67th Annual Conference

Thursday, February 25

Morning Open Sessions

Session 303

Using a Stage Play to Illustrate Principles of Psychodynamic Group Therapy

Co-Chairs:

Molly Donovan, Ph.D., CGP, Private Practice, Washington, DC

Robert Evans Schulte, M.S.W., CGP, Private Practice, Washington, DC

Presenters:

Maryetta Andrews-Sachs, M.A., CGP, Private Practice, Washington, DC

John Dluhy, M.D., CGP, FAGPA, Private Practice, Washington, DC

Hallie Lovett, Ph.D., CGP, Private Practice, Washington, DC

Rosemary Segalla, Ph.D., CGP, Private Practice, Washington, DC

Paul Timin, M.S.W., Private Practice, Lutherville, Maryland

Rob Williams, M.S.W., Private Practice, Washington, DC

A dramatic reading of the Pulitzer prize-winning play Rabbit Hole by David Linsay-Abaire, will illustrate the dynamic interplay of past, present and future in the development of relational and group dynamics in the here-and-now. Rabbit Hole portrays the day-to-day heartache of complicated grief in a family mourning the accidental death of a child.  A post-performance discussion will allow participants to share reactions to the play and discuss their own approach to working with complicated grief in group therapy.

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Compare the play's dynamic action and characters with their counterparts in dynamic group therapy.
2. Analyze theme content of this stage play and compare to those that might emerge in therapy groups.
3. Compare the here-and-now experience of watching a play and bearing witness in a therapy group.

Course References:

Andrews-Sachs, M. (2008). Anxiety, Courage & Healing. In Window's Into Today's Group Therapy. Edited by Saiger, Rubenfeld, Dluhy. New York, NY: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group.

Bollas, Christopher. (1992). Being a Character. New York, NY: Hill and Wang.

Dluhy, M. (2008). Working with Intersubjectivity. In Window's Into Today's Group Therapy. Edited by Saiger, Rubenfeld, Dluhy. New York, NY: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group.

Segalla, R. (2006). Selfish and Unselfish Behavior: Scene Stealing and Scene Sharing in Group Psychotherapy. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 56, 33-46.