"Group Psychotherapy with Recovering Individuals: Healing Through Attachment and Connection"

This two-day workshop will explore how group therapy can be used to support an individual's recovery process.

Online or Hybrid options:

Presentations are online;

experiential learning groups are available online or in-person in Charlotte, Salisbury, Raleigh or Durham, NC

Barney Straus will present some core theoretical material on the first day, and focus on technical application on the second day. The plenary sessions will be complemented by small-group sessions, and a concluding discussion.

While the workshop focus is Substance Use Disorder Treatment, the focus on attachment and connection applies to working with all clients. Group Therapy heals; one way it heals is by helping people connect with others constructively. In this way, group therapy is an antidote for isolation in society.

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Description

We live in a highly addicted society. Some addictions, such as those to drugs and alcohol, are fairly well understood by the treatment community and by society at large. Other forms of addiction include behavioral patterns, such as compulsive online activity, being in unhealthy relationships, and gambling. These so-called “process” addictions are less well understood, but they can cause major interference to a person’s career, personal relationships, and overall sense of well-being. In all cases, addicted individuals get attached to substances and behaviors, as opposed to getting attached to other people. Group psychotherapy offers a direct antidote to addiction, in that it provides a context in which group members can form multiple attachments to the group leader and other group members, as well as to the group-as-a-whole. Group members can also learn specific techniques for maintaining their recovery and preventing slips back into destructive patterns.

This two-day workshop will explore how group therapy can be used to support individuals recovering from addictions and compulsive behaviors. The workshop leader will present some theoretical foundations on the first day, and focus on technical issues related to group leadership on the second day. Large group discussion and some experiential activities will be incorporated into the plenary presentations. Participants will have an opportunity to integrate the material in small group process sessions that will take place throughout the weekend. A discussion focusing on how to apply the techniques to back-home groups will conclude the workshop.

The workshop will be structured according to Group Psychotherapy with Addicted Populations, an Integration of Theory and Practice, 4th Edition (2023), that the presenter co-authored with Phil Flores and Jeffrey Roth. The theoretical material includes the themes of addiction as an attachment disorder, family dynamics and addiction, mutual support groups, and several complementary approaches to group therapy, including the interpersonal model, cognitive behavioral therapy, adventure-based counseling, and 12-Step facilitation. The presentation on the second day will emphasize practical application of the ideas presented on day one, and will include preparing individuals for involvement in a group, stages of group development, specific interventions, including role-plays, bridging, adventure-based initiatives, repairing ruptured relationships, and termination. The presentation will conclude with some specific recommendations for group therapists in training.

COURSE REFERENCES

Jacobs, E.E., Schimmel, C.J., Masson, R.L., & Harvill R.L. 9th ed. (2022). Group counseling: Strategies and skills. San Diego, CA.: Cognella.

Flores, P., Roth, J. Straus, B. (2023). Group Psychotherapy with Addicted Populations: An Integration of Theory and Practice. New York: Routledge.

Flores, P. (2004). Addiction as an Attachment Disorder. Lanhan, MD: Rowman And Littlefield.

Roth, J. (2004). Group Psychotherapy and Recovery from Addiction: Carrying the Message. New York: Taylor and Francis.

Straus, B. (2018). Healing in Action: Adventure-Based Counseling with Therapy Groups. New York, NY: Rowman and Littlefield.

Learning Objectives:

Workshop attendees will be able to:

1. Describe how to use metaphoric transfer of learning to heighten therapeutic impact of the group.
2. Identify several specific theoretical approaches to addiction treatment in groups.
3. Select specific interventions based on the stage of development and primary purpose of a particular group.
4. Explain how addiction impacts not only the primary addicted individual, but his or her family members as well.
5. Describe their increased knowledge of group process and dynamics from observing their small groups and the behavior of the group members, leader, and themselves. 

Barney Straus, MSW, MA, CGP, AGPA-F

Barney Straus is an adventure-based therapist in private practice in Chicago, IL, where he works with individuals and groups to treat people recovering from addictions and compulsive behaviors. Barney has created programming for many treatment centers; these include Suncloud Health, Working Sobriety Chicago, and All Points North Lodge, in Edwards, Colorado. He is a part-time faculty member at Loyola University Chicago, School of Social Work, Roosevelt University, Department of Psychology, and New Mexico Highlands University, School of Social Work. Barney is the founder of Adventure Forward Therapy, a practice dedicated to integrating adventure into the therapeutic process. He is the author of the 2018 book Healing in Action: Adventure-Based Counseling with Therapy Groups. He is co-author of the 4th Edition of Group Psychotherapy with Addicted Populations, published by Routledge in 2023. Barney is a fellow of the American Group Psychotherapy Association.

Continuing Education Credit

We have applied for APA (American Psychological Association), and NAADAC (National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors) Continuing Education hours and expect approval for 10.5 hours by APA and probably by NAADAC. This page will be updated as CE Hours are approved. A Certificate of Completion for CE Hours will be available for an add-on fee of $30.

American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

The American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

This event has NOT been approved for NBCC-accredited hours. However, you can submit up to 15 hours per 2-year renewal cycle of general contact hours such as APA-approved hours.

Orientation and "Zoom Chat-In" (to verify attendance) starts at

Saturday at 8:30 AM.

Welcome and Presentations start Saturday at 9 AM

Saturday session ends at 4:30 PM

Sunday starts at 9 AM and ends at 5:00 PM

On the first day, test your Zoom link about 8:30 AM; we have help starting 8:30 AM if you have Zoom problems.

You can download the schedule here:

Here also is the same schedule:

What to Expect at Our Workshops:

Experiential Small Groups Explained

What to Expect at a Workshop

Scholarships Available!

We do not want financial circumstances to prevent you from participating, so we offer a limited number registrations at the Accessible Registration rate of $50. This does not include membership in CGPS. It does not include Continuing Education Certificate, which is available for $30 more.

If even this rate is unaffordable, please email your exceptional circumstances and what you feel you can afford to president.cgps@gmail.com.

Registration Rates