64th Annual Conference

Thursday, March 8

Morning Workshops

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

 

Master Workshop 7

Adoption as a Metaphor/Reality for Feelings and Fantasies of Alienation

 

Open to participants with more than ten years of group psychotherapy experience.

 

Chairs:    

Alice Byrne, M.S.W., CGP,  Private Practice, Huntington, New York

Lois Kennedy, Psy.D., Senior Supervisor, Post Graduate Center for Mental Health, New York, New York

Jerome Leff, M.S.W.,  BCD, Private Practice, New York, New York

Emanuel Shapiro, Ph.D., CGP, FAGPA, Private Practice, New York, New York

 

This is a countertransference workshop dealing with fantasies and experiences of alienation and loneliness expressed through adoption themes. Primal themes of generativity, alienation, inclusion-exclusion will be explored via writing exercises and group process. Group offers the unique promise of demystifying and normalizing these feelings. 

experiential, sharing of work experiences, demonstration, didactic

 

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Demonstrate understanding of adoption and adoption fantasies.

2. Explain the use of techniques to normalize and demystify feelings of alienation.

3. Identify themes of mourning for lost possibilities.

 

Course References:

1. Gordon, B. (2006). Are You Happy? A childhood remembered. Riverhead Books.

2. Harwood, I. (2006). Head Start Is Too Late: Integrating and applying infant observation studies, and attachment, trauma and neurobiological research to groups with pregnant and new mothers. International Journal Of Group Psychotherapy. 56, 5-28.

3. Calsched, D. (2005). Dante's "Dis": Archetypal image and clinical reality with early trauma patients. Quadrant. 35(1), 11-33.