Helping Every Group Client Grow: Working With Common Defense Strategies in Group Therapy

The task of the therapy group is to help clients develop new ways of relating with people that meet their emotional needs more directly. This task conflicts with the defense strategies that our clients use to keep themselves from feeling all emotions. Our clients' character traits often aid them in maintaining a defended posture in group. As a therapist, it can be difficult to balance between allowing clients to stay where they are emotionally and using group interventions in an active way. This institute will focus on techniques that group therapists can use to support and intervene with clients’ defenses over the lifespan of a group. Working with these defenses helps clients freely participate in their therapy groups and lives in more cooperative ways.

Leaders: Pierre Choucroun, PhD, LPC-S, CGP

Tickets available: Tuesday, July 30 @ 8:01am

About the Presenter:

Pierre Choucroun, PhD, LPC-S, CGP, is a certified group therapist and has been in practice for fifteen years. He is an active member of the American Group Psychotherapy Association and the Austin Group Psychotherapy Society. Pierre began his career providing individual, family, and group therapy to criminal offenders, bereaved families, and patients facing end-of-life issues.

In 2012 he earned a PhD in counselor education and supervision, with a research focus on couple counseling. Pierre currently focuses on long term psychoanalytic work with groups and individuals. He has additional specializations in working with patient defenses and with high-conflict families. Pierre leads and co-leads ongoing therapy groups.

Cost: $150 per person

Limit: 11 slots available

Levels of Experience: This Institute is open to ALL members of AGPS regardless of experience level.

CEUs: 9.0 Continuing Education credits offered for Psychologists, Social Workers, LPCs, and LMFTs.

Schedule:

Saturday September 7: 9:00am-5:00pm (Lunch: 12:15-1:45pm)
Sunday September 8: 9:00am - 12:15pm

Objectives:

1. Define and apply defense and resistance.

2. Identify approaches that interrupt treatment destructive behavior.

3. Describe how countertransference feelings are used to resolve resistances.

Institute - “Helping Every Group Client Grow: Working with Common Defense Strategies in Group"