2011 – 2012 2011 – 2012 Canadian Group Psychotherapy Canadian Group Psychotherapy AssociationAssociation

President’s ReportPresident’s Report

Jackie Kinley Jackie Kinley

If we are to work together more intelligently, we will If we are to work together more intelligently, we will need to choseneed to choseprocesses that evoke processes that evoke our curiosity, humility,our curiosity, humility,generosity and wisdom.generosity and wisdom.

The ultimate benefit isThe ultimate benefit isthat we learn that it is that we learn that it is good, once again, togood, once again, towork together.work together.                                                         ~Meg Wheatley                                                         ~Meg Wheatley

Why we need to existWhy we need to exist We are biologically primed to connect to others; our survival We are biologically primed to connect to others; our survival

depends on itdepends on it People exist in a state of inter connectedness.People exist in a state of inter connectedness. People experience connection in unique ways and to differing People experience connection in unique ways and to differing

degreesdegrees The health of our relationships, and our social matrix, The health of our relationships, and our social matrix,

determines our mental health and collective well beingdetermines our mental health and collective well being Our leaders in health care, and our communities, play a vital Our leaders in health care, and our communities, play a vital

role in maintaining our shared productivity, collective sense of role in maintaining our shared productivity, collective sense of belonging and overall societal well beingbelonging and overall societal well being

Together we are more Together we are more

Vision and MissionVision and Mission

Vision:Vision: We work to create public awareness about the merits of We work to create public awareness about the merits of group processes and therapy in Canada, and become the group processes and therapy in Canada, and become the primary resource for expertise, education and networking in primary resource for expertise, education and networking in the field.the field.

Mission:Mission: To provide Canada-wide accessible expertise, To provide Canada-wide accessible expertise, education and networking resources to students and education and networking resources to students and professionals interested in group processes and therapy.professionals interested in group processes and therapy.

Goals:Goals: Create an open environment and act as a central communication Create an open environment and act as a central communication source providing:source providing:

1.1. Educational training programs and networking conferences pertaining to group Educational training programs and networking conferences pertaining to group therapy and processes.therapy and processes.

2.2. Networking, mentorship and communication forums for open discussions on Networking, mentorship and communication forums for open discussions on group therapy and processes.group therapy and processes.

3.3. An online hub for resources and discussions on current practices in group An online hub for resources and discussions on current practices in group therapy and processes.therapy and processes.

4.4. A bridge to universities, residencies, health centres and hospitals to educate A bridge to universities, residencies, health centres and hospitals to educate about the value of group therapy and processes.about the value of group therapy and processes.

There is no question that change is happening at an There is no question that change is happening at an astonishing pace and modern organizations must rise astonishing pace and modern organizations must rise to the challenge of adapting to the evolving needs of to the challenge of adapting to the evolving needs of our complex society. CGPA is no exception. our complex society. CGPA is no exception.

As we move forward, we will need to hold in our As we move forward, we will need to hold in our awareness our core beliefs, which include an expanded awareness our core beliefs, which include an expanded awareness of the possibilities that lie ahead, awareness of the possibilities that lie ahead, recognizing the application of group processes as recognizing the application of group processes as existing on a continuum, ranging from clinical to non-existing on a continuum, ranging from clinical to non-clinical, structured to unstructured, and traditional to clinical, structured to unstructured, and traditional to non-traditional. non-traditional.

Core ValuesCore Values

RespectRespect Diversity Diversity AccessibilityAccessibility Responsiveness Responsiveness SustainabilitySustainability

Guiding Principles Guiding Principles (adopted at AGM 2011)(adopted at AGM 2011)

  1. We understand a group to mean more than just a collection of individuals but an 1. We understand a group to mean more than just a collection of individuals but an

entity in and of itself operating from a shared purpose or common intention. entity in and of itself operating from a shared purpose or common intention. This may be task related or a commitment to reflecting on their process for the This may be task related or a commitment to reflecting on their process for the purpose of personal growth.purpose of personal growth.

2. We recognize the immense value of working in the group format because of the 2. We recognize the immense value of working in the group format because of the availability of multi perspectives and the synergy created through the activation availability of multi perspectives and the synergy created through the activation of therapeutic factors unavailable in the individual context.of therapeutic factors unavailable in the individual context.

3. We acknowledge the relevance and centrality of unconscious processes (both 3. We acknowledge the relevance and centrality of unconscious processes (both individual and collective) in the life of all groups.individual and collective) in the life of all groups.

4. We understand that there are external factors that impact on groups and the 4. We understand that there are external factors that impact on groups and the individuals within them, including but not limited to cultural, sociopolitical, individuals within them, including but not limited to cultural, sociopolitical, ethnic, and economic factors.ethnic, and economic factors.

5. We contextualize possible applications of group knowledge as existing on a 5. We contextualize possible applications of group knowledge as existing on a continuum from:continuum from:

• Clinical to non-clinicalClinical to non-clinical• Structured to unstructuredStructured to unstructured• Traditional to non-traditional Traditional to non-traditional

6. We recognize the value of group therapy as well as group counseling and non-6. We recognize the value of group therapy as well as group counseling and non-clinical applications of this knowledge (i.e. clinical practice, training, education, clinical applications of this knowledge (i.e. clinical practice, training, education, research, social activism and consultancy research, social activism and consultancy

AGM 2011 CalgaryAGM 2011 Calgary

The Year in ReviewThe Year in Reviewin developmentin development

Programs Programs New Training Opportunities in Group Leadership and Process New Training Opportunities in Group Leadership and Process

Facilitation, Supervision, MentorshipFacilitation, Supervision, Mentorship

Services Services New opportunities for Financial support for Communities of New opportunities for Financial support for Communities of

Practice, Individualized Workshops, Annual Conference, Practice, Individualized Workshops, Annual Conference, Organizational Consultation, Resiliency programs and support Organizational Consultation, Resiliency programs and support groups for providers, On Site Presentations, Community and groups for providers, On Site Presentations, Community and Public Education on Demand, Newsletter: In The Loop, Public Education on Demand, Newsletter: In The Loop, Communication forum, On Line Directory for therapist and Communication forum, On Line Directory for therapist and supervisors, Library Materials and Resources, Research supportsupervisors, Library Materials and Resources, Research support

ProductsProducts Working to develop Course Syllabus & On line store Working to develop Course Syllabus & On line store

Communities of PracticeCommunities of Practice Despite the trend towards local section closures, we Despite the trend towards local section closures, we

remain confident that our commitment to building a remain confident that our commitment to building a strong National infrastructure will ensure that going strong National infrastructure will ensure that going forward we're much better positioned to support local forward we're much better positioned to support local initiatives, and initiatives, and communities of practicecommunities of practice as they as they emerge or reemerge across the country. emerge or reemerge across the country.

The group can evolve naturally because of the members' The group can evolve naturally because of the members' common interest in a particular domain or area, or it can common interest in a particular domain or area, or it can be created specifically with the goal of gaining be created specifically with the goal of gaining knowledge related to their field. It is knowledge related to their field. It is through the process through the process of sharing information and experiences with the groupof sharing information and experiences with the group that the members learn from each other, and have an that the members learn from each other, and have an opportunity to developopportunity to develop themselves personally and themselves personally and professionally professionally

New communication StrategiesNew communication Strategies

TeleconferencingTeleconferencing Website Redesign Website Redesign In the LoopIn the Loop ForumsForums

National

Local National International

Redesigning our Website Redesigning our Website

First steps:First steps: Membership renewal on lineMembership renewal on line Conference registration on lineConference registration on line

New New partnershipspartnerships

meetings with meetings with international international and other and other colleagues colleagues committed to group committed to group development development around the globearound the globe

CGPA president Jackie Kinley CGPA president Jackie Kinley Jorge BurmeisterJorge Burmeister(president IAGP) (president IAGP) AGPA 2012AGPA 2012

Important Working Important Working GroupsGroups

The The By Laws CommitteeBy Laws Committee reviewed our reviewed our structure and proposed changes, please structure and proposed changes, please review this document, and the review this document, and the presentation of the committee, on our presentation of the committee, on our website!website!

The The National Training CommitteeNational Training Committee worked worked to develop our National Training to develop our National Training program, please review this document, program, please review this document, and the presentation of the committee, and the presentation of the committee, on our website!on our website!

In order to achieve the ongoing success In order to achieve the ongoing success of CGPA, and achieve the promise of of CGPA, and achieve the promise of group in Canada, we need to remain group in Canada, we need to remain unified as a group ourselves with a clear unified as a group ourselves with a clear vision and focused energies. vision and focused energies.

We are counting on your support as we We are counting on your support as we embark on this exciting period of embark on this exciting period of transition and renewal. transition and renewal.

THANK YOU !THANK YOU ! Jackie KinleyJackie Kinley