Welcome to the 31st Annual Conference

Warm welcome to you from the NSGP Conference Committee!

The theme of this year’s conference is “What is at the heart of the work we do?” We know from our clinical experience, and from effectiveness research findings, that dynamic psychotherapies (individual, couples and group) help people resolve deep and painful life issues. The essential components of effective therapy, however, have been the subject of lively debate over the years, with many of the more recent schools of therapy introducing new challenges and proposing new solutions to the debate. In this year’s two-part Special Presentation, we’ve asked Jonathan Shedler, PhD to present his research and conclusions on the effectiveness of individual dynamic psychotherapy, and to discuss with a panel of seasoned group therapists about how his ideas are related to group therapies.

The Experience Groups and Workshops offered by our colleagues will consider a spectrum of group therapies, including underlying processes such as interpersonal neurobiology and attachment theory.

The Demonstration Group, led by our own Scott Rutan, will afford discussants, participants and observers a chance to weigh in on group processes observed in real time, and how these may berelated to the essence of effective treatment.

We on the Committee hope you will be stimulated and intrigued by the various offerings at the
conference, and that you will take the opportunity to re-connect with colleagues and friends.

Finally, we hope you will join our Society if you aren’t already a member, and deepen your connection to NSGP through the many activities offered during the year.

Julie Anderson, Peter Gumpert, and Scott Reinhardt, for the Committee

People in Groups: New Insights on the Social Synapse

This is the title for the NSGP Conference 2011 that was just announced. Conference Committee hopes that next year's conference will attract a lot of exciting presenters, both experienced and those who are trying to get their feet wet. We are also looking forward to stimulating discussions and exchange of ideas.

Enticing Aspects of the Conference

First of all, I think this blog is a great idea! Kudos to our NSGP Conference Publicity Committee for making it happen. Very impressive! Very creative!

Let me admit up front that I love the conference. Reuniting with old friends, engaging in stimulating discussions, sharing humor—okay, sometimes off-color jokes—with NSGP members who would have seemed unlikely to participate, are all enticing aspects of the conference for me. While the atmosphere of conviviality would be enough to draw me in, add to that the inspiring offerings every year, and I’m there.

And I also enjoy making my own presentations. It wasn’t always this way, though. In fact, my very first presentation, many moons ago—before the very word “blog” was ever uttered—was cancelled for lack of interest. And my second attempt was not that well attended. Why I persevered is a story for the couch, but finally, people showed up, and the early period of drought proved worth it. I hope this can serve as encouragement to others reading this who have been thinking about presenting. The NSGP crowd is the most supportive, caring, and involved group I’ve ever had the fortune to be involved with.

So, I hope to see all of you at the conference!

Joe Shay, PhD

Excellent Learning for All Therapists, Not Only Group Aficionados

I came to my first NSGP Conference right while working in the V.A. system right after grad school in 1984. I wanted to continue and deepen my experience and understanding of group work that began in my internship. Although I remain an avid group aficionado, I have recently reflected on the experiences of some colleagues whom I've persuaded to attend the Conference who themselves do not practice group therapy. It is clear to me that the Conference provides very important experiential training for therapists VIA THE GROUP MODALITY even when the therapist may not have any desire to become a group therapist.

Greg Chilenski, Ph.D.

Enlightening and Validating

I found it enlightening, validating (and scary) to begin to share some
of my own feelings and hear those of other therapists in my first Day-
Long Experience Group. I anticipate the experience to continue to be
useful for my own personal growth, and in my work with clients,
especially reminding me how vulnerable they feel.
Maxine Sushelsky, LMHC

First Time to Lead: Nerve-Breaking but Educational!

This was the first time for me to lead a day-long experiential group at the past NSGP Annual Conference that was held in June 2010 in Boston. As one experienced presenter put it, leading a group for your colleagues is very different from leading a group for your clients - the former REALLY shows you how good (or bad!) you are. My conclusion at the end of the day regarding my own performance as a group leader was that although I had things to offer, I still had a lot to learn! Having an Observer and hearing his feedback was very educational. In addition, being in a position of a group leader at the professional conference helped me develop more appreciation for seasoned clinicians who have been doing it for years. There is a lot of thought and effort that goes into this work that are not always apparent to the group members! I am truly appreciative of this experience that I leave humbled but determined. My determination is to continue challenge myself and grow professionally in this wonderful learning environment that the NSGP Annual Conference is - either as a leader, or as a participant!

Alexandra (Sasha) Juravleva, LMHC
Private Practice, Cambridge, MA

Tells us what you like about NSGP conferences?

Welcome,

If you found this blog, you probably have either attended NSGP conferences before or you are interested in learning more about the conference.


Having gained a lot from NSGP conferences in the past, we created this blog to find out what other people gained from it as well and to offer an insight to those who are curious about what the conference could offer to them.

Please tell us about what brings you back to the annual NSGP conference year after year. Share your highlights and what you've gained from attending.

Thank you,

The Conference Publicity Committee