Publication & Presentation Announcements by Haim Weinberg (USA)

PUBLICATIONS

Adjusting Group Therapy to Asian Cultures

(2022). In C. Martinez-Taboada & M. Honig (Eds.), Cultural diversity, groups and psychotherapy around the world (pp. 168-187). International Association for Group Psychotherapy and Group Processes.

While developing a group psychotherapy program for Asian countries (Japan, China, Singapore and Indonesia), I became aware of individualistic Western tacit assumptions in group therapy modalities that might not suit some collectivist cultures that are typical of the East. One example is the way that those cultures relate to conflict. Another clear difference is the relation with authority. Some of these differences stem from the social unconscious of people in the Far East. This chapter brings case studies from training groups I led in those countries and describes how I adjusted the theories and my leading style to the social unconscious of my group participants.

iagp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Transcultural_2022_Ebook.pdf.

Online-Gruppenpsychotherapie. Ist sie effektiv? (Online Group Psychotherapy: Is it Effective?)

(2023). Ärztliche Psychotherapie, 18(2): 121–125. DOI 10.21706/aep-18-2-121.

Online group psychotherapy allows individuals to receive support and guidance from a therapist and a group of peers in a virtual setting. It has become increasingly popular in recent years, as it offers a convenient and accessible alternative to traditional in-person therapy. The author explores the benefits of online group psychotherapy as well as its potential challenges and limitations and how to address them. The article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of online group psychotherapy and its potential to help individuals overcome mental health challenges and improve their overall well-being. 

Online Training Process Groups for Therapists: A Proposed Model

(2023). International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 73(2): 141-165.

Experiential groups are an essential part of training for group therapists. This article proposes a new model for online experiential training groups for therapists. The author summarizes the requirements for becoming a group therapist, reviews the literature about training-process groups for therapists, and discusses the dilemmas that are part of these groups. Ethical questions and the difference between training-process groups and therapy groups are presented. This training model uses weekly online process group sessions that include a 10-minute didactic discussion at the end of each session, combined with an annual in-person intensive meeting. Group vignettes are included to illustrate group processes. The advantages and disadvantages of the model are
discussed, as well as important areas for future research.

A Paradigm Change? – Entering the World of Online (Group) Therapy

(2022). Forum, July, pp. 93-94.

Leading online groups requires specific training and supervision. Just as it is not enough for a good individual therapist to become a group therapist, it is not enough for a good group therapist to become an online one.

PRESENTATIONS

The Mystery and Charm of Online Training Process Groups for Therapists

(2023). [open session]. American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) Annual Meeting, March 6-11, New York, NY.

“Every therapist should have a therapy group for themselves to prevent burnout and for their continued professional and personal growth” (Yalom). Experiential groups are part of group therapists’ training. They recently increased in popularity because of online groups and the stresses of the pandemic. Conducting them online poses specific challenges. In this session we will explore lessons learned from leading groups designed for therapists, observing and discussing them through a demonstration group.

Rupture and Repair in Relational Group Psychotherapy

(2023). [two-day process group]. American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) Annual Meeting, March 6-11, New York, NY.

This process group applies an approach to groups that emphasizes enactment instead of interpretation. Through the experiential group, we will use relational approaches to address participants’ here-and-now experience. We will focus on enactments and experiences of rupture and repair, including small ruptures which affect alliance and cohesion. Group leaders need to be aware of ruptures in the therapeutic alliance, especially those caused by the leader. Through this experience, the participants will improve their skills as group therapists.

Virtual Groups and the Social Unconscious

(2023). [presentation]. Institute of Relational Group Psychotherapy, Athens, Greece.

The Non-Verbal Dimension in Online Therapy

(2023). [workshop]. Israeli Relational Circles Conference, Shfayim, Israel.

One of the obstacles in online therapy is the lack of body-to-body communication. This obstacle can become an advantage if we learn to read facial expressions, which can be seen more clearly in an online meeting, and treat them as part of the transference/countertransference matrix, especially in online group therapy. In an online group, non-verbal aspects such as silence and disconnection (dissociation) acquire meaning through a parallel process. In addition, when it comes to moving the group to virtual space, there is an opportunity for group members to realize new self-states that are not reflected in in-person work. This option enriches the group work even more.

Haim Weinberg, Ph.D.
Sacramento, CA, USA
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