Conference Breakout Session Information
Small Group Experiential Trainings
You will be able to rank order your top preferences for the following 4 Small Group Experiential Trainings, and will receive your assigned group a couple days before the conference. Your SGET will be comprised of a small cohort of conference participants (probably 6-12) and will meet together for a total of four 90-minute sessions throughout the two days of the conference. These SGETs function in the same way that 'institutes' do at the American Group Psychotherapy Conference.
Usually conference participants get their top choice, but occasionally we will move to your 2nd or 3rd choice if there are conflicts of interest (e.g. multiple people from the same organization) or once an SGET reaches the maximum number of group members.
if you have not yet registered for the conference, you can do that by CLICKING HERE.
(Confirmed)
Small Group Experiential Training #1
Exploring Core Tensions in Group Dynamics
Omkar Sawardekar MSW, LICSW
(he/him)
Omkar is a Clinical Diversity & Inclusion Specialist and an Organizational Change Consultant who has worked in a range of clinical settings with a diverse range of clients in the context of demographic and acuity levels and is experienced as an individual, group, and family Therapist. Omkar has a background in technology, business, fundraising, and non-profit work. Driven by the tenets that relationships are central to individual and societal healing and that the best healing practices grow from interdisciplinary methodologies, Omkar is committed to collaboratively developing tools that promote culturally responsive care. Throughout his work with individuals, families, and systems, Omkar is drawn to collaboratively addressing complex individual, cultural and systemic challenges.
Description
This small group experiential will explore underlying tensions and conflicts that facilitators inevitably navigate in the context of group work. Examples of these tensions are: depth vs breadth, structure vs flow, similarity vs. difference. We will explore how these tensions are sharped by broader cultural considerations and unpack our own tendencies and biases in how we navigate them.
Learning objectives
- Explore frameworks to conceptualize and navigate the rich and complex intersections of mental health, trauma, social identity, and culture
- Build self-awareness around own biases and tendencies in navigating a range of tensions that are present in group dynamics
- Practice applying key concepts to support building intercultural competence as a group facilitator
Brief description of your theoretical approach to group leadership
This experiential will draw from multiple frameworks/lenses including dialectic, mindfulness, intercultural competency, cultural dimensions, and grief.
How does your group take into consideration viewpoints from diverse populations and cultural locations?
This experiential is aimed at supporting participants in building skills to work across a range of differences to optimally meet their clients needs.
(Postponed to a Futre Conference)
Title of Small Group Experiential Training #2
The Use of Cultural Rituals in Saying Hello and Goodbye
Jessi Leader MA, LMFT
(She/Her)
Description
(Coming soon...)
Learning objectives
Brief description of your theoretical approach to group leadership
How does your group take into consideration viewpoints from diverse populations and cultural locations?
Briefly describe your experience as a group leader
Briefly describe your experience training others to conduct group treatment
(Confirmed)
Title of Small Group Experiential Training #3
Activating and Illuminating the Here-and-now in Your Groups
Brian Post, PhD, LP
(He/Him)
Brian has spent his career working in college mental health with a focus on running process groups. In graduate school he developed a passion for group therapy while managing a research lab that was housed within a group therapy clinic. He currently provides individual and group psychotherapy to University of Minnesota students at Boynton Health, and typically runs 4 process groups each semester. In addition to his training in group therapy, Brian also received post-graduate training in contemporary psychodynamic psychotherapy with an emphasis on intersubjectivity and attachment theory.
Description
This two-day process group is devoted to small group teaching primarily in the experiential mode. The secure environment allows for rich cognitive and emotional learning about group processes and about yourself, as well as providing you an opportunity for personal and professional renewal. The group psychotherapy skills gained in this group are important in conducting ANY group, regardless of your theoretical orientation, time parameter or patient population. The group leader will not introduce themes or topics at the outset, but will be curious to explore the here-and-now experiences of group members and the group-as-a-whole. You will be invited to share your thoughts and feelings that arise during our experiential work together. A portion of each session will be didactic.
Irvin Yalom has continually asserted that the core of group therapy is working in the here-and-now. This experiential group will help you practice both ACTIVATING and ILLUMINATING the here-and-now in a group setting (Yalom describes activation and illumination as the two symbiotic tiers that create therapeutic power). We will practice shifting our group attention from the "there-and-then" to the "here-and-now", from thoughts and feelings about the past/future to those of the present, from generalities to specifics, from the unspoken to the spoken, and from the abstract to the concrete. We will also notice when we are experiencing strong cohesion as a group and explore our barriers when we are feeling disconnected, out of sync, or otherwise struggling to perform meaningful work together.
Learning objectives
-Explain the components of therapeutic here-and-now activation and illumination
-Select interventions that aid in developing group cohesion for groups early in development
-Identify your own subjective experiences as a group member, and explore those of other participants and the group-as-a-whole experiences.
Brief description of your theoretical approach to group leadership
Yalom-style interpersonal process
How does your group/workshop take into consideration viewpoints from diverse populations and cultural locations?
We will continually attune to here-and-now feelings, interpersonal dynamics, and other realities that arise in our work together. Our identities (both those readily recognized by others and those that we must chose to disclose) constitute a significant portion of our here-and-now group experiences. We will explore the similarities and differences among our feelings, worldviews, interpersonal dynamics, and other realities that are present when we engage in group work. We will also pay attention to the development of the identity of the group as a whole, and how that identity may shift as members reveal things about themselves and as we create norms for how to face realities in our group such as difference, power and privilege dynamics, and other dynamics.
Briefly describe your experience as a group leader
In graduate school I spent five years training to be a process group leader under the supervision of a certified group psychotherapist. I have been independently facilitating multiple general process groups each semester for UMN students since 2013.
Briefly describe your experience training others to conduct group treatment
Over the past 10 years I have trained both graduate students and licensed professionals to conduct group psychotherapy.
(Confirmed)
Title of Small Group Experiential Training #4
What do I Really Want? Finding Value in Exploring Our Unmet Needs as Therapists and Group Leaders
Nate Page, PhD, LP, CGP (Certified Group Psychotherapist)
(He/Him)
Nate transitioned into full time private practice on January 1, 2021. He specializes in group therapy for college students, and provides group therapy training to mental health professionals. He is the owner of Group Therapy Central LLC (grouptherapycentral.com) and also Northfield Dynamic Therapy (northfielddynamictherapy.com). Nate currently facilitates three different ongoing online process-oriented training groups for therapists through the US and Canada.
Description
The work of group members is typically guided by their unmet needs (e.g. to feel seen and accepted, to be empowered to establish boundaries or to ask for help, to experience a strong sense of belonging and mattering, or maybe to break free from toxic mindsets and relational patterns). As therapists, and human beings, we have the same emotional needs as our clients yet we don't bring those into our therapy relationships in the same way that clients bring their emotional needs to us. Ideally, we can get all our emotional needs met in other relationships (family, friends, personal therapy), but, of course, that is not always the case. There are also some unique emotional challenges that come with the territory of being a therapist. In the last two years have had the privilege of working with over 90 therapists as they engage in small group work with other therapists. Some of the most meaningful work is helping each other better understand our unmet needs, and practice meeting those needs together in group settings. Many of these are common needs for all human beings, while others are more unique to our work as therapists (e.g. injuries like burnout, compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and moral injury, challenges relating to imposter syndrome, financial strain, career development concerns).
This experiential group will work in the here-and-now to help each group member (and the group as a whole) identify unmet emotional needs and work towards meeting those needs in productive and healthy ways. Our focus will be on both personal and professional unmet emotional needs. We will practice engaging in here-and-now fantasy work, shifting from generalities to specifics, from the unspoken to the spoken, from abstract to concrete, and from thoughts/feelings about the past/future to those of the here-and-now.
Learning objectives
1. List 3 common struggles that most therapists face (yet may be hesitant to reveal).
2. Practice contextualizing your individual responsibility for your unmet needs within larger systemic factors that might be beyond your control.
3. Describe at least two of the unique challenges BIPOC clinicians in the US face with burnout and compassion fatigue.
4. Identify your own subjective experiences, and explore those of other participants and the group-as-a-whole experiences.
Brief description of your theoretical approach to group leadership
Existential, humanistic/client-centered, and very relational. My goal would be to run a group with a mix of what Irvin Yalom and Carl Rogers might do.
How does your group take into consideration viewpoints from diverse populations and cultural locations?
A significant piece of our here-and-now experiencing is becoming aware of the dynamics created by the conglomeration of our identities, cultural upbringings, and current social norms/expectations. We will call attention to recapitulations of power, privilege, and oppression as they arise in the group. We will explore how these larger systemic forces impact the ability to get needs met, and also explore any personal responsibility we hold within the context of these systems. As a group leader, I will be intentional to acknowledge my own identities, biases and potential blind spots to model vulnerability and help create a group climate of willingness to address difficult topics. As a group we will endeavor to call attention to any microaggressions, unconscious biases, and implicit reactions that could cause harm while also working towards reparative experiences. Ideally, we will practice "CREATING CORRECTIVE EXPERIENCES FOR OURSELVES AND FOR OUR CLIENTS" (the conference theme). This SGET has the potential to be a predominantly white, cis-gendered, and heterosexual space, and I intend to name and explore these realities in our small group work.
Briefly describe your experience as a group leader
I fell in love with group therapy as a graduate student and have since sought out any group therapy related experience that time and opportunity would allow. I have started and ended over 35 groups in a college counseling setting, and I have provided trainings on group therapy at various regional and national conferences.
Briefly describe your experience training others to conduct group treatment
I have been the Group Coordinator at two college counseling centers and am continually involved in group therapy trainings. I developed Group Therapy Central, LLC which provides high quality therapy groups for Minnesota residents and training groups and events for mental health clinicians (like this current conference). Currently I run three different ongoing process-oriented training group for therapists throughout North America.
(Postponed to a Future Conference)
Anna Packard PhD, CEDS, CGP (Certified Group Psychotherapist)
Corrine Hannan PhD, CEDS, CGP (Certified Group Psychotherapist)
Title of Small Group Experiential Training
Expanding the Repertoire: Creative Exercises to Enhance
Group Process
Description
Learning objectives
Brief description of your theoretical approach to group leadership
How does your group take into consideration viewpoints from diverse populations and cultural locations?
Briefly describe your experience as a group leader
Briefly describe your experience training others to conduct group treatment
(Postponed to a Future Conference)
Scott Kamilar, Ph.D., ABPP, LP
Scott is a Past President of the Minnesota Group Psychotherapy Society, and has taught and supervised group therapists since 1980. He has led two Process Groups in private practice for over 25 years.
Title of the Small Group Experiential Training
Mindfulness of Body, Speech and Mind in Process Groups
Description
The Here and Now Focus of Process Groups is greatly enhanced by introducing members to the practice of mindfulness meditation and by looking at the group as an opportunity to practice mindfulness of feelings and mindful speech.
Learning objectives
- Participants will be able to facilitate a here and now focus in groups.
- Understand and appreciate how authentic here and now communication requires a state of vulnerability which can arouse anxiety.
- Utilize the concepts and practices of mindfulness meditation and mindfulness in action (eg. mindful speech).
Brief description of your theoretical approach to group leadership
Yalom-style interpersonal
How does your group take into consideration viewpoints from diverse populations and cultural locations?
The group will be an environment in which participants can learn about habitual patterns of relating to people who differ in race, religion, gender, sexuality, class, body type, or politics.
Briefly describe your experience as a group leader
I learned and then practiced group therapy in the Houston VAMC from 1977 to 1989. For over twenty years I have led two Process Groups a week in private practice.
Briefly describe your experience training others to conduct group treatment
I was on the faculty of the Houston Group Psychotherapy Society and for many years taught group therapy to psychology interns, medical students and residents in the Houston VAMC. I taught group therapy at the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology and in clinics and professional meetings. I am a Past President of the Minnesota Group Psychotherapy Society.
Friday Afternoon Workshops - 90 minutes
We have 6 amazing workshops planned for Friday afternoon. Again, you will get to rank order your top three choices. Please read through your options to help you select your rank order preferences.
(Confirmed)
Workshop #1
Practicing Mental Health at the Intersections of Identity and Culture
Omkar Sawardekar MSW, LICSW (He/him)
Omkar is a Clinical Diversity & Inclusion Specialist and an Organizational Change Consultant who has worked in a range of clinical settings with a diverse range of clients in the context of demographic and acuity levels and is experienced as an individual, group, and family Therapist. Omkar has a background in technology, business, fundraising, and non-profit work. Driven by the tenets that relationships are central to individual and societal healing and that the best healing practices grow from interdisciplinary methodologies, Omkar is committed to collaboratively developing tools that promote culturally responsive care. Throughout his work with individuals, families, and systems, Omkar is drawn to collaboratively addressing complex individual, cultural and systemic challenges.
Description
This workshop explores the intersections of social identity, culture and mental health and how these paradigms are inextricably intertwined. In this course, we will be exploring the implications of social identity (race, class, gender, sexuality, etc.) and culture on mental health. We will highlight the critical need for practitioners to engage clients’ identities and cultural frameworks in tandem with their mental health needs, through an integrated and holistic approach. This workshop will introduce participants to specific tools and frameworks through which they can evaluate their own practice and their client relationships, so as to ultimately serve our clients and communities most capably.
Learning objectives
- Explore frameworks to conceptualize and navigate the rich and complex intersections of mental health, trauma, social identity, and culture
- Conceptualize cases through a holistic approach so as to best engage client care through a social identity and culturally conscious lens
Brief description of your theoretical approach to group leadership
This workshop will draw from multiple frameworks/lenses including dialectic, mindfulness, intercultural competency, cultural dimensions, and grief.
How does your group take into consideration viewpoints from diverse populations and cultural locations?
This workshop is aimed at supporting participants in building skills to work across a range of differences to optimally meet their clients needs.
Briefly describe your experience as a group leader
I learned and then practiced group therapy in the Houston VAMC from 1977 to 1989. For over twenty years I have led two Process Groups a week in private practice.
Briefly describe your experience training others to conduct group treatment
I was on the faculty of the Houston Group Psychotherapy Society and for many years taught group therapy to psychology interns, medical students and residents in the Houston VAMC. I taught group therapy at the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology and in clinics and professional meetings. I am a Past President of the Minnesota Group Psychotherapy Society.
(Confirmed)
Workshop #2
Navigating Challenging Situations with Empowerment Despite Systemic Constraints - a workshop for BIPOC conference participants
Karen Cone-Uemura PhD, Certified Group Psychotherapist
(she/her)
Karen is the Group Coordinator at the University of Utah Counseling Center and is an active member of the American Group Psychotherapy Association. She has held leadership positions in the Racial and Diversity Special Interest Group of AGPA, and in the most recent conference co-facilitated the first ever BIPOC Process Group Experience Section in the history of AGPA. She approaches counseling from a multicultural perspective, acknowledging the aspirational nature of multicultural competence. Her style is interpersonal, supportive yet direct, and focused on the here-and-now.
Description
This workshop will be a space for those that identify as BIPOC and would like to debrief the conference experience together, connect, and explore together the theme of facing challenging situations with empowerment despite systemic concerns and constraints. It will be in the vein of Karen's process group section that she led at the most recent AGPA conference. Karen may introduce some themes and help generate discussion, but will mostly focus on helping the group attune to their here-and-now experience of being together at this conference. There will likely be opportunities to explore ways to stay connected in the future.
Learning objectives
- Identify at least two benefits of holding a group with boundaries allowing only BIPOC members/leaders.
-
Brief description of your theoretical approach to group leadership
How does your group take into consideration viewpoints from diverse populations and cultural locations?
(Confirmed)
Workshop #3
Compassion Focused Therapy: Helping Groups Connect with Compassion
Kristina Hansen, PhD, LP, CGP (Certified Group Psychotherapist) - (She/Her)
Klint Hobbs, PhD, LP (He/Him)
Mike Buxton, PhD, LMFT (He/Him)
Yoko Caldwell, PhD, LP (Se/Her)
Derek Griner PhD, ABPP, CGP (Certified Group Psychotherapist) (He/Him)
Kristina, Klint, Mike, Yoko, and Derek are a team of clinical faculty at Brigham Young University's Counseling and Psychological Services. We are scientist-practitioners who use our training and passion for group psychotherapy and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) to contribute to research in these areas and the development of practical application of CFT for clients in university counseling center settings. Over the past few years we have facilitated multiple groups and taught classes using CFT theory and interventions.
Description
In our workshop we will provide participants with a basic overview of CFT, its core components, and ways to implement this form of therapy in a group setting. Our workshop will be largely experiential and will allow participants to experience a variety of group interventions aimed at increasing compassion toward oneself and others and receiving compassion from others.
Learning objectives
1. Describe the three flows of compassion (toward self, toward others, from others).
2. Explain the concept of the tricky brain and the three emotion systems (drive, threat, soothing).
3. Identify ways to regulate body systems using soothing rhythm breathing, imagery, and other mindfulness activities.
4. Practice implementing compassion building exercises commonly used in a CFT group.
Brief description of your theoretical approach to group leadership
Brief Compassion Focused Therapy
How does your group take into consideration viewpoints from diverse populations and cultural locations?
While the focus of this workshop is on teaching participants enough about CFT to be able to have a meaningful experience with the meditations and self-compassion exercises so that they can use them in their own groups, this workshop will also maintain that all therapists approaching group therapy from the perspective of CFT or any theoretical orientation must attend to the fears, blocks, and resistances of each client and must be aware that these fears, blocks, and resistances are likely to be qualitatively different for those from diverse backgrounds. By defining compassion in a specific way, presenters will work to show how CFT might actually bridge the gap between group members from myriad cultures and may be useful for persons with various experiences and worldviews.
(Confirmed)
Workshop #4
A Happier and Healthier you: Integrating Self-Care into Daily Life
Saras Bhadri PsyD, LP
(she/her)
Nikki Strong PhD, Internationally Certified Qigong instructor and International teaching faculty
(she/her)
Saras works full time at St. Olaf College Counseling center. She has been trained in yoga and meditation techniques and integrates these in her clinical practice. Promoting self- care and wellness has been an ongoing passion, and she has ran several mindfulness groups at St. Olaf.
Description
Dr. Bhadri and Dr. Strong (Healing Arts MN) will demonstrate easy to learn, easy to do, yoga - meditation and mindfulness strategies and qigong movement techniques for de-stressing, recharging, and building capacity to deal with every day life. We will learn a complete daily self-care routine we call “CLEAR-RELAX-LET GO- RECHARGE” that you can use as is or in part as you see fit to use in your daily life. We will also explore some special techniques that we call “THE FIRST AID KIT” for dealing with emotionally distressing situations.
This is an experiential workshop and you are invited to participate as much or as little as you like, although we encourage everyone to participate fully, practicing together with us, in order to more fully experience and appreciate the benefits of these simple yet effective practices.
Learning objectives
1. Experience a system of coordinated body-posture and movement, breathing, and meditation techniques for de-stressing, recharging, and building capacity to deal with every day life.
2. Learn strategies for building a personalized self-care practice and integrating these practices into daily life.
3. Participants will be able to create their individual self care plan that works for them.
Brief description of your theoretical approach to group leadership
Mindfulness yoga and qigong based self- care techniques.
How does your group take into consideration viewpoints from diverse populations and cultural locations?
We will working gently and slowly allowing for self-expression , self-exploration in every practice. These practices encourage us to explore who we are…how we express ourselves with our bodies and how we can tune into our own unique body language to build personal resilience. We are open to make any adjustments based on individual need.
(Confirmed)
Workshop #5
The Use of Cultural Rituals to Say Goodbye
Jessi Leader MA, LMFT
(She/Her)
Description
(Coming soon...)
Learning objectives
Brief description of your theoretical approach to group leadership
How does your group take into consideration viewpoints from diverse populations and cultural locations?
Briefly describe your experience as a group leader
Briefly describe your experience training others to conduct group treatment
(Confirmed)
Workshop #6
Money Matters: Exploring Your Financial Possibilities with Running Groups
Nate Page PhD, LP, Certified Group Psychotherapist
(He/him)
Nate transitioned into full time private practice on January 1, 2021. He specializes in group therapy for college students, and provides group therapy training to mental health professionals. He is the owner of Group Therapy Central LLC (grouptherapycentral.com) and also Northfield Dynamic Therapy (northfielddynamictherapy.com). Nate currently facilitates three different ongoing online process-oriented training groups for therapists through the US and Canada.
Description
Nate will begin the workshop by sharing an excel sheet with the financial data from the private pay groups he has been running in private practice. We will use this to jumpstart conversations about appropriate rates, sliding scale options, insurance versus private pay, social justice concerns (including reparation efforts regarding payment for therapy), and other issues related to the exchange of money for group therapy. We will pay particular attention to the feelings and thoughts (e.g. anxieties, hopes, judgements) that arise within us as we discuss money and as we explore possible alternatives to your current practices. We hope to get a sense of each participant's current financial situation as well as your financial goals, and will have fun doing some calculations together of real numbers of individual therapy versus group therapy. We will practice looking at what financial wellbeing might be for each of us, and explore how group work could help you move more into a place of financial wellbeing.
Learning objectives
1. Identify your primary money mindsets that show up for you when discussing money with potential clients.
2. Calculate the financial impact of adding group work to your practice.
Brief description of your theoretical approach to group leadership
Existential, humanistic/client-centered, and very relational. You could describe my approach to group as a mix of what Irvin Yalom and Carl Rogers might do.
How does your group take into consideration viewpoints from diverse populations and cultural locations?
Money is crucial in our lives and is a topic that can bring up a lot of powerful feelings and memories. In this session there will be no "right way" to think about money, and will will make space for all the the thoughts, feelings and values that surround this topic. In fact, we expect that there will be quite a bit of diversity in the thoughts, feelings and goals that participants have. I plan to model sharing parts of my story with money growing up, and my development of understanding how the power and privilege that comes with my identities as a white, straight, cis-gendered man have impacted my values and goals surrounding money.
As a group we will endeavor to call attention to any microaggressions, unconscious biases, and implicit reactions that could cause harm while also working towards reparative experiences. We will also call attention to any recapitulations of power, privilege, and oppression as they arise in the group. We will probably explore how large systemic forces can impact the ability to get financial needs met, and also explore any personal responsibility we hold within the context of these systems. As a group leader, I will be intentional to acknowledge my own identities, biases and potential blind spots to model vulnerability and help create a group climate of willingness to address difficult topics. Ideally, we will practice "CREATING CORRECTIVE EXPERIENCES FOR OURSELVES AND FOR OUR CLIENTS" (the conference theme). This workshop has the potential to be a predominantly white, cis-gendered, and heterosexual space, and I intend to name and explore these realities in our work.
Briefly describe your experience as a group leader
I fell in love with group therapy as a graduate student and have since sought out any group therapy related experience that time and opportunity would allow. I have started and ended over 35 groups in a college counseling setting, and I have provided trainings on group therapy at various regional and national conferences.
Briefly describe your experience training others to conduct group treatment
I have been the Group Coordinator at two college counseling centers and am continually involved in group therapy trainings. I developed Group Therapy Central, LLC which provides high quality therapy groups for Minnesota residents and training groups and events for mental health clinicians (like this current conference). Currently I run three different ongoing process-oriented training group for therapists throughout North America.