67th Annual Conference

Saturday, February 27

Afternoon Workshops

1:30 - 4:00 P.M.

Workshop 93

Towards Authenticity - Beyond the Traditional Psychotherapy Outcome

Chair:

Witold Simon, M.D., Ph.D., CGP, Assistant Professor, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah

This workshop provides the opportunity to analyze and explore existential issues which may emerge during group sessions, e.g. helplessness, hope, death of oneself and the search for meaning. The concept of mourning the Person One Could Have Become will be also presented.  Core tenets of the reconciliation process as applied in group therapy will be discussed.

experiential-sharing of work experiences-demonstration-didactic

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Analyze key existential conflicts related to traumatic experiences and the ways they are re-enacted in the group setting.

2. Define the core tenets of reconciliation process.

3. Practice new skills potentially helpful in coping with existential issues which may emerge during the group session.

Course References:

Frankl, V.E. (1946) Man's Search for Meaning. London, Hodder and Stoughton.

Bowlby, J (1969). Attachment and loss, vol. 1. Attachment, London, Hogarth Press.

Simon W., Gajowy M. & Śliwka P. (2006) The effectiveness of attenuation of disadvantageous pair bonding from the past: a pilot study. Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 10 (3), 65-84.

Simon W. Mourning the Person One Could Have Become: The existential transition for the psychotherapy clients experienced by abuse or neglect (in review).