61st Annual Conference

Friday, February, 27
Morning Workshops
10:30 A.M. – 1:30 P.M.

Workshop 50
Working Relationally in Group:  Articulating the Prearticulate

Chair:           

Richard Billow, Ph.D., Director, Postdoctoral Group Program, Derner

Institute, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York

The earliest levels of experience (paranoid-schizoid and depressive)  are pre-articulate and concern danger and risk, self-protection and concern for others; love, hate, and curiosity.  In group, these dynamics are expressed as basic assumptions and work group activity.  To aid the group in articulating the pre-articulate, the therapist must "suffer" through one's own pre-articulate emotional experience.

experiential-demonstration-didactic-sharing of work experiences

Course References:

1. Billow, R. (2003). Relational Group Psychotherapy:  From Basic Assumptions to Passion.  London

    and Philadephia: Jessica Kinsgley.

2. Bion, W. (1961). Experiences in Groups. London: Tavistock.

3. Klein, M. (1952). 'Some Theoretical Conclusions Regarding the Emotional Life of the    

    Infant'.  In Envy and Gratitude.  New York:  Delacorte Press, 1975.