63rd Annual Conference

Friday, February 24

Morning Workshops

10:00 A.M.-1:15 P.M.

Workshop 49

Mini-Groups: An Underused Treatment Modality for Special Children

Chairs:         

Jo Hariton, Ph.D., CGP, Coordinator of Child Adolescent Group Psychotherapy, New York Presbyterian Hospital, White Plains, New York

Saul Scheidlinger, Ph.D., ABPP, DFAGPA, CGP, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry (Child Psychology), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 

While traditional children's groups usually require at least five members, some children are unsuitable for such groups.  A model comprising two or three children has been found effective in working with uniquely fragile youths, among them, those falling into the autistic spectrum, overly impulsive ones, or those with severe sibling rivalry.  This workshop will deal with the concepts and techniques which mini-groups entail. 

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Distinguish between traditional and mini-groups.

2. Select and prepare the children suitable for such treatment.

3. Guide the interaction toward therapeutic ends.

Course References:

1. Foller, J. (1999). Duo Therapy. A Potential Treatment of Choice for Latency Children. Journal of the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, 16, 468-477.

2. Lomonaco, S., Scheidlinger, S., Aronson, S. (2000). Four Decades of Childrens' Group Treatment. Journal of Child Adolescent Group Therapy, 10, 77-96.

3. Mervis, B. (1985). The Use of Peer Pairing in Child Psychotherapy. Social Work, 30, 124-128.

4. Scheidlinger, S. (2001). Mini-Treatment Groups for Children. Journal of Child Adolescent Group Therapy, 11, 199-201.