On May 14, 2010, Molyn Leszcz, MD, FRPC, FAGPA, CGP from the University of Toronto presented “Finding Meaning Through Relationships: Integrating The Interpersonal And Existential Models For Healing Emotional Pain.” The conference was “sold out” and RAGS was pleased that 50 clinicians had participated! Dr. Leszcz began with a didactic presentation on the evolution of psychotherapy and discussed a very important question which was, “Will the therapist just help recreate the patient’s problem or help with developing a new and improved relationship?” Dr. Leszcz stressed that the relationship in psychotherapy is most important in facilitating change. The four most important existential issues which arise in both individual and group psychotherapy are: death, isolation, freedom/responsibility, and meaning. Dr. Leszcz provided several clinical vignettes to illustrate each existential issue based on his clinical and research work. The morning demonstration group followed and several existential themes evolved such as illness of parents, limited time here and the isolation of the self. When group concluded, it was fascinating to observe and learn how the subjective experience of self disclosure may be very different from the objective experience. After lunch, Dr. Leszcz discussed the role of the group therapist linking technique to theory, utilizing countertransference as well as therapeutic metacommunications. The difference between objective and subjective countertransference was processed. Objective countertransference is what is usually addressed in supervision while subjective countertransference is addressed in personal therapy or in a consultation group. The afternoon demonstration group was powerful in highlighting existential issues as well as self disclosure and its impact in groups. Overall, the conference was stimulating, educational and motivating for all of us who are helping individuals in their quest for wellness.

Don’t Miss This Local Training Opportunity

Rochester Area Group
Psychotherapy Society
presents:

Molyn Leszcz, MD, FRCPC

“Finding Meaning Through Relationships: Integrating the Interpersonal and Existential Models for Healing Emotional Pain”

Friday, May 14th, 2010

About the Presenter:

Molyn Leszcs, M.D., FRCP(C) is the Psychiatrist-in-Chief at Mount Sinai Hospital as wall as Professor and Head of the Group Psychotherapy Program in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Dr. Leszcz is internationally renowned for his academic and clinical work focusing on broadening the application of psychotherapy within psychiatry. He is widely published in the group therapy literature and has been recognized for having made significant contributions to the field of psychiatry and group psychotherapy. Dr. Leszcz co-authored with Irvin Yalom the 5th Edition of The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy (2005). His research has focused on group psychotherapy for individuals with cancer or a predisposition to cancer as well as group psychotherapy for patients with schizophrenia and patients with substance abuse.

Conference

Friday, May 14, 9:00-5:00
Registration and continental breakfast 8:30-9:00 AM

Psychotherapists are increasingly interested in combining different theoretical perspectives in order to strengthen and deepen their clinical work. Whether working in individual treatment or group psychotherapy, seemingly disparate theories can be integrated to create coherent, effective, and profoundly meaningful interventions. In this interactive conference for clinicians of all levels of experience, Dr. Leszcz will highlight how interpersonal theories of development (which view maladaptive behaviors and beliefs as rising from early life relationships) can be integrated with an examination of the ever-present existential anxieties about death, isolation, freedom, personal responsibility, and the search for meaning. The presentation will include demonstrations of specific and effective techniques for synthesizing these approaches in both individual and group psychotherapy. Attendees will also have an opportunity to experience direct application of the principles through participation in a here-and-now group exercise.

Participants of this conference will gain knowledge and in-depth understanding of:

1. The centrality of the interpersonal process in psychopathology and emotional distress.
2. The ways in which existential issues manifest in all psychotherapies.
3. The use of the interpersonal model as an integrative approach that links various theoretical models.
4. Contemporary developments in the field of group psychotherapy that synthesize multiple theoretical orientations including cognitive behavioral and pyschodynamic perspectives.
5. Methods to enhance the effectiveness of here-and-now interventions.
6. The role of the therapist’s use of self and therapeutic meta-communication.

Group Supervision and Consultation

Thursday, May 13th, 7:00-9:00 PM

Dr. Leszcz will lead a 90 minute supervision/consultation group on the evening prior to the conference. This group will provide the opportunity to explore the topics of interpersonal and existential psychotherapy in a more personal venue. Topics to be explored may include how to combine individual and group treatments, effectively orienting clients to group therapy, and transference/countertransference scenarios with challenging clients. Participants are encouraged to bring questions, case vignettes, and their own dilemmas about psychotherapy practice in general. In vivo group process will be used to help members develop fresh, creative interventions with their groups. This supervision group is appropriate for all levels of experience.

Sign language interpreting available. Please send requests by April 23rd to Susan Chapel at slcnps@rit.edu.

Questions?

Please contact Elizabeth Driscoll at: edriscoll.lcswr@gmail.com.

Brochure: Download

On October 23, 2009, RAGPS welcomed Andrew Eig , PH.D. who presented on “The Creative Use of Forbidden Affects in Group: The Leader’s Desire and Aggression” at the AAUW on East Avenue. The objectives of the conference were: (1) understand the crucial role of the leader in integrating forbidden affects into the group, (2)describe the intersubjective processes that evolve over the course of a group session, and (3) differentiate between productive and unproductive expressions of forbidden affects. Desire and aggression are just two forbidden affects of the many that can surface in the leader and group members. Dr. Eig first shared some didactic information on the topic which included using a “symphony” as a metaphor for group. One can hear the music being performed in group but a crucial question needing to be answered by the leader is: “What is missing in the symphony? How do I feel as leader- too anxious? dreading group, etc.? A group therapist needs to be aware of his or her own forbidden affects since these can affect the group as a whole as well as individual members. Dr. Eig highly stressed that group therapists seek out supervision, consultation or even their own group therapy to help understand one’s own forbidden affects. An important topic was addressed regarding the use of therapist self disclosure in group, that is, disclosure should only be made to benefit the members of the group. Resistance is sometimes more prevalent in the therapist – e.g. a therapist who is uncomfortable with his patient’s anger so patient does not bring his anger up for discussion. Regarding group members, Dr. Eig views outside socialization of patients as usually involving a “forbidden affect” which needs to be explored in the here and now of group therapy. This will allow an opportunity for “emotional truths” to be talked about and processed within the safety of the group. The morning experiential group was a fishbowl which highlighted the issue of forbidden affects in powerful ways. In the afternoon, all participants became members of a large group and the power of subgroups became quite apparent due to the fishbowl members! After the experience, Dr. Eig shared that the forbidden affects of the afternoon group were “hunger” and the “desire to be connected and accepted”. He self-disclosed his own forbidden affects which were “ambition” and “anxiety”. The conference was intellectually and emotionally stimulating!

Submitted by Joe Russo, Psy.D., CGP

Don’t Miss This Local Training Opportunity

Rochester Area Group
Psychotherapy Society
presents:

Andrew Eig, Ph.D.

“The Creative Use of Forbidden Affects in Group: The Leader’s Desire and Aggression”

Friday, October 23, 2009

Special Supervision Group Offering: Thursday, October 22

About the Presenter:

Andrew Eig, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist, group psychotherapist, and psychoanalyst in private practice in Manhattan. Dr. Eig received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology as well as his psychoanalytic degree and certificate in group psychotherapy at The Derner Institute for Advanced Psychological Studies at Adelphi University. Currently, Dr. Eig is on the faculty of The Derner Institute where he teaches and supervises in the adult psychoanalytic and group psychotherapy postgraduate programs. He has published and lectured nationally on the topics of group psychotherapy postgraduate programs. He has published and lectured nationally on the topics of group psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. Dr. Eig is a former board member of Division 39 (Psychoanalysis) of the American Psychological Association and will be co-chairing their 2011 Spring Meeting in New York City.

Conference

Friday, October 23, 9:00-5:00

Registration at 8:30 AM

Group therapists are continually challenged to manage their own emotions, which may at times include intense feelings of desire and aggression. This conference will provide a thoughtful analysis and constructive approach for transforming powerful affect into effective interventions that can deepen the group experience. After an overview of theory, participants will be encouraged to share from their own clinical work. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in an in vivo group to explore this topic in greater depth.

Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be better able to:

1. Explain the leader’s crucial role in integrating forbidden affects into the group.
2. Describe the intersubjective processes that unfold over the course of a group session.
3. Distinguish between productive and unproductive expressions of forbidden affects.

All levels of experience welcome!

Group Supervision and Consultation

Thursday, October 22, 7:00-8:30 PM

Pre-registration required

Dr. Eig will also lead a special supervision/consultation group on the evening prior to the conference. Topics to be explored may include starting a group, combining group and individual treatments, and advanced transference/counter-transference scenarios with challenging patients. Participants are encouraged to bring questions, case vignettes, and dilemmas about group or group therapy in general. In vivo group process will be used to help members develop fresh, creative interventions with their groups. This workshop is appropriate for all levels of experience.

Minimum: 5 participants / limit: 20.

Download the 2009 Spring Newsletter.

You need the Adobe’s free reader to view this file. Download here.

On May 15, 2009, Nanielle Fraenkel, Ph.D., ADTR, NCC, LCAT, LMHC, CGP along with music performed by Mr. Jeffrey Mehr, MA presented “Living Dance-Living Music: Body Secrets to Heathy Relationships”. The workshop began with a historical overview of dance therapy as well as developmental influences. Did you know that Harry Stack Sullivan, Carl Rogers, William Reich, Jung, Bronfenbrenner, and Bruner all influenced dance therapy? Dani then defined dance therapy as “the psychotherapeutic use of dance and movement as processes which further the emotional, cognition, social and physical integration of the individual”. The basic assumtipns of dance therapy are: (1) There is a reciprocal relationship bwtween mind and body such that a change in one effects a change in the other, (2) Dance acts as an embodied and immediate language which builds upon the reciprocal, “bidirectional functioning of the “body-mind”, (3) Dance/movement promotes the integration and holisic functioning of the personality, drawing upon the power of creativity and the innate capacity to heal, and (4) Movement reflects personality. Clinical applications of dance therapy were discussed – e.g. use with eating disordered clients, conversion disorder clients, ptsd clients, etc. After the didatic portion of the workshop, participants joined the dance! Dani created a “safe” space for all to participate. We first learned and attended to “pulse” and “shape” which are two elements of dance that affect relationships to self and others. The next dance experience was “witnessing” whereby one person danced freely and the other served as observer/protector of the dancer. This was a “bridging technique” designed to strengthen emotional connections between participants. Each participant then shared feelings and thoughts of their experience. The music was powered by the dance as well as being a viable participant in the experience. After the dance, Dani reviewed applications to verbal group psychotherapy. Overall, the experience was stimulating, insightful and relaxing!

Submitted by:

Joe Russo, Psy.D., CGP

LivingDance~LivingMusic?: Body Secrets? to Healthy Relationships

LivingDance~LivingMusic works with natural elements of dance movement which most of us engaged fairly easily when we were younger. Participants will reclaim this body-based information, mobilizing resources that when applied to intimate and confrontational situations in group therapy affect both individual and group dynamics. Modalities include kinesthetic sensing, live improvisational music, witnessing, and free dance. No training or talent in dance or music required. Danielle Fraenkel, Ph.D., ADTR, NCC, LCAT, LMHC, CGP, leads LivingDance~LivingMusic groups for a variety of populations locally, nationally, and internationally. A published author, director of the alternate route program in dance/movement therapy at Kinections, and adjunct professor at St. John Fisher College?s graduate program in mental health counseling, she is now exploring the relationships between LivingDance~LivingMusic and Interpersonal Neurobiology.

Jeffrey Mehr. MA, writer, poet, and photographer, has played piano since he was four and practiced Taijiquan for more than thirty years. His LivingMusic stems from these two disciplines. Always fresh, the LivingMusic evolves on keyboard, synthesizers, and harmonicas. The dancers power the playing.

Location:Kinections
at Imagine Square
718 University Avenue
Rochester NY 14607

Exploring the Inner World of Dreams: What Do My Dreams Mean?
Presented by Donna J. Grant, LCSWR

On March 12, 2009, Ms. Grant presented a very exciting and interesting workshop at the Academy of Medicine on East Avenue on dreams. It was a frosty evening but the warmth of the room, group participants and Donna’s essence made all feel welcomed. The first part of the workshop involved participants asking varied questions about dreams and their meanings. Participants learned that dreams can have multiple meanings and can be explored first with clarifying questions and then move towards interpretation later on. There are many kinds of dreams but the reoccurring dream is an effort of the psyche to attempt to work through an issue for a person. Using a dream journal is a way of documenting dreams or dream snippets to look for reoccurring themes. Keeping a pad and pen by one’s bed is a simple way of recording dreams once awakened. Donna pointed out that we dream every 1.5 hours but most people only remember their last dream right before awakening. Most dreams are symbolic. Donna was able to explain the differences between a dream group and therapy group with examples and later with a live demonstration dream group. Ms. Grant pointed out that dream groups are not technically group therapy but therapeutic aspects can happen. Donna also cautioned that patients can use dreams as a way to avoid addressing here and now issues in group psychotherapy. In therapy, there are many ways to interpret dreams. In one approach, a therapist would ask a patient to explore what each element in a dream may mean as an aspect of the self. This will help trigger issues needing to be worked on in psychotherapy.  In a dreams group, each member can relate to another person’s dream by owning the dream which results in projections. It was amazing to hear projections of others in the group and what these may mean for that individual. The end of the workshop involved exploring cultural issues affecting dreams and left us all wanting more of dream groups!

Submitted by:
Joe Russo, Psy.D., CGP

Hello fellow RAGPS members,

My name is Andre Marquis and I’m both a professor of counseling at the University of Rochester and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. I have led various groups, as well as taught masters- and/or doctoral-level groups courses for the past 7 years. Some of you may have known Gerry Rubenstein, a former friend and colleague of mine, who died in August, 2007. After his death, I ended up becoming the new leader of the group that he formed and was leading. His were hard shoes to fill, but the group (which had 9 members in it) continued until the beginning of this year, when 6 of the 9 members terminated (mostly upon achieving the goals they had hoped to accomplish). The remaining 3 members very much want to continue group with me and I have been seeing them for the past 3 weeks, but as you can imagine, a group of 3 isn’t working very well. Thus, I am requesting referrals for additional patients/clients.

As primarily a professor who is relatively new to the area, I have not extensively networked with many of the therapists in town, so I understand if you would like to meet me before referring people to me. I have practiced, taught, researched, and published a fair amount. Michael Mahoney was one of my professors, supervisors,a nd colleagues; I also wrote and worked with him a lot. I have also co-authored with Ken Wilber. I lead groups much in the vein of Yalom, but my approach is more integrative and less strictly interpersonal/here-and-now than his. Currently, there are two men and one woman in the group; all of who are moderately to high functioning. They are working on issues of depression and anxiety, and the related issues of becoming better able to relate authenticallly and emotionally with others. The group is 2 hours in length, currently meets on Thurs from 8-10pm in Henrietta, and I charge $125 for 4 sessions. Because there are so few members, it’s possible I could change the day or time if needed.

Please contact me if you are aware of anyone who might benefit from, and be appropriate for, such a group.

Thanks very much and I look forward to meeting you at upcoming RAGPS meetings,

Andre Marquis, Ph.D., LMHC
Assistant Professor of Counseling and Human Development
University of Rochester
amarquis@its.rochester.edu
585 275 5582
585 319 6570