66th Annual Conference

Friday, February 20

Early Bird Open Sessions

7:15 – 8:15 A.M.

Session 208

Planning for the Unexpected: When the Group Therapist has to Cancel (Law & Ethics CEUs)

Presenter:

Ann Steiner, Ph.D., MFT, CGP, FAGPA, Associate Clinical Professor, University of California Medical School, San Francisco, California

Illnesses and other sudden emergencies happen to us all. Now is the time to plan for minor or serious illness, retirement, relocation and death, including who will contact your group members if you cannot. This overview introduces ways to minimize the negative impact on your clients, your colleagues and yourself. Law and ethics credit available.

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Describe common problems created for group members when the leader cancels or is ill.

2.  Analyze when and whether it is appropriate to be self-disclosing regarding the group leader's health, reasons for cancelling sessions and termination.

3.  List the essential ingredients of a comprehensive Therapist's Professional Will.

4.  Describe plans for minimizing the trauma caused to group members when the therapist has to cancel, transfer or terminate group earlier than expected.

Course References:

1. Fieldsteel, N. (2004) When the Therapist Says Goodbye International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 55 (2) 245-279.

2. Rauch, E. (1998) A One Session Memorial Group Following the Death of a Therapist, International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 48 (1) p 99-104.

3. Steiner, A. (2004) “The Therapist Protection Plan: Preparing for Expected and Unexpected Absences from Practice” The Therapist, July/September.