64th Annual Conference

Thursday, March 8

Morning Workshops

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

Workshop 10

Co-Therapy: Harmonizing Two Distinct and Equal Partnerships

Open to participants with less than four years of group psychotherapy experience.

Chairs:    

Barbara Kidder, M.A., Private Practice, Seattle, Washington

Eugene Kidder, M.Div., CGP, Private Practice, Seattle, Washington

This workshop demonstrates co-therapist conduct of group psychotherapy, including: processes in which the team members maintain and nurture their partnership; structures and procedures which provide safe passage for group members; and effective use by co-therapists of transference and countertransference resources in the agency of conflict and intimacy.

experiential, demonstration, sharing of work experiences, didactic

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Develop criteria for choosing a co-therapist and acquire skills in co-therapist team management.

2. Construct a leadership style which creatively uses transference and countertransference in deepening group members’ mastery of conflict and intimacy.

3. Establish co-therapy based diagnostic indications and intake procedures for selection of appropriate patients for the co-therapy group.

4. Enlist suitable consultation sources for addressing impasses and difficulties in the conduct of co-therapy.

Course References:

1. Bernard, H., Drob, S., and Lifshutz, H. (1987). Compatibility Between Cotherapists: An empirical report. Psychotherapy. 24(1).

2. Brabender, V., Fallon, A., and Smolar, A. (2004). Group Leadership in Essentials of Group Therapy. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons.

3. Polsby, G. (1996). Cotherapy: An interpersonal encounter. National Group Psychotherapy Institute/Conference on Interpersonal and Existential Group Therapy.

4. Roller, B., and Nelson, V. (1991). The Art of Co-Therapy. London/New York: The Guilford Press.