Offered with San Mateo County Psychological Association (SMCPA)
What You Will Learn
- As a clinician the therapeutic benefits of different types of group therapy such as psychoeducational, psychotherapy, and support groups.
- As a group leader Group leadership skills for successfully leading psychotherapy and psychoeducational groups.
Course Leader
Nancy Wesson, Ph.D., CGP, (Psy9621) Nancy Wesson, Ph.D. C.G.P is a licensed psychologist (psy9521) in private practice who has led two weekly psychotherapy groups for 25 years and taught group therapy courses for 17 years. She was trained by Dr.Irvin Yalom and the American Group Psychotherapy Association. Dr. Wesson is the founder of the Center for the Study of Group Psychotherapy (CSGP.org).
Course Overview
Therapy groups offer many unique and important benefits for clients in diverse settings. Interpersonal and psychodynamic psychotherapy groups are a therapeutic modality for clients to understand relationship dynamics, increase interpersonal connection and gain insight.(Yalom & Leszcz,2006), Psychoeducational groups such as those for social anxiety or depression provide education, group interaction, support, and skill building to clients in many settings such as private practice, HMO’s, medical clinics, day treatment programs, and mental health agencies. (Orgrodniczuk & Steinberg, 2005).
In this course, psychologists will learn many of the important aspects of starting and leading successful psychotherapy and psychoeducational groups. These include: 1) A description of different types of groups and the advantages and disadvantages of different types of groups. 2) The selection, screening and preparation of clients to participate in a group. 3) A discussion of common clinical dilemmas which arise in psychotherapy and psychoeducational groups and methods for handling them. 4) a discussion of therapeutic factors in psychotherapy or psychoeducational groups (Holmes, S., & Kivlighan, D., Jr,. 2000).
This course will be taught at the post-doctoral level to increase the knowledge and skill level of psychologists who lead or who are planning to lead a psychotherapy or psychoeducational group.
Course Outline / Timeline
12:30 P.M.-1:00 P.M: Introduction and overview of the course.
1:00-P.M.-1:30 P.M. Advantages and disadvantages of different types of groups including psychodynamic, interpersonal, psychoeducational groups, and blends.
1:30 P.M.-2:00 P.M. Selection and screening, factors of clients for different types of groups.
2:00 PM.-2:30 P.M. Therapeutic factors in different types of groups and maximizing the benefits of these therapeutic factors.
2:45 P.M.-3:00 P.M. Break
References:
Castonguay, L., Constantino, M., & Holtforth, M. (2006). The working alliance: Where are we and where should we go? Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 43(3), 271-279.
Holmes, S., & Kivlighan, D., Jr. (2000). Comparison of therapeutic factors in group and individual treatment processes. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 47(4), 478-484.
Klein, A., Markowitz, J., Rothbaum, B., Thase, M., Fisher, A., & Kocsis, J. (2013). The Relationship between the Therapeutic Alliance and Treatment Outcome in Two Distinct Psychotherapies for Chronic Depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology,4, 627-638.
Orgrodniczuk, J. & Steinberg, P. (2005) A Renewal of Interest in Day Treatment. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry,50,77..
Tasca, G., Balfour, L., Ritchie, K., & Bissada, H. (2007). The relationship between attachment scales and group therapy alliance growth differs by treatment type for women with binge-eating disorder. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 11(1), 1-14.
Wesson, N. (2007). Becoming a true member of a psychotherapy group. The California Psychologist, June/July, 21.
Yalom, I., & Leszcz, M. (2006). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy (5th Ed.). New York: Basic Books.
CSGP is approved by the California Psychological Association to provide continuing professional education for psychologists as well as MFTs, LPPC’s, and LCSWs. CSGP maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Provider No. PCE5391. For further info: CSGP.org.