65th Annual Conference

Friday, February 22

Afternoon Open Sessions

2:45 P.M.-6:00 P.M.

Session 310         

The Group Therapy Revolution: Passion, Power and Politics

Chair:         

Judith Coché, Ph.D., ABPP, CGP, FAGPA, Clinical Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry, Coordinator of Group Therapy Training, The Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania         

Panelists:

Juliette Galbraith, M.D., Chief Resident Psychiatrist, Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Delane Casiano, M.D., Attending Psychiatrist, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Kevin McCarthy, Research Psychologist, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
 

Discussant:

Suzanne L. Cohen, Ed.D., CGP, FAGPA, Private Practice, Wellesley, MA

Recent positive press for group treatment (New York Times Magazine, August 12, 2007)is a well deserved opportunity to promote the efficacy of group psychotherapy. Focusing on couples and adult individual group treatment, we discuss the power of groups as observed by a journalist for one year in couple’s group therapy, as crafted in rebuilding outpatient group therapy at the University of Pennsylvania Outpatient Psychiatry Program, as demonstrated by ground breaking work with depressed and anxious African American women, and as collected during evidence-based private practice with Philadelphia clinicians. We team with attendees to gather skill to move group therapy to its deserved place at the forefront of behavioral treatment and training approaches. Handouts of the New York Times Magazine article will be on hand for attendees.
 

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Address the importance of evidence based practice in doing state of the art group work for couples and women.
2. Strategize a way they can benefit from greater public awareness of the centrality of groups in our lives.
3. Volunteer to bring public education into their careers more directly through local media contributions.
4. Inform others of the value of group therapy in treating couples and women.

Course References:

1. Abraham, Laurie. Can This Marriage Be Saved? The New York Times Magazine, August 12, 2007.

2. American Group Psychotherapy Association: Practice Guidelines for Group Psychotherapy
3. Casiano, D: granted research from U Penn Med School for clinical treatment of anxiety and depression among African Americans...2007-8.
4. Coché, Slowinski, McCarthy and Galbraith: Couples group therapy for intimacy and sexuality...2007, Group. Research.