Externalizing Conversations: Single Session Narrative Group Interventions in a Partial Hospital Setting

Abstract

Partial hospital programs (PHPs) provide ambulatory treatment for mental health and substance-related problems when symptoms are too severe to be managed on an outpatient basis, but do not reach the threshold for inpatient admission. Groups are the primary treatment modality. This article explores the application of externalizing conversations, a core narrative intervention, to PHP group work. After a description of the setting, an overview is provided on the practice of externalizing, its place in narrative therapy, and its use in groups. With this background, two single-session group externalizing interventions are discussed using case material. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.