64th Annual Conference

Saturday, March 10

Morning Open Sessions

8:45 A.M.-12:00 Noon

Session 313         

Wouldn't You Rather Do It Twice A Week? Intensive Psychotherapy in Groups: American Clinicians Examine European Group Analysis

Chair:         

Howard Kibel, M.D., CGP, DFAGPA, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, New York Medical College, New York, New York

Panelists:         

Robi Friedman, Ph.D., Mem. Inst., G.A., President, Israeli Group Analytic Association, Haifa, Israel

Leonard Horwitz, Ph.D., CGP, DFAGPA, Professor, University of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri

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

Molyn Leszcz, M.D., FRCPC, CGP, Psychiatrist-in-Chief, Mount Sinai Hospital, and Associate Professor of Psychiatry, and Head, Group Psychotherapy University of Toronto

John Schlapobersky, BA, MSc, Mem. Inst. G.A., Training Group Analyst, Institute of Group Analysis, London, England

After demonstration of the method with volunteers from the audience, a panel of leading American discussants and the audience will continue the dialogue opened at the last AGPA meeting, to compare this approach with their own. Group analysis is widely practices in Europe and elsewhere. Two leading group analysts present a method that offers therapy of great depth and range following the ideas of S.H. Foulkes, its founder, who described it as psychotherapy in the group, by the group, including the conductor. The audience and panelists will examine its relevance to their own principles and practice. 

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Apply Foulkesian principles of similarity and difference to the composition of mixed and heterogeneous, long-term groups.

2. Address leadership issues in group therapy using the dual principle of the conductor as both therapist and group member.

3. Use the concepts of resonance, mirroring, amplification and condensation to address the process dynamics of small groups.

4. Differentiate levels of meaning and modalities of language in the analysis and interpretation of a group's content.

Course References:

1. Friedman, R. (2002). Dreamtelling as a Request for Containment-The Royal Road Through the Other. In Dreams in Group Psychotherapy. Neri, M. Pines and R. Friedman (Eds.), Jessica Kingsley, London.

2. Horwitz, L. (1977). A Group-Centered Approach to Group Psychotherapy. International Journal Group Psychotherapy. 27, 423-439.

3. Kauff, P.  (2004). On the Fate of Neutrality in Psychoanalytic Group Therapy. AGPA Audiotape, Chair of Panel, Dr. A. Alonso.

4. Schlapobersky, J. (1994). The Language of the Group: Monologue, dialogue and discourse in group analysis. In The Psyche and the Social World. D. Brown,. and L. Zinkin, (Eds.), London: Jessica Kingsley.