65th Annual Conference

Friday, February 22

Afternoon Workshops

2:45-6:00 P.M.

Workshop 69

From Gambler's Anonymous to Group Therapy, A Continuum of Group Process

Presented under the auspices of the AGPA Addiction and Recovery SIG
 

Chair:         

Barney Straus, M.S.W., M.A., PCGC, CGP, Staff Therapist, Working Sobriety Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

Gambler’s Anonymous is unique among Twelve-step programs in that many meetings permit direct interpersonal communication between group members. This makes GA “comment” meetings more reflective of interpersonal group therapy than are most self-help group meetings. This workshop will explore the effects of varying levels of interpersonal communication on group members.
demonstration-experiential-didactic-sharing of work experiences
 

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Define what a comment is in the context of a Gambler's Anonymous Comment Meeting.
2. Distinguish between various levels of interpersonal content at different GA meetings and in group therapy.
3. Utilize GA and other self-help programs as an adjunct for their group therapy patients.
 

Course References:

1. Flores, Philip J. (1997). Group Therapy With Addicted Populations: An integration of Twelve-step and psychodynamic theory. New York: The Haworth Press.
2. Preston, Frederick W. and Ronald W. Smith. Delabeling and Relabeling in Gambler’s Anonymous: Problems with Transferring the Alcoholics Anonymous Paradigm. Journal of Gambling Behavior, Vol. 1 (2). 97-105.
3. Straus, B. Some Words About Comments: How Direct Interpersonal Communication at Gambler’s Anonymous Meetings Impacts GA Members’ Therapy. Journal of Groups in Addiction and Recovery, Volume 1, #’s 3-4. 75-107.