63rd Annual Conference

Friday, February 24

Afternoon Workshops

2:45-6:00 P.M.

Workshop 59         

How We Talk: Using a Communication Tool (SAVI) to Reduce Restraining Forces to Group Development and Integration of Differences

Chair:         

Claudia Byram, Ph.D., CGP, Consulting Affiliate, Friends Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

How we say what we say both expresses ourselves and affects the social world we are living in – work, family, friends, therapy – and how we manage differences.  SAVI™ (System for Analyzing Verbal Interaction) is a model for tracking the ‘how’ of verbal communication. In this workshop we will use this model to deliberately reduce ‘noise’ and include differences as members develop an experiential group.

Didactic-experiential-demonstration-sharing of work experiences

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Identify and modify at least four forms of ‘noisy’ or defensive communication in

groups: negative predictions, ‘mind reads’, yes/buts and complaints.

2. Demonstrate a ‘building’ communication pattern to support functional sub-grouping.

3. Identify defensive communication behavior typical of 'flight' patterns.

Course References:

1. Agazarian, Y. & Gantt, S. (2003). Phases of Group Development: System

-centered hypotheses and their implications for research and practice. Group

Dynamics: Theory, Research and Practice, 7(3), 238-252.

2. Bennis, W., & Sheppard, H. (1956). A Theory of Group Development. Human

Relations, 9(4), 415-437.

3. Simon, A., & Agazarian, Y. (2000). SAVI - the System for Analyzing Verbal

Interaction. In A. Beck, & C. Lewis (Eds.). The Process of Group Psychotherapy:

Systems for analyzing change. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Assn.