65th Annual Conference

Saturday, February 23

Early Bird Open Sessions

7:15-8:15 A.M.

Session 221

Group Therapy's Excellent Adventure

Presenter:

Russell Hopfenberg, Ph.D., CGP, Private Practice, Raleigh, North Carolina

Unless Bill and Ted get an A+ on their history project, their grade, and the future of mankind, is in peril. Using "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure," this session will present principles of group development and dynamics. These include leadership role; group stages; projective identification; and Bion's basic assumptions. Concepts will be elucidated through didactic material and participant discussion.

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Describe the facilitative and boundary maintenance functions of the group leader
2. Name and describe the function of Bion's three "basic assumption groups" as well as the "work group"
3. Identify and understand projective identification as it occurs in group as well as in group members' families of origin
4. Describe the phenomenon of "abandonment depression"
 

Course References:

1. Kroopf, S., Murphy, M.S. and Soisson, J. (Producers) & Herek, S. (Director). 1988 Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. USA: MGM
2. Rutan, J.S., and Stone, W.N. (2001). Psychodynamic Group Psychotherapy (3rd edition). New York. Guilford Press.
3. Rutan. J.S. and Alonso, A. (1978) Some guidelines for group therpaists. Group, 2, 4-13.
4. Yalom, I.D. The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy (2nd edition). New York. Basic Books.