Book Reviews of Group Psychotherapy for Women with Breast Cancer and the Breast Cancer Notebook: The Healing Power of Reflection

Group Psychotherapy for Women With Breast Cancer is a comprehensive guide to facilitating effective groups for women who have breast cancer. This treatment manual is the end product of years of research involving group psychotherapy for women with breast cancer, research specifically aimed at demonstrating whether group therapy could improve their quality of life and physical health. Throughout the book, vignettes based on actual groups are used to explain key points and provide context for the proposed philosophical and theoretical foundations of the group and the group facilitators. A thorough explanation of the biopsychosocial concerns of women with breast cancer are addressed through chapters on the factors and interventions that have an effect on client outcomes, structure and content of the group, and step-by-step facilitation of the group. This treatmen approach combines both psychotherapeutic and psychoeducational components throughout the recommended 16 (2-hour) weekly meetings. The psychotherapeutic aspects of the group, including the provision of a safe place to openly and honestly discuss the impact of breast cancer on group members' lives, are the primary loci of this book. The psychoeducational component is addressed in the companion book, The Breast Cancer Notebook: The Healing Power of Reflection (Stanton & Reed, 2003). This book includes topics such as coping with treatment side effects, body image and sexuality, and communicating with members of the medical team. Reflective questions at the end of every chapter allow the women to process their thoughts and feelings regarding these topics, providing continuity of support between one group meeting and the next. The book is designed so that chapters may be assigned to augment or complement group content and progression; aside from the first few chapters, the order of completing the notebook is up to the women and/or the group leader. The notebook also serves as a source of information, providing numerous medical, Web site, and literary references. This not only allows women to seek vital information on their own but also allows the focus of group sessions to be supportive and expressive, rather than informational (e.g., group members trading Web site addresses). Group Psychotherapy for Women With Breast Cancer is ideal for helping professionals (e.g., rehabilitation counselors, counselors and psychologists, counselor educators) who lack group experience in general and/or experience with clientele who have a medical illness or disability. This is an excellent resource for novice group counselors who are looking for ways to structure a group, work with clients who have cancer, or try something new with long-term clients with cancer. This book would not be as helpful to clinicians who have extensive experience with group work. Although the chapter on "Typical Problems in Group Facilitation" may be a helpful resource in times of struggle, many of the other chapters will seem commonsensical to an experienced group counselor. For example, the authors provide information on how to ask leading questions, how to tolerate negative affect, and how to avoid rescuing the women in the group. …