Objective: The day hospital of the psychogeriatric service in Geneva admits patients with cognitive disorders and concomitant depression, anxiety or delusional manifestations. The patients are included in a group program based on the concept of semi-residential therapeutic community. The usual verbal therapies employed to facilitate the expression of emotions seem inappropriate for these patients. The adaptation of the classical tools of psychotherapy is proposed in order to make easier the elaboration of psychic contents. In this context, the “expression group” represents a structured moment focused on emotions and patients’ feelings.
Design: The main steps of the clinical process are presented. Many group settings have been experimented and adapted to correspond to the level of difficulties and resources of the patients.
Materials and Methods: The game, inspired from the traditional games called “of trial”, is composed by 3 types of squares: “verbal squares” including one keyword each, “image squares” function as icons, and “sense squares” stimulate sensorial functions.
Results: A group session is constructed through the different reactions and thoughts suggested by the content of each square. The role of the therapist is to establish links and favor the discussion. Conduction and session interpretation refer to the psychodynamic theory.
Conclusion: Illustrating a group session, the authors wish to give an overview of the psychotherapeutic work possible with severely demented patients. The psychotherapeutic elaboration obtained through this game is an example of this approach.
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