%0 Journal Article
%T Therapeutic semi
%A Avi Berman
%J Group Analysis
%@ 1461-717X
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/0533316418815029
%X People come to group analysis knowing that the group is not completely safe. They choose to join an unknown, and in many respects unpredictable and challenging, interpersonal environment. ¡®Semi-Safe space¡¯ in group analysis is a co-created, basically safe and mutually accepted infrastructure, with the mutually recognized challenge of being and communicating in an unexpected and not fully protected environment. The group¡¯s semi-safe space represents one of the main advantages of group psychotherapy if handled professionally. Group analysis is a potential space in which minds may be created and develop through mutual interaction, which is sometimes inevitably turbulent and experienced as unsafe. On the other hand, excessive ¡®unsafety¡¯ might destroy the boundaries of the psychotherapeutic domain and become harmful or even traumatic. It is the conductor¡¯s crucial responsibility to create initial safety in the group. He can contribute to the participants¡¯ sense of safety by exercising some authority in stating those boundaries and opposing any deviation from them. This contract is based on reciprocity and exchange: protecting the safety of one participant in the group is equivalent to protecting the safety of the others. Mutual risk-taking produces safety while its lack intensifies doubt and fear
%K semi-safety
%K safety
%K unsafety
%K meeting of minds
%K enactment
%K exchange
%K conductor¡¯s responsibility
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0533316418815029