Marathon Group Therapy and Nonverbal Methods
IVAN B. GENDZEL M.D.1
1 Deputy chief of the psychiatric staff, Stanford University Hospital, and clinical assistant professor, department of psychiatry, Stanford Medical School
The author outlines the structure of a 24-hour encounter group (marathon) meeting. Nonverbal methods were felt to be effective in circumventing verbal barriers, conceptualizing and verbalizing new and unusual experiences, and providing much relevant information. The majority of 100 participants responding to a questionnaire immediately after their marathons felt they had benefited from the experience and that the nonverbal methods had contributed. A follow-up meeting several weeks after the marathon helped to provide closure to the experience.
