A Message from the Co-President

For me, connection is the essence of being human.

I also think in our connections we expresses our spirituality. The quality of our connections is the quality of our spirituality. If we have done so much personal work that we can relate with compassion, even love, to strangers and even enemies, we have achieved a profound depth of spirituality. ‘Spirituality’ can be a loaded word, I have thought much about the Divine, what it is, how we might experience or connect with the Divine, having completed a Divinity degree. For me, the quality of our relationships, our connections is spirituality. The healthier our connections, the more we allow the Divine between and among us.

 My experiential definition of a well-run group is one where it is safe to be vulnerable – it is safe to be your tender, true self. So, to me, a well-run group is a spiritual experience because skillfully led groups enhance the quality of connections between the participants. 

I first became President of Carolinas Group Psychotherapy Society in 2023 because its values line up with my personal values. The quality of the connections made in our workshops allow participants to take risks, feel seen, feel known, and become more whole.This is essence of being human.

In well led groups we feel safe and so can be vulnerable. Free to be vulnerable, we can be our true selves. Group offers us the chance to see ourselves through the eyes of others. Feeling safe, we can face our fears of shame, fears of judgment, fears of rejection, and see beyond these fears to better possibilities. In this freedom we can choose to change what we wish to change. The group becomes a safe place to practice new skills until they are solid. The safe-enough space is what a solid group leader provides.

CGPS is a place to develop and fine tune our group leader skills. We can learn new techniques and theories or strengthen what we already know. CGPS is a safe place to grow as professionals.

To lead a group is to recognize the importance of connection, safety, and vulnerability, where compassion, patient listening, and respect can flourish. CGPS is a gathering of professionals who strive to enhance the quality of group leader skills.

If you like the idea of therapists supporting each other in living these values in life and work, please consider joining us. If you volunteer with us, join a committee, or join our board, you can have the full experience of this affirming community. I invite you to help us spread the power of groups.

Yours truly,

Brian P. Clougherty, M.A., M.Div. LCMHC, NCC

Co- President, CGPS

Durham, NC

“I have found it to be rare for people in professional spaces to get into these types of conversations about group, personal, and professional growth. This is the only conference where you are invited to bring your whole self to the group process. The ability to engage and talk about what you’re learning in the moment – what is coming up for you and how it relates to others…it’s fantastic.”

- Agustina Vidal | Student and Returning workshop Attendee

“What I love about CGPS is the sense of belonging to a community and the relationships that result.  i met by best friend, Caroline, through CPGS, and she and I attended together for years.  She has since passed away.  I expressed some grief around Caroline’s passing during small group, and the group leader’s response was a moment of grace for me.  The facilitator had an ability to hone in on the g group or individual interpretation in a really powerful way.  The workshop is a training environment but you can’t not bring yourself to the process  And so there’s this opportunity to stretch and grow.”

- Jae Brainard • LCSW Multi-Year workshop attendee