About The Center for the Study of Group Psychotherapy
CSGPs Mission and Vision
The mission of The Center for the Study of Group Psychotherapy is to promote group psychotherapy and provide group psychotherapy training. Our vision is to meet the need for group therapy training, especially in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay area where training is not readily available to group therapists. We are a community of mental health professionals who believe in group therapy as a highly valuable form of therapy.
History of CSGP
CSGP is a non-profit organization formed in January 2014 in order to provide an organizational structure to carry out its mission. CSGP is unique in offering group psychotherapy courses in a not-for-profit setting.
In conversations with her consultant, Dr. Irvin Yalom, CSGPs founder, Dr. Nancy Wesson, recognized the need for group therapy training and promotion after observing over several years that psychotherapy groups were losing visibility within the mental health community. Recognizing group psychotherapy as a highly valuable form of treatment, Dr. Wesson and founding members created an organization that would make group psychotherapy coursework and training more accessible to mental health professionals in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Major Milestones for CSGP
January 2014: Applied for non-profit corporation status.
April 2014-March 2015: Monthly discussion meetings by CSGP mental health professionals were held to formulate ideas to develop the center.
April 2014: Mental health professionals came together to discuss the need for available training for group therapists and support for group therapists.
April 2014: First board meeting of the newly formed Center for the Study of Group Psychotherapy. Nancy Wesson, Ph.D., President, Terri Zucker, Ph.D., Vice President/Treasurer, and Alice Ruzicka, Ph.D., Secretary.
July 2014: Center for the study of group Psychotherapy received nonprofit 501C3 status by the IRS.
October 2014: CSGP received provider status with the California Psychological Association to offer Continuing education coursework credit for psychologists, MFTs, LPCCs, and LCSW’s.
November 2014: First training course was offered: Enhancing Group Therapy with Mindful Self-Esteem taught by Janetti Marotta, Ph.D. and Nancy Wesson, Ph.D.
March 2015: CSGP-hosted Dr. Irvin Yalom for a CE training event: “A conversation with Dr. Irvin Yalom.” Dr. Yalom was interviewed about group psychotherapy by CSGP founder Nancy Wesson, Ph.D. This event was offered as a means of launching the new center and training group therapists. 220 people were in attendance.
May 2016: CSGP offered the training course with San Mateo County Psychological Association:The Essentials for Starting and Leading a Successful Psychotherapy and/or Psychoeducational Group taught by Nancy Wesson, Ph.D.
Feb 2017: CSGP training course: Successful Group Therapy:the Ins and Outs taught by Nancy Wesson,Ph.D.
Oct. 31, 2017: Group Therapy training course on Group Therapy and Mindful Self-esteem at LifeMoves a nonprofit which works with the homeless population. Nancy Wesson, Ph.D.,D Janetti Marotta, PhD.
June 10, 2017 Free Demonstration Training Group: led by Nancy Wesson, Ph.D.