64th Annual Conference

Friday, March 9

Morning Workshops

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

Master Workshop 43

More on "The Group from Hell"

Open to participants with ten or more years of experience.

Chair:     

Priscilla F. Kauff, Ph.D., CGP, DFAGPA, Clinical Associate Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, New York, New York

Participants will be requested to present examples of very difficult groups or group members that have generated highly negative feelings in the therapist. Entrenched character pathology , malignant resistance, countertransference, and the use of the group to resolve these difficulties, will be considered.

didactic, sharing of work experiences, demonstration, experiential

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:
1. Identify situations in which the group or group members are manifesting entrenched or malignant resistance or character pathology.
2. Analyze the impact of such situations on the therapist's functioning and the resulting countertransference.
3. Define the invaluable contribution of the group itself to assist the therapist through these difficult experiences.

Course References:

1. Alonso, A. and  Rutan, S. (1993). Character Change in Group Psychotherapy. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy. 43(4), 439-451.
2. Kernberg, O. (1984). Severe Personality Disorders: Psychotherapeutic strategies. New Haven: Yale University Press.
3.Kauff, P. (1991). The Contribution of Analytic Group Therapy to the Psychoanalytic Process. In Group Therapy in Clinical Practice. A. Alonso and H. Swiller, (Eds.). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Press 3-28.  (Presented at Grand Rounds Department of Psychiatry, Harvard University Medical School, 1991.).