interactions in given situations. Dr. Mintz reveals a distinctive ability to