Developing Nuclear Ideas

Richard M. Billow, PhD, is a diplomate in group psychotherapy, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, and an active contributor to the psychoanalytic and group literature. He is Clinical Professor and Director of the Group Program of the Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Adelphi University, New York, with a private practice in Great Neck, New York.

'Stimulating and compelling - an invitation to follow Richard Billow's unceasing search for truth. He is a "seelsorger", a Scandinavian term that conveys both psychological and spiritual components. As a "playful thinker", he relishes the thrills and spills in his search; as a risk taker, he dives deeply beneath the surface stirring up depths. I find his writings both exhilarating and contentious. He provoked me to think both with and against his way of working and has left me with an enduring vision. Reading this book is a challenge well worth taking.'- Malcolm Pines, MD, past President of the Group Analytic Society and of the International Association of Group Psychotherapy'This book merits a central place on our bookshelves. Keep it close by - Richard Billow's highly engaging text, focusing on emergent nuclear ideas, proposes a framework to better understand group process and respond to the relational needs of the membership. This "nuclear" power will undoubtedly energise both the beginner and the seasoned leader.'- Jeffrey L. Kleinberg, PhD, past President of the American Group Psychotherapy Association'This latest book by Richard Billow is a coherent and compelling collection of clinical-theoretical papers that reflect his highly creative thinking. Substantive, articulate, and deep, Billow's writing is at the same time evocative and experience-near. A major contribution to the group therapy literature.'- Les R. Greene, PhD, President of the American Group Psychotherapy Association'This book brilliantly captures with clinical examples how nuclear ideas evolve. Richard Billow avoids strictures imposed by theoretical assumptions; instead he receives and attends to his group's productions with ears, eyes, bodily sensations, imagination, intellect, memory, and heart. It is written with the qualities that we would prize in our own group therapist: self-awareness, open-mindedness, vibrancy, integrity, emotional attunement, dedication to the non-dogmatic seeking of emotional truth, respect for people and complexity, and an appreciation of the centrality of the therapist's psychology in all phases of group life. A masterpiece and the culminating work of a writer and therapist at the pinnacle of his creative powers.'- Jerome S. Gans, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School'Richard Billow's creative and innovative ideas applying relational psychology to the group psychotherapy setting is a ground-breaking work.' - Leonard Horwitz, PhD, past President of the American Group Psychotherapy Association

• New International Library of Group Analysis Foreword , Introduction: relational group psychotherapy and the nuclear idea , The Nuclear Idea: Concept and Technique , Developing nuclear ideas , The four dimensions of a nuclear idea (experiential, affective, symbolic, and metapsychological): on scrutiny , Grounding the nuclear idea: sense and clinical sensibility , Processing nuclear ideas via four communicative modes: on hostage taking , When the group refuses a nuclear idea: on Facebook , The Influence of Polemic Ideas , Bipolar thinking leads to polemic ideas , Inveiglement , Its all about “me” , The therapist’s psychology as nuclear idea , The group beholds its leader , The invited presenter: outrage and outrageousness , The group therapist is “that guy”: organising speech