Pre-Conference Institutes

MAGPS is pleased to be offering a one-day workshop designed to help group leaders explore their role, style, and orientation when leading a process group for psychotherapists participating in training events. This pilot training is being offered as a preconference event for the Spring 2016 MAGPS Conference and will be held at Saint Elizabeth on Friday April 8, 2016 from 8:00am to 5:30 pm. The preconference training event committee includes Karen Eberwein, PsyD, Victoria Lee, PhD, Farooq Mohyuddin, MD, CGP, and Lorraine Wodiska, PhD, ABPP, CGP.

Typically, lessons learned in process groups have been a primary training model in development of group psychotherapists. However, the training opportunities that include actual instruction for leaders of this type of group experience have been limited. The committee has recognized this gap and has been working hard to create a unique workshop experience for individuals who want to explore the group leader role. The one-day training will consist of morning and afternoon plenary sessions, taught by Lorraine Wodiska and Farooq Mohyuddin, respectively, and four process groups. Concepts such as exploring the definition of a process group and understanding the difference between process groups and therapy groups will be discussed. Participants will also be encouraged to reflect on how their theoretical orientation, role, and personal reactions to leading a group in a unique environment impact group dynamics. At the end of each process group will be an evaluation session and a break. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided to attendees, and the training will end with a large group discussion. All attendees will participate in the process group sessions as a member and also have the opportunity to co-lead one of the four process group sessions.

The training is designed to further increase attendees’ ability to differentiate between a process group and therapy group, facilitate identification of one’s theoretical orientation, increase their ability to describe decision making process on choice of interventions, and to identify relevant ethical issues in training process groups. It is not intended to be an orientation to leading process groups. We believe transitioning between tasks, occupying multiple roles, and leading with peers is challenging. However, we want to be able to provide attendees with a varied experience as a leader and participant, therefore the committee has designated an application process to ensure individuals will have some experience and familiarity with process. We are requiring registrants to have participated in at least two educational process group experiences. Our primary goal is to provide a safe environment where colleagues can give and receive feedback from one another for the purpose of increasing self-awareness and facilitating one’s growth as a process group leader.

To promote an intimate, safe learning environment, if required, the committee will also limit the number of participants. Because space may be limited, please do not wait to apply. Ultimately, we hope to use this pilot as a launching pad to create a training program to facilitate growth for process group leaders in various stages of development.

For additional information, including the application, please visit the MAGPS website,

http://www.magps.org/conferences/archive/2016%20spring/preconf.html.