66th Annual Conference

Saturday, February 21

Morning Workshops

9:00 - 11:30 A.M.

Workshop 81

Authority and Authenticity: Issues in Adolescent Group Treatment

Chair:                

David J. Dumais, LCSW, CGP, Senior Facilitator, Groupworks, Brooklyn, New York

As adolescents negotiate the “second separation-individuation process” the issues of dependence and independence are often explored through challenges to the leader. The art of adolescent group treatment is in freeing the group members to have all their feelings without destroying the group leader or the group.

didactic-demonstration-sharing of work experiences-experiential

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Understand the different needs of adolescents around authority during the early, middle, and late adolescence.

2. Develop strategies for confronting issues of dependency and authority without getting trapped in non productive roles.

3. Help group leaders who work with adolescents to begin to develop an authentic authoritative style that is suited to the complexities of adolescent development.

Course References:

1. Ormont, L., (1984) The Leader's Role in Dealing with Aggression in Group. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 34(4), 353-372.

2. Ormont, L., (1984) The Leader's Role in Resolving Resistances to Intimacy in Group. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 38, 29-45.

3. Rutan, J.S., Stone, W.N. and Shay J. (2007). Psychodynamic Group Psychotherapy. (4th ed). New York: Guilford Press.