65th Annual Conference

Friday, February 22

Afternoon Workshops

2:45-6:00 P.M.

Workshop 63

From Contention to Conversation: Alternatives to "Yes, but..." Dialogues in Groups, Couples and Life

Chair:

Claudia A. Byram, Ph.D., CGP, Private Practice, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We have all been part of frustrating “yes, but…” communication patterns - temporarily or in entrenched systems. This workshop discusses the group dynamics of 'yes-but', and uses the System for Analyzing Verbal Interaction (SAVI) to analyze this communication deadlock and to map and practice alternatives, both as a participant and as a leader.
experiential-didactic-sharing of work experiences-demonstration
 

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:
1. Recognize the power struggle in communication patterns.
2. Implement one strategy to change their own behavior to shift the pattern toward information transfer as a participant.
3. Implement one intervention strategy as leader or therapist.
 

Course References:

1. Agazarian, Y.M. & Gantt, S. P. (2000). Autobiography of a theory, London and Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
2. Simon, A. (1993). Using SAVI for Couples' Therapy. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 4, 39-62.
3. Simon A, & Agazarian, Y. M. (2000). SAVI - the System for Analyzing Verbal Interaction, in The Process of Group Psychotherapy: Systems for Analyzing Change, Beck, A. P. & Lewis, C. M. (Eds.), Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Assn.