67th Annual Conference

Saturday, February 27

Morning Workshops

9:00 -11:30 A.M.

Workshop 80

Radical Responsibility: The Therapist's Professional Will: (A Hands-On Law and Ethics Workshop)
   

Presented under the auspices of the AGPA Medical Illness SIG

Chair:

Ann Steiner, Ph.D., MFT, CGP, FAGPA, Associate Clinical Professor, University of California Medical School, San Francisco, California

Illnesses and other sudden emergencies happen to us all. Now is the time to plan for minor or serious illness, retirement, relocation and death, including who will contact your group members if you cannot. This hands-on workshop helps minimize the impact on your clients, your colleagues and yourself. Laptops welcome. Law and ethics credit available.

didactic-sharing of work experiences-demonstration-experiential

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the common problems and complications created for group members when the leader cancels or is ill.
2. Analyze when and whether it is appropriate to be self-disclosing regarding the group leader's health, reasons for canceling sessions and termination.
3. List the essential ingredients of a comprehensive Professional Will.
4. Describe plans for minimizing the trauma caused to group members when the therapist has to cancel, transfer or terminate group earlier than expected.

Course References:
Fieldsteel, N. When the Therapist Says Goodbye International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 55 (2) 245-279.
 

Rauch, E. (1998) A One Session Memorial Group Following the Death of a Therapist, International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 48 (1) p 99-104.
 

Steiner, A. (2004) “The Therapist Protection Plan: Preparing for Expected and Unexpected Absences from Practice” The California Therapist, July/September.
 

Weiner, M.F. (1978) Therapist Disclosure: The use of Self in Psychotherapy Butterworths, London.