63rd Annual Conference

Thursday, February 23

Afternoon Open Sessions

2:45 P.M.-6:00 P.M.

Session 304

The Many Aspects of Shame in Group Psychotherapy: Analysis and Treatment

Chair:         

Fern Cramer-Azima, Ph.D., DFAGPA, Associate Professor of

Psychiatry and Adjuvant Professor of Psychology, Medicine, McGill

University, Montreal, QC

Panelists:         

Jerome Gans, M.D., CGP, FAGPA,

Felix Mendelssohn, M.S.W.

Sabar Rustomjee, M.B., FRANZCP, D.P.M.

Ivan Urlic, M.D.

The shame of members and the group therapist will be considered from a variety of view points including the analysis of unbearable shame; the shame of victims following trauma and war; transgenerational and cultural shame.  The burden of shame carried by the group therapist will be illustrated and the resulting countertransference effects.  Therapeutic solutions will be presented including the courage of the group therapist as an antidote to shame, and the dilemma of "heroic solutions." Clinical vignettes will be provided of the resistance to modify shame at the individual, group and cultural levels.

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Distinguish between bearable and unbearable shame.

2. Define the therapist's role in assessing and elaborating shame.

3. Analyze the leader's crucial role in decontaminating shame, humiliation and guilt.

4. Compare and contrast victim shame and therapist shame.

5. Illustrate the combined individual and group therapy processes in working through shame.

Course References:

1. Weber, R & Gans, J. (2003). Shame and the Group Therapist.: A much undiscussed topic. The International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 395-416.

2. Mollon, P. (2002) Shame and Jealousy. The Hidden Turmoils. In I. Wise, (Ed.). Karnac Press.

3. Winnicott, D. (1960). The Maturational Process and the Facilitating Environment. London: Hogarth Press.