Holding the (W)hole: Integrating Humanity, Systems, and the Self in Group

Holding the (W)hole: Integrating Humanity, Systems, and the Self in Group Work.

In a world that often prioritizes productivity over presence, certainty over curiosity, and reaction over reflection, how do we create spaces that honor complexity, hold emotional depth, and facilitate genuine connection?

This conference explores how group therapy can serve as a bridge between self and system, intent and impact, and the seen and unseen forces that shape human relationships.

Drawing from Jungian, Lacanian, and Group Analytic traditions, as well as Buddhist- informed approaches to human nature and non-attachment, this training will challenge traditional therapeutic frameworks that locate suffering solely within the individual, instead examining how systems, relationships, and unconscious narratives shape our experiences of self and other.

• How can we hold onto another’s humanity while also acknowledging and addressing harm?

• How do we navigate shame, guilt, anger, and conflict in a way that fosters growth rather than division?

• How do systemic forces shape group dynamics, and how can groups create meaningful change within those systems?

• How can we help clients distinguish between being and feeling, recognizing that one can experience guilt without being guilty, or feel embarrassment without being an embarrassment?