GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY TRAINING PROGRAM
NATIONAL GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY INSTITUTE
John Thomas, MSW, CGP, Chair
Mary Ann Dubner, PhD, CGP, Dean
From birth to death we live our lives in groups. Therefore the group is both a logical object of study for understanding the human experience and a powerful agent of change. Dynamic group therapy provides a setting in which both leader and members can experience and observe the interplay of individual and collective processes. This dual focus enriches the flow of clinically relevant material, thus expanding the range of available therapeutic interventions.
The Group Psychotherapy Training Program has been preparing therapists to undertake group work since 1962. In 1994, The National Group Psychotherapy Institute was inaugurated with the support of a grant from the American Group Psychotherapy Association, which enabled us to broaden the scope of our teaching and training resources. Together the GPTP and the NGPI have achieved international recognition, and students have come to us from across the United States and from abroad.
GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY TRAINING PROGRAM
Also called the Certification Training Track, this program is offered only to those who hold an advanced degree in a mental health discipline. For those desiring this certification, the following steps are required:
- Interview with the Dean or representatives of the faculty.
- Completion of the WSP 12-hour course in Basic Principles of Group Psychotherapy.
- Completion of the two-year NGPI sequence of six weekend conferences (see below for description).
- Personal group psychotherapy: 75 hours.
- Weekly supervision of the students' own group work: two years, 75 hours. Supervision will take place in both group and individual formats.
NATIONAL GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY INSTITUTE
The Institute is open to all persons interested in the study of groups, whether mental health practitioners or professionals in other fields. An advanced degree in a mental health discipline is not required. Prospective students may register for the complete two-year cycle, or for individual weekend conferences. It is not uncommon for our weekenders to opt for the complete cycle after attending one conference, but please note that this option is not available after the second weekend of any two-year cycle.
INSTITUTE FORMAT
The Institute format is founded on the belief that a grasp of contemporary views of psychodynamic processes and group development are required for sound mental health practice (including both group and family work), as well as for organizational leadership, planning, and consultation. The Institute cultivates an egalitarian and open milieu in which to study group-wide phenomena, and members consistently attest to the long-lasting impact of these powerful conference experiences.
Each of the six conferences, which comprise a complete, two-year Institute cycle, lasts from Friday morning to Saturday evening, and each emphasizes one of the major modern approaches to dynamic group psychotherapy. Participants explore each weekend's particular theme both didactically and experientially, through readings, papers, panel discussions, small and large process groups, and a variety of other events tailored to the theme.
PARTICIPANTS
Any mental health professional or other professional who is interested in the study of groups can benefit from attending the Institute or a weekend conference. Many participants have commented that the Institute is also beneficial for their work in diverse modalities, including individual, couple, family and organizational work.
TUITION
- Annual tuition for 2010–2011: $1000
- Tuition for entire two-year Institute: $2,000
- Weekend conference fee: $360
Limited scholarship assistance may be available. Please contact our office for further information.