Process Group Therapy: Interpersonal, existential, and dynamic elements

Do you want to enhance your understanding of group processes? Are you seeking professional development opportunities that are experiential and theoretical? Are you wondering about adding group therapy to your clinical repertoire?

We are really excited to invite you to a full-day foundational workshop facilitated by Dr. Christopher Zurawic and Dr. Sierra van Wyk. This opportunity will be both didactic and experiential, allowing participants to deepen their understanding of the theories that underpin process group therapy. To honor the nature of the intervention, both Dr. Christopher and Dr. Sierra will also invite participants to partake in two 90-minute group sessions with other attendees. This experiential component mimics the group process by using authentic material from each participant in order to reflect on and integrate the theoretical concepts that are taught throughout the day.

What is process Group Therapy?

Process group therapy provides group members the opportunity to have relationships with others in a therapeutic setting. Grounded in existential, interpersonal, and psychodynamic theories, process groups are significantly different to the skills-based and educational therapy groups that are typically seen in the Australian context. The aim of these groups is for participants to explore their here-and-now experiences of being in relationships with other group members and to examine what gets activated in the room as those relationships develop over time. Within the therapeutic space, participants in process group therapy give and receive feedback, have opportunities to learn through imitation and play, and develop an awareness of the acceptability of their previously shameful experiences. As self-awareness deepens and members continue to navigate intimate spaces, they can identify their own patterns in relationships and have the opportunity to test out new ways of being. In this way, process group therapy aims to support participants to "refresh the lens" through which they expeirenfce others, become more comfortable in close relationships, develop an awareness of their being in the world, and accept responsibility for the relational world they create.

Workshop Overview

This workshop aims to provide an introduction to Process group therapy, the theories that underlie these groups, methods of intervention, and the practical issues associated with setting up groups. To assist workshop participants to develop a full understanding of the experience of being in group, the workshop will also include two experiential process group sessions. The benefits of process work and therapist awareness of the here-and-now experience of being in the therapeutic space is not limited to process group therapy. Regardless of the nature of the therapeutic group, clinicians who have an awareness of group process, existential and dynamic elements, and the nuances of relationships between people are able to provide clients with a richer experience of being in therapy. As such, it is anticipated that this seminar will benefit therapists who facilitate diverse therapy groups as well as individual clients.

9 :00am - 10:30am - Group

1 0:45am - 12:45pm - Lecture and Q&A

1 2:45pm - 1:15pm - Catered Lunch

1 :15 - 2:45 - Group

3:00pm - 5:00pm - Lecture and Q&A

Level of Learning

This foundational workshop is appropriate for clinicians with an interest in group therapy, interpersonal, existential, relational and group analytic concepts, and working in the here-and-now of therapeutic relationships.

Workshop Learning Outcomes

1. Have an experience of being in a process group and have the opportunity to witness your own processes that arise in relationships and how they might present in your work.
2. Develop an understanding of how interpersonal process groups benefit clients
3. Discuss the main components of the interpersonal process group experience.
4. Learn ways to integrate the main components of group process work into individual therapy.

Dr. Christopher Zurawic, Senior Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Christopher immigrated to Australia from America in 2020. He has been facilitating group therapy for nearly two decades with an esteemed career as a clinical psychologist in private, corporate and public settings. Working from an existential and post-analytical framework, he enjoys inspiring therapists to be curious, observant and aware of the desires and fears that play out in all relationships. Dr. Christopher is a board approved supervisor and member of the American Group Psychological Association.

Dr. Sierra van Wyk, Senior Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Sierra has been working in both private and public sectors for more than a decade, drawing on analytical, attachment and trauma based models to make sense of her clients experiences. Having worked with clients across the lifespan and in family contexts, she has been a keen observer of the human condition and developmental trajectories. More recently, she has been co-facilitating process group therapy with Dr. Christopher. She will therefore contribute her experiences, insights and reflections on group processes and how they transformed her clinical approach and enhanced her relational observations. Dr. Sierra is a board approved supervisor and active member of the Australian Psychological Society.

Disclaimer

This workshop is designed for clinical professionals who meet the requirements of at least a master’s degree in a mental health profession and who have clinical psychotherapy experience. However, we welcome psychiatric residents and graduate students in mental health degree programs as well as mental health workers who work in a range of human service settings.

This workshop is not designed or intended to provide a psychotherapy experience. It is important for registrants to create a safe learning experience for themselves and others by monitoring their level of affective vulnerability and self-disclosure. We encourage participants to focus on their “here-and-now” experience and to be intentional about learning about themselves both as members and leaders as well as enhancing their skills for group facilitation.

The workshop consists of two sections:

■ General Process Group Experience Sections: These small groups provide participants an environment in which to obtain, expand, and retain their skills in conducting group therapy. The group psychotherapy skills gained are important in conducting any group, regardless of its theoretical orientation, time parameter or patient population. Experiential sections are essential training and benefit the participants, both personally and professionally.

■ Specific Focus Process Group Experience Sections: These groups offer intensive learning about specific theories and approaches in group treatment. Registrants can pursue current interests in greater depth or learn ways of integrating new approaches and methods into their private practice, clinic,or agency work. Most of the SFPGE Sections have extensive experiential components.

Continuing Education for One-Day Institute Sections: 8 Hours