Special Interest Groups
SIGs are Special Interest Groups established by AGPA for mental health professionals who share a common interest in a specific area of group psychotherapy. SIGs allow like-minded group psychotherapists to share ideas and strengthen their knowledge through interaction with their colleagues. SIGs vary in size, structure and activity level, but each is open to all interested members. Join now by emailing agpamemberservices@agpa.org or call Toll Free 1-888-808-2472 (AGPA).

 

SIG Task Force
The SIG Task Force promotes the development of SIGs and provides a forum for supporting SIG activities.

 

For information contact:

Margaret M. Postlewaite, Ph.D., CGP, FAGPA, Co-Chair
16 Byron Ave
White Plains, NY 10606-3443
Office: (914) 428-4245
Fax: (914) 682-7672
E-mail: postlewaitem@gmail.com

 

Sharan Schwartzberg, Ed.D., Co-Chair
Tufts University

136 Beacon St., Unit 8

Boston, MA 02116
Office: (617) 627-5920
Fax: (617) 627-3722
E-mail: sharan.schwartzberg@tufts.edu
 

Addiction and Recovery SIG

Provides a forum for those with an interest and expertise in utilizing group methods for the treatment and healing process of addictions. 

 

Co-Chairs:

Sarah Frank

8724 Maya Pl.

North Hills, CA 91343-4800

Office: (818) 857-2503

Email: sarahfrankland@live.com

 

Steven Henne, MA
PO Box 30024
RPO Parkgate
North Vancouver, BC V7H 2Y8
CANADA
Office: (303) 818-1366

Fax: (778) 338-4190

Email: stevenhenne@hotmail.com

 

Children and Adolescents SIG:
Provides a focal point for clinicians treating children and adolescents, furthers training standards, and compiles educational resources.

 

Co-Chairs:

Seth Aronson, Psy.D., CGP, FAGPA
135 Central Park W

#1NR
New York, NY 10023-2500
Office: (212) 579-3105
Fax: (212) 362-6967
E-mail: seth_aronson@yahoo.com

Craig Haen, MA, RDT, CGP

Kids in Crisis

510 North Broadway

White Plains, NY 10603

Office: (917) 439-7892

Fax: (203) 861-2565

Email: CraigHaen@gmail.com

 

Thomas K. Hurster, MSS, CGP, FAGPA
26 Summit Grove Ave
Ste 213- The Wilson Bldg
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Office: (610) 525-5030

Fax: (610) 565-3872

Email: thomas.hurster@verizon.net

 

College Counseling and Other Educational Settings SIG:
Focuses on applying group therapy theory to group settings; developing positive communication within the school community; building trust between non-classroom personnel, such as clinicians, and educational personnel; and developing and carrying out research projects using group dynamic and group therapy constructs.

 

Co-Chairs:

Mark E. Beecher, Ph.D.
1500 WSC
Provo, UT 84602
 Office: (801) 422-3035
Fax: (801) 422-0173
Email: mark_beecher@byu.edu

 

Michele D. Ribeiro, Ed.D.
511 NW 11th St
Apt 303
Corvallis, OR 97330
 Office: (541) 737-2131

Email: michele.ribeiro@oregonstate.edu

 

Co-Leadership in Groups SIG
Provides a forum for exploration of the issues pertinent to the utilization of co-therapy in groups.

 

Co-Chairs:

Jeanne L. Bunker, L.C.S.W., CGP
2520 Longview Street
Suite 302
Austin, TX 78705
Office: (512) 328-3947

Email: jlbunker@prodigy.net

 

Jay M. Erwin-Grotsky, L.C.S.W., CGP
2525 Wallingwood Dr Ste 900
Austin, TX 78746
 Office: (512) 732-7272
Fax: (512) 732-2012
Email: jayeg@texas.net

 

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Issues SIG
Provides programming, networking, and social events for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered therapists and anyone interested in better understanding homosexuality, bisexuality and transgenderism.

 

Co-Chairs:

Cara J. Armstrong, Ph.D., CGP

Student Counseling Services

2223 Student Services Bldg., 3rd Floor

Ames, IA 50011-0001
Office: (515) 294-0158

Fax: (512) 372-8820

Email: caraj@iastate.edu

 

Joseph Acosta, MA, CGP

8400 N Mopac Expy., Ste 202

Austin, TX 78759-8323

Office: (512) 576-9523

Fax: (515) 294-5205

Email: acosta.joseph@gmail.com

 

Groups in Private Practice SIG
Explores issues relevant to establishing and maintaining a private practice of group therapy.

 

Co-Chairs:

Shari Baron, MSN, CGP

1715 Green Valley Rd.

Havertown, PA 19083

Office: (610) 449-6550
Fax: (610) 449-6556
Email: shariyb@aol.com

 

Carol A. Dallinga, L.C.S.W., CGP
731 Saw Mill River Rd Ste 7
Ardsley, NY 10502-1814
Work: (914) 693-6906

Fax: (914) 693-2266

Email: caroldallinga@optonline.net

 

International Relations SIG
Serves as a liaison to the International Association of Group Psychotherapy and encourages and enables members abroad to affiliate themselves with AGPA. The SIG also participates in professional and scientific exchanges among group psychotherapists in various parts of the world.

 

Co-Chairs:

Earl Hopper, Ph.D., CGP, FAGPA

11 Heath Mansions
The Mount
London NW3 6SN
UNITED KINGDOM

Office: 011-44-207-435-2053

Fax: 011-44-207-431-4892

Email: earlhopper@btinternet.com

 

Haim Weinberg, Ph.D., CGP, FAGPA
5224 Grant Ave
Carmichael, CA 95608
Office: (916) 212-6424
Fax: (916) 489-4612
E-mail: haimw@group-psychotherapy.com

 

Issues in Aging SIG

For those who are interested in Geriatric patients as well as those who are interested in issues of Aging, whether it be their own aging or involving the clients with whom they work.

 

Co-Chairs:

Ken Schwartz, M.D., FRCPC
Baycrest Dept of Psychiatry
3560 Bathurst St
Toronto, ON M6B1L3
CANADA
Office: (416) 785-2500 x2882

Fax: (416) 785-2450

Email: kschwartz@baycrest.org

 

William D. Shapiro, Psy.D., CGP
745 Martin Rd
Elkins Park, PA 19027-1709
Office: (215) 581-3942
Fax: (215) 581-3934
E-mail: bpswds@verizon.net

 

Medical Illness:
Provides a forum for those with an interest or expertise in utilizing group methods to provide psychological treatment to the medically ill.

 

Co-Chairs:

Miriam L. Iosupovici, M.S.W., LMFT
1320 Seacoast Dr Unit L
Imperial Beach, CA 91932-3165
Office: (619) 429-5887
Fax: (619) 423-5737
Email: zevsmom@hotmail.com

 

Ann E. Steiner, Ph.D., MFT, CGP, FAGPA

PO Box 196

Lafayette, CA 94549
Email: drsteiner@drsteiner.com
 

Mental Health Agency & Institutional Settings SIG:
Addresses group treatment of the chronic mentally ill (individuals in day-treatment settings, other rehabilitation programs, sheltered living, and/or functioning independently) to explore the diverse needs of this population and the place of group treatment for them.

 

Co-Chairs:

Kathleen Ault, NP, CGP

303 Grand Ave., Apt. 6

Englewood, NJ 07631
Office: (212) 241-6313
Fax: (212) 987-5683
E-mail: katault@aol.com

Eric Oxelson, M.S.W., CGP
CA Dept of Corrections

502 Willis Ave.
Madera, CA 93637
Office: (559) 665-5531 x7726
Fax: (559) 665-6067
E-mail: oxelson@sbcglobal.net
 

Organizational Development and Consultation SIG:

Provides a home for members who have incorporated organizational consultation work into their professional repertoires.  The utilization of group dynamics principles will be a focus for this SIG.

 

Co-Chairs:

Diana M. Kunkel, MA, Ph.D.

5119 Bradley Blvd.

Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Office: (301) 951-6195
Fax: (301) 951-6488
Email: maritco@erols.com

 

D. Thomas Stone, Jr., Ph.D., CGP, FAGPA
4241 E Piedras Dr Ste 250
San Antonio, TX 78228
Office: (210) 736-1866

Fax: (210) 736-1867

Email: tstone@texas.net

 

Psychiatry SIG:

Not limited to psychiatrists, this SIG is for those who work in psychiatry departments, have training in psychiatry, or are interested in the application of group psychotherapy in the discipline of psychiatry.

 

Co-Chairs:

Robert Hsiung, M.D.
507 W. Fullerton Pkwy
Chicago, IL 60614
Office: (773) 702-9800

Fax: (773) 772-2011

Email: bob@dr-bob.org

 

George M. Saiger, M.D., CGP, FAGPA
6280 Montrose Rd
Rockville, MD 20852
Office: (301) 770-5016
Fax: (301) 770-6540
E-mail: saiger11781@comcast.net
 

Bryon Wilkenfeld, M.D., CGP
620 Halton Rd., #6108
Greenville, SC 29607
Office: (864) 238-3969
Fax: (864) 421-0055
Email: kwilkenfeld@earthlink.net

 

Racial & Ethnic Diversity SIG
Addresses the needs of minorities in group psychotherapy through programming development relating to multicultural issues. The SIG also aims to increase minority representation and participation within the organization’s leadership and membership.

 

Co-Chairs:

Helen Chong, LCSW, CGP

2323 S. Shepherd Dr., Ste 805

Houston, TX 77019-7028

Office: (713) 409-2000

Email: hchong.therapy@gmail.com

 

Venus S. Masselam, Ph.D., CGP
8705 Burning Tree Rd
Bethesda, MD 20817
Office: (301) 365-3948

Fax: (301) 365-7501

Email: venus@masselam.com

 

Emily Zeng, Psy.D.
6214 Boelsen Cres.
Rego Park, NY 11374
Office: (718) 740-4500 x460
Email: emilie.zeng@gmail.com

 

 

Research SIG:
For those interested in stimulating, conducting, or furthering their understanding of research in the field of group psychotherapy

 

Chair:

Zipora Shechtman, Ph.D., FAGPA
Haifa University
The University of Haifa
Faculty of Education
HAIFA
ISRAEL
E-mail: ziporas@construct.haifa.ac.il

 

Women in Group Psychotherapy SIG:
To increase knowledge of the influence of gender on group life and to develop structures within the AGPA to support women who are interested in group therapy and research.

 

Co-Chairs:

Barbara R. Cohn, Ph.D., ABPP, LFAGPA
680 West End Avenue , 1F
New York, NY 10025
Office: (212) 663-1588
Fax: (631) 878-7313
Email: brcohn@earthlink.net

 

Karin Hodges, Psy.D.
230 Harrington Ave
Concord, MA 01742-4044
Office: (603) 313-5907

Fax: (617) 916-9578

Email: khodges1@partners.org