63rd Annual Conference

 

Saturday, February 25

Morning Open Sessions

10:00 A.M.-1:15 P.M.

 

Session 315

Spirituality and Group Therapy: Allies in Maturation

 

Chair:         

Kenneth Porter, President-elect, Association for Spirituality and Psychotherapy, New York, New York                   

                  

Panelists:         

Alexis Abernethy, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California

Dale Godby, Ph.D., Member, Dallas Group Analytic Practice, Dallas, Texas

Susan Nimmanheminda, LCSW, Faculty, Naropa University, Boulder, Colorado

Victor Schermer, M.A., Psychologist, Private Practice, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

Spirituality can introduce deeper levels to our healing work as group psychotherapists. This panel explores ways to integrate spirituality into group therapy from Christian, Buddhist, Diamond Approach, relational and eclectic perspectives, teaching us to do what we already know how to do with greater wisdom and compassion.

 

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Identify with greater clarity the essence of a spiritual approach to psychotherapy.

2. Describe the healing process in group therapy from a spiritual point of view.

3. Integrate spiritual approaches into the clinical practice of group therapy.

 

Course References:

1. Porter, K. (2005). Who We Really Are: Buddhist approaches to psychotherapy and group psychotherapy. Group, 28(4), (in press).

2. Abernethy, A. & Lancia, J. (1998). Religion and the Psychotherapeutic Relationship: Transferential and Counter-Transferential Dimensions. Journal of Psychotherapy Practice and Research, 7(4), 281-289.

3. Schermer, V. (2003). Spirit and Psyche: A new paradigm for psychology, psychoanalysis,and psychotherapy. London: Jessica Kingsley.