Workshop: Build a Group: Selecting the Right Tools to Construct a Solid Group Container for Any Setting, Lois Friedlander, LMFT

MARIN COUNTY CHAPTER OF CAMFT

SATURDAY WORKSHOP

Have you been thinking about starting a group? Are you wondering about how to begin the process of forming a group and selecting appropriate members? If so, this workshop will provide the answers you are seeking. This workshop will address what is necessary to consider prior to recruiting members. How do facilitators determine if their group will be open, closed, time-limited, psycho- educational, psychodynamic, supportive or if the group agreements will allow outside group contact? How do facilitators build a container of trust? We will explore the interview process, initial phone contacts, and important questions to ask in the first session. 

In addition to the nuts and bolts of planning a group, screening & selecting members, it is important to identify your personal leadership style. This is particularly important when seeking a good match for you with each group member. For example, a less experienced therapist, a trauma survivor herself, may wish to pursue group work with trauma victims. Rather than dive right into facilitation of potentially charged issues where she may become the object of persecution, she might benefit from first organizing and leading a support group.  

It is crucial as we move to the more advanced aspects of group facilitation that we experience sitting in “The Seat “in order to be prepared for all the group dynamics headed our way. Group work is complex, vastly multilayered, and because of that, there are bound to be challenges facing group leaders. As a group we will explore difficult and puzzling behaviors of group members. How does a leader address aggression, resistance to the group agreements, members toying with the boundaries, concerns for safety, a suddenly silent member, challenges to authority, privilege, cultural & religious differences, taboo topics and conflict? Please bring examples of mystifying, challenging moments in your groups to share with our professional community. Will we be stumped or amazed at the creative group process comments shared by our group when confronting a difficult group situation? Did you stall, confront, ignore, become de-skilled or ‘tap dance’ to keep the process moving? We will have lots of stories to share so prepare to join in with our MCAMFT group.

Lois Friedlander, LMFT, CGP, is an integrative psychotherapist with an extensive background in working with mood disorders, dual diagnoses, pro-social behavior management and stress reduction. She is an experienced clinician and Clinical Faculty member, UCSF School of Medicine. She has experience in inpatient, outpatient and partial hospitalization programs and is comfortable working with child, adolescent, and adult clients who manifest a broad range of emotional difficulty. Lois offers expertise as a Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP) and facilitates ongoing dynamic, supportive groups that are structured to enhance personal growth. Her background allows her to offer specialized approaches in CBT, expressive arts therapy, guided imagery and stress management techniques.