Community Connections & Resources

Please scroll down for:
Community Connections and website links
Recordings from our Leadership Conversation Series
Core Program References

and
Seasonal Reading Lists

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Community Connections


Canadian Group Psychotherapy Foundation
(CGPF)
CGPF promotes training, education and research in group psychotherapy.
They offer financial support to practitioners and students who wish to further their education, research or clinical practice in group psychotherapy, through a number of awards and scholarships.

American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA)
AGPA is a not-for-profit multi-disciplinary organization dedicated to enhancing the practice, theory and research of group psychotherapy. They provide global access to group psychotherapy education and professional development, research, and outreach services. They host an annual conference offering valuable learning opportunities for group leaders. A strong Canadian 'delegation’ attends the AGPA conference.

International Association for Group Psychotherapy and Group Processes (IAGP)
IAGP is a worldwide network of professionals involved in the development and study of group psychotherapy and group process as applied to clinical practice, consultancy, education, scientific studies and socio-cultural settings. They meet annually for a conference and have multiple resources available online.

Psychotherapy Practice Research Network (PPRNet)
PPRNet is a Canada wide inter-disciplinary collaboration among psychotherapy clinicians, educators, researchers, knowledge users, and professional organizations. Their newsletter often includes timely and accessible updates regarding new group psychotherapy research. 
Director Giorgio Tasca is one of our respected invited Faculty.

Caversham Book Sellers 
Caversham Books is apparently “North America’s Largest Mental Health Bookstore”. Located in Toronto, but also online, they have an amazing and diverse selection of resources for mental health clinicians and ‘seekers’ in general. Warning: countless hours can be lost ‘browsing’ at Cavershams! 

The Mindfulness Centre
The Mindfulness Centre offers comprehensive training programs,  stimulating workshops,
thoughtful articles, videos, newsletters and other resources that address mindfulness.
Founder Dr. Stephane Treyvaud is one of our Institute's respected invited Faculty.


Arts Based Wellness

Isabel Fryszberg offers arts-based wellbeing services for teams, staff, students and artists. She is an arts based Occupational Therapist, an educator, a musician, film-maker (In Search of Joy, Memories that Sing, and What's Art Got To Do With It?), and one of our Institute's respected invited Faculty.

Systems - Centered Training and Research Institute 
SCTRI is a non-profit organization that supports training and research in Systems-Centered Therapy and Training (SCT). SCT offers an innovative approach to sustainable change by systematically weakening the restraining forces that block development. SCT also introduces functional subgrouping, an innovative method which enables individuals and groups to explore all sides of a conflict until the differences can be integrated rather than fighting, scapegoating or extruding differences. SCT methods are used by therapists, coaches, consultants, educators, pastoral care counselors and others. 
Chair Susan Gantt is one of our respected invited Faculty.

Psychotherapy.net 
Psychotherapy.net presents an incredible array of online educational resources.
Their tagline states 'great therapists never stop learning".
This site offers a library of over 350 training videos, featuring leading practitioners in our field, as well as articles, interviews and blogs of interest to psychotherapists.
Founder Victor Yalom is one of our respected invited Faculty. 

Recordings from our Leadership Conversation Series

This complimentary series offers an opportunity to learn from a diverse group of recognized leaders in the field of group practice. Through 1-hour conversations, our faculty explore the various influences that have helped shape these leaders' practices, as well as their approaches to leadership within our current context.

Nina Brown 

September 21, 2023
Leadership of Psycho-educational  Groups 

Session Video

Giorgio Tasca

March 16, 2023
Research/Clinical Collaboration 

Session Video 

Scott Rutan

January 12, 2023
Group Leader as Group Foillower

Session Video

Victor Yalom

November 3, 2022
Ongoing Therapist Education and Group Leadership 

Session Video 

Susan Gantt

September 29, 2022
Systems-Centred Therapy in Groups

Session video

Noelle Lefforge

May 12, 2022
Addressing Micro-aggressions in Group Psychotherapy

 Session video

Elliot Zeisel

March 18, 2022
Group Leadership : Lessons Learned

Session video

Isabel Fryszberg

December 16, 2021
Arts-based Wellness Groups 

Session video

Kas Khorasani

September 30, 2021
Creativity and the Group Leader

Session video

Cheri Marmarosh

October 21, 2021
Attachment Theory and Groups

Session video

Yvonne Bergmans

May 13, 2021
Peer Leadership in Groups

Session video

Joan-Dianne Smith & Allan Sheps

April 8, 2021
Co-leadership

Session video

Stephane Treyvaud

January 28, 2021
Mindful Group Leadership

Session feedback

Molyn Leszcz

December10, 2020
Leadership in Challenging Times 

Session video

Core Program References


Texts:

Corey, G., Corey, M.S., & Corey C., (2017) Groups: Process and Practice (10th ed.)  Brooks/Cole Publishers.

Dana, D. (2018) The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.

Gantt, S.P., & Agazarian, Y.M. (Eds.) (2006). Systems-centered therapy: In clinical practice with individuals, families and groups. Livermore, CA: WingSpan Press. Reprint (2011). London, UK: Karnac Books.

Gantt, S.P. & Badenoch, B. (Eds.) (2013). The Interpersonal Neurobiology of Group Psychotherapy and Group Process. Routledge.

Mackenzie, K. R. (1990) Introduction to Time Limited Psychotherapy. Washington: American Press.

Marmarosh, C.L., Markin, R.D. and Spiegel, E.B. (2013). Attachment in Group Psychotherapy. Washington: American Psychological Association.

Ormont, L.R. Edited by Furgeri, L.B. (2016). The Technique of Group Treatment: The Collected Papers of Louis R. Ormont, Ph.D. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.

Porges, S. W. (2021) Polyvagal Safety: Attachment, Communication, Self-regulation. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.

Rutan, J.S., Stone, W.N., and Shay J. (2014) Psychodynamic Group Psychotherapy (5th ed.). New York: Guilford Press.

Yalom, I.D. & Leszcz, M. (2020) The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy (6th ed.) New York: Basic Books.

Articles:
Counselman, E.F. (2008) Reader's Forum: Why Study Group Therapy? International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 58(2).

Joyce, A., Tasca, G., & Ogrodniczuk, J. (2015) Group Psychotherapy in Canada. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 65(4).

Lefforge, N.L., McLaughlin, S., Goates-Jones, M., Mejia, C. (2020) A Training Model for Addressing Micro-aggressions in Group Psychotherapy. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 70: 1-28.

Zaslav, M. (1988) A Model of Group Therapist Development. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 38(1).

Videos:
Zeisel, E. You Tube video series, GROUP.

Systems Centered Training and Research Institute  You Tube Video,
The Edge of the Unknown 


You Tube Video, SCT- Seeing the System, Not Just People~  Commemorating the Work of Yvonne Agazarian 



 Read More

fall/winter 2023-2024 reading list coming soon


spring/summer
2023
reading list

interdependency, group identity and
sharing of resources


This season’s list highlights articles, texts and other creative and thoughtful offerings which address interdependency, group identity and sharing of resources.

The Cambridge dictionary defines interdependence as, a mutually dependent relationship …” 

We began exploring this theme as The Toronto Maple Leafs launched into another playoff season. For those of you who are hockey fans, you may be well aware of the playoff ‘drought’ that Toronto hockey players and fans have experienced over many years. It has been 56 years since the Leafs last won the Stanley Cup – that’s the longest in NHL history! And the last time the Leafs even won Round 1 in the playoffs was in 2004 – almost 20 years ago! Toronto is host to multiple sports teams, and we think it’s fair to say that our city is full of ‘die-hard’ sports fans, but hockey is especially dear to Canadian fans, and every Spring during payoff season our collective hope builds … again.



This is one of many images posted of fans watching outdoor TVs outside the arena in Toronto in Maple Leaf Square during a hockey game.

And this article by Cory Stieg in 2020 suggests that “Sports fans have higher self-esteem and are more satisfied with their lives (whether their teams win or lose)”

Why being a sports fan and rooting for a team is good for you (cnbc.com) 

For our American friends, you may be familiar with the branding, ‘We The North’ of our only Canadian NBA basketball team, The Toronto Raptors. Particularly during playoff season, these flags can be seen not only all over Toronto, but across Canada!



During basketball season, the same outdoor Square turns into what is affectionately known in Toronto as ‘Jurassic Park’ for basketball fans.

This concept of 'We the North' particularly resonated with us as we discussed how groups come together during times of celebration, and in times of tragedy. And we have seen multiple recent examples of both. We have experienced the power of groups to effect positive change; And we have also seen extraordinarily damaging effects.

Peter Block has written extensively about belonging. His 2018 text, Community: The Structure of Belonging. California: Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc. is a thoughtful, beautiful presentation of  how we can transform our communities and collective experiences. In his words, “this book is written to support those who care for the well-being of their community. It is for anyone who wants to be part of creating an organization, neighbourhood, city, or country that works for all, and who has the faith and the energy to create such a place. I am one of those people….”

We hope that some of the references in this list may also stimulate some interesting reflections for you, and the groups to which you belong! 

No Man Is an Island
by John Donne (1572-1631, England)

No man is an island,
Entire of itself;
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.

If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less,
As well as if a promontory were:
As well as if a manor of thy friend's
Or of thine own were.

Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.  


Group Related:


During our discussions about this reading list theme, our reflections kept returning to two of the large group presentations at this year’s AGPA Connect Conference in New York in March 2023:
Rev. Ronald Hopson offered a remarkable, impassioned presentation, “Embracing the Other: The Fundamental Work of a Working Group” as the Conference Opening Address.
The Anne and Ramon Alonso Plenary, “Large group Identity Issues, Political Leader-Followers Interactions and Social Well-Being” was presented by Dr. Vamik Volkan. His talk addressed many issues from his recent 2020 text, Large-Group Psychology: Racism, Societal Divisions, Narcissistic Leaders and Who We Are Now. Phoenix Publishing House.
Both talks will soon be made available through AGPA, and we look forward to reviewing them both again!

Molly Castelloe, Ph.D. posted an interesting article in Psychology Today on October 7, 2021, titled, Group Identity and Its Making: Crowd Psychology and Undigested Grief. Group Identity and Its Making | Psychology Today that references Dr. Volkan’s work in understanding large groups and mourning processes.

The following three articles on social identity in groups resonate with this theme of large group identity that builds on concepts of interdependency, inclusion, and belonging:

Ron B. Aviram and Sherri Rosenfeld (2002) Application of Social Identity Theory in Group Therapy with Stigmatized Adults, International Journal of Group Psychotherapy: 52:1, 121-130.

This article explores the application of social identity theory, which contends that social group membership, also called collective identity, has an impact on self-esteem. The authors describe how to enhance self-esteem by broadening one’s awareness of collective identity.

Paul Gitterman (2019) Social Identities, Power, and Privilege: The Importance of Difference in Establishing Early Group Cohesion, International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 69:1, 99-125.

The authors elaborate on the importance of working with difference in order to foster group cohesion. They explore our developmental drive for sameness and the fears of differences which often manifest as resistance to exploring our social identities and working with this material in group.

Susan P. Gantt and Yvonne M. Agazarian (2010) Developing the Group Mind Through Functional Subgrouping: Linking Systems-Centered Training (SCT) and Interpersonal Neurobiology, International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 60:4. 515-544.

The concept of the ‘group mind’ is explored using an interpersonal neurobiology frame to discuss how functional subgrouping can be used as a tool for developing the group mind to foster emotional regulation, secure relational context and neural integration.

It was impossible for us to contemplate the concepts of group identity and interconnectedness without reflecting on the curative factors inherent in groups. The following three references address these factors: 

Irving D. Yalom and Molyn Leszcz (2020). The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy 6th edition, New York: Basic Books.

Colin et al (1991) A comparison of Curative Factors in Different Types of Group Psychotherapy, International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, vol. 41, 365-378.

Paul Dierick and Germain Lietaer (2007) Client Perception of Therapeutic Factors in Group Psychotherapy and Growth Groups: An Empirically-Based Hierarchical Model. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 58(2), 203-230. 


Of Interest:

The arts can often give a voice to our collective experiences ~ both building our communities, and expressing what may not yet have be named…

April each year is recognized as ‘Earth Month’, and in celebration of our interconnectivity with nature, below is an excerpt from poet Rupi Kaur’s 2017 collection, the sun and her flowers:

“…
there is
nothing left
to worry about
the sun and her flowers are here.” 


The Textile Museum of Canada’s new installation Gathering “centres community and artist collaboration.” The recent edition of AGOInsider, May 3, 2023, describes the exhibition: “Baby blankets, passed-down clothing, and traditional cultural attire ~ textiles provide some of the first and most significant places where we find comfort, identity and belonging. In its current installation Gathering, the Collection Gallery at the Textile Museum of Canada explores human experiences through themes of diaspora and migration, ancestral reclamation, resilience, and everyday life.” https://ago.ca/agoinsider/gathering-together?utm_source=AGO+email+communications&utm_campaign=22b10a06b6-AGOinsider_May+03&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d4ab708299-22b10a06b6-246083481 

And in the spirit of community, interconnectivity and sharing of resources…  

Rose Patten (2023) Intentional Leadership: The Big 8 Capabilities Setting Leaders Apart. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. 
“She is highly sought-after as an authority on the study and practice of leadership and has extensive experience as an advisor in the fields of senior leadership development and succession, strategy execution, and governance, in corporate and community settings. At U of T, currently she is Executive in Residence and Adjunct Professor in executive leadership programs at the Rotman School of Management.” Chancellor Patten will be speaking about her recently launched book at UofT on May 30th at a reception for University of Toronto alumni and friends as part of a series of lectures being hosted in cities around the world. 

In a recent article, 18 Ways Kindness can Save your Life and Change it for the Better, Dr. Frank Lipman (February 2021), explores ways that showing kindness to others also supports our own physical and emotional health: https://drfranklipman.com/2021/02/22/18-ways-kindness-can-save-your-life-and-change-it-for-the-better/ 

David Johnston, Canada’s 28th Governor General, and best-selling author of Trust, has just released his newest book, Empathy: Turning Compassion into Action (2023) Penguin Random House Canada. The text “explores how awakening to the transformative power of listening and caring permanently changes individuals, families, communities, and nations.” (cover) And to boot, he was himself an accomplished hockey player who captained the Harvard hockey team while at University. 

As a nod to our hockey-themed introduction, some of you may remember several years ago in Toronto during the singing of the teams’ National Anthems before the game began, the microphone cut out in the middle of the singer’s rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner. Without skipping a beat, the Toronto hockey crowd finished singing the American National Anthem. We’d like to end this season’s list with that wonderful ‘group’ moment, which you can watch and listen to below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R18h5NmmhQc

(At the time of writing, our Toronto Maple Leafs made it past Round 1 – yahoo! And ‘we’ are currently in Round 2 against the Florida Panthers. Go Leafs Go!) 

May 2023

fall/winter 2022-2023
reading list

This list addresses
inner resourcing

Read full list

spring/summer 2022
reading list

This list addresses
compassion and gratitude

Read full list

fall/winter 2021-2022
reading list

This list addresses 
universality and making meaning

Read full list

spring/summer 2021
reading list 

This list addresses
hope

Read full list

fall/winter 2020-2021
reading list

This list addresses
attachment and belonging

Read full list