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Mid-Atlantic Group Psychotherapy Society

The Mid-Atlantic Group Psychotherapy Society (MAGPS) is a regional affiliate of the American Group Psychotherapy Association that serves group therapists in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.

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MAGPS Conferences

MAGPS hosts two annual conferences, one in the fall and one in the spring. These conferences are designed to bring together members of our community who are interested in coming together to learn about group therapy and group dynamics in a warm, collegial environment.

It is the mission of MAGPS to establish a safe, unique, creative learning environment for all attendees by hosting conferences that offer both didactic and experiential learning through participating in whole group and small group processes.  Throughout small group sessions over the course of conference weekends, challenging dynamics may emerge requiring participants to respond to, witness, take responsibility for, and self-reflect upon microaggressions, power and privilege dynamics, effectively manage ruptures, and to the degree possible, restore or repair relational ruptures.  While Small Groups can be a powerful learning tool, this experience has harmed colleagues holding marginalized identities in the past.  Prior to registering for a conference, please review MAGPS Safe Environmental Guidelines, as well as the following recommendations made by the AGPA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Task Force, by clicking on the hyperlinked text AGPA Guidelines for Creating Affirming Group ExperiencesYou may also find it beneficial to review our Conference Guidelines for Participation.  

MAGPS conferences are intended for psychologists, counselors, psychiatric nurses, psychiatrists, and social workers. Conferences offer both didactic and experiential learning experiences to deepen attendees' understanding of topical content in preparation for introducing the gained knowledge into their group therapy work. CEs are available for interested participants; please read our conference registration packet to ensure that your discipline is covered.  

While we offer conference registration discounts for MAGPS members, attendees do NOT need to be members of MAGPS or AGPA to attend, nor do they need to be actively practicing group therapy, or live/work in the Mid-Atlantic region. 

Scholarships are available for students and first-time attendees. Click here for more information and apply for a scholarship.

Please reach out to us at conferences@magps.org if you have any questions. We hope to see you at an upcoming event!  


Click here for conference and registration information.


Upcoming Conferences

    • 10 Nov 2023
    • 7:00 PM
    • 12 Nov 2023
    • 2:00 PM
    • 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD 21613
    Register

    Registration is now open for the MAGPS 2023 fall conference!


    BREAKING BINARIES, MOVING BEYOND YALOM: 
    Embracing Diversity Consciousness with Non-Traditional Group Theories

    Presented by Vinny Malik Dehili, PhD, CGP, ABPP

    We invite you to join us and our conference speaker Vinny Malik Dehili PhD, CGP, ABPP on November 10-12, 2023 as we explore a myriad of non-traditional group theories that challenge Eurocentric values and foster socio-cultural consciousness. (e.g., Buddhism, Jungian, Lacanian, D&D Therapy, Restorative Justice Circle Process, Self-Psychology, Omnipotent Child, etc.) 

    Together, we will attune our inner compasses to venture into uncharted territory, reshaping the landscape of what group therapy can be through dynamic demonstrations and insightful discussions. Let us embrace the wisdom of insecurity and cultivate creativity, spontaneity, and inter-being in our group practices.

    During the course of the weekend, participants will:

    1. Describe/define at least six non-traditional group therapy models.

    2. Apply and integrate skills and techniques from the non-traditional group therapy models introduced at the conference into the clinician’s practice of group psychotherapy

    3. Set a frame for discussions of diversity within group therapy to move towards emotional equanimity and non-discrimination

    4. Recognize binary views of human emotions/states of being and apply group psychotherapy skills to expand the range of emotions and states felt in group

    5. Utilize creative interventions related to storytelling, roleplaying, and mutative metaphors to enhance spontaneity within group processes. 

    6. Name at least five basic self-object (human) needs.

    7. Change the emotional narratives of at least five specific emotion states to depersonalize blame and decrease defensiveness in interpersonal dialogues

    8. Discuss ways in which socio-cultural transference from systemic oppression impacts individual members within the group.

    Conference Schedule

    Friday, November 10, 2023

    5:00-7:00 PM: Conference Check-in / Registration

    7:00-8:00 PM: Conference Introduction & Welcome

    8:00-8:30 PM: Mentorship Social Hour

    8:30-10:00 PM: Conference Welcome Social Hour

    ---

    Saturday, November 11, 2023

    7:00-8:30 AM: Breakfast

    7:15-8:15 AM: BodyWorks & Moving Meditation sponsored by the Anti-Racism Committee

    8:30-8:45 AM: Conference Welcome 

    8:45-9:15 AM: Plenary #1 Didactic: From Individualism to Interbeing with Group Theories

    9:15-10:15 AM: Demonstration Fishbowl: Buddhism, Mentalization & Self-Psychology

    10:15-10:30 AM: Demonstration Debrief and Q&A

    10:30-10:45 AM: Break

    10:45 AM-12:15 PM: Small Process Group #1

    12:15-2:15 PM: Lunch

    2:15-3:00 PM: Plenary #2 Didactic: Metaphors, Dreams, and the Space in Between

    3:00-4:00 PM: Demonstration Fishbowl: Group Analytic Metaphors, Jung Dream Work & Omnipotent Child

    4:00-4:30 PM: Demonstration Debrief and Q&A

    4:30-4:45 PM: Break

    4:45-6:00 PM: Small Process Group #2

    ---

    Sunday, November 12, 2023

    7:15-8:15 AM: BodyWorks & Moving Meditation sponsored by the Anti-Racism Committee

    7:00-8:30 AM: Breakfast

    8:30-9:00 AM: Welcome and MAGPS Announcements

    9:00-9:30 AM: Plenary #3 Didactic: Spontaneity, Creativity, and Shared Storytelling

    9:30-10:30 AM: Demonstration Fishbowl: Psychodrama, Restorative Justice, and Table-Top Roleplaying Therapy

    10:30-11:15 AM: Demonstration Debrief

    11:15-11:30 AM: Break

    11:30 AM-12:30 PM: Small Process Group #3

    12:30-12:45 PM: Small Process Group Debrief

    12:45-1:00 PM: Break

    1:00-1:45 PM: Plenary #4: Wrap Up and Q&A

    1:45-2:00 PM: Conference Wrap Up 

    2:00 PM: BIPOC Lunch & Social

    REGISTRATION RATES AND INFORMATION

    Hotel Information:
    The Hyatt Regency, Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina sits in beautiful Cambridge, MD. This award winning resort and spa features a fabulous golf course, child daycare services, a relaxing spa and much more.  

    Click here to reserve your room with our discounted rate**

    ** Please note that the hotel rate is only available till October 12, 2023 **

    Getting to the Conference: 

    The Hyatt Regency, Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina is most accessible by car. We realize this is not as feasible nor economical for all, MAGPS wants to help you find a way to the Fall 2023 Conference!

    Though we cannot drive you there, we can provide a list of individuals needing and providing rides. When you register, please let us know if you are one of those attendees and where you are driving/riding from. MAGPS will provide a list of those individuals to anyone who signs up to be on the list. Now all you have to do is contact each other directly. See you at the MAGPS Conference!  

    Conference Fees:
    MAGPS Member: $325
    Non-member: $395
    New Professional: $200
    Student/Retiree: $100
    *11CE/CME Processing Fee: $50

    *The content for this activity has been submitted for continuing education credits. For questions email: cce@ubhc.rutgers.edu

    Registration Deadline: 
    Friday, November 3, 2023

    Cancellation Policy:
    Full refund less $25 if cancellation made by November 3, 2023; 
    No refunds after that date.

    For registration assistance, or to register by phone, contact our conference registrar Sonia Kahn at registration@magps.org. For more information, visit our 2023 Fall Conference website or contact the conference chair, Catherine Grothus at conferences@magps.org.

Disclosure of Commercial Support and the Unlabeled Use of a Commercial Product: No member of the planning committee and no member of the faculty for this event have a financial interest or other relationship with any commercial product(s) discussed in the program. The Washington School of Psychiatry is an independent non-profit organization. It is not affiliated with the government of the District of Columbia or the government of the United States. Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval.

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