Michele D. Ribeiro, EdD, CGP; Member-at-Large for Training and Education
This is the second article in the newly created column during my tenure position on the board. I am happy to pass the torch to Joshua Gross, PhD, who will be taking over this position and column in January 2019. This article will briefly focus on two early career psychologists who are new to their positions in college counseling center settings and were granted the group coordinator leadership position. Because the position is often deemed as a coordinator position rather than an assistant director position, directors often fill these positions with excited, newly hired therapists who hope to create a culture of groups in their work settings. Needless to say, this position is actually an extremely important position in the clinical underpinnings of centers, though sometimes can be undervalued. The group coordinator has the power to organize clinical need, support training of staff and assess the effectiveness of group interventions for better overall outcomes of the clinic. Gross has written a great chapter on the group coordinator position and how to navigate systems depending on what phase of group development your program may be in, found in The College Counselor’s Guide to Group Psychotherapy. (2018). New York: Routledge Press.
If your center does not have a groups coordinator, consider supporting someone to take on the role and providing professional development monies to go with the responsibility of the position. Providing professional development funds to network and attend Div. 49 programs is one way to ignite more excitement in group psychotherapy as well as build the skills necessary to offer effective groups in various settings. Div. 49 is a supportive forum for seasoned and new group therapists alike. I know when I took over the groups’ coordinator position during my early days as a staff psychologist in a college counseling center, the groups offered grew from 12 to 25 in three years. Since 2013, our CAPS group program has grown to offering over 30 groups a term, and almost everyone on our staff facilitates at least one group. I could not have grown the program or trained/motivated the staff without mentoring and training offered by the many talented folks within the Div. 49 family.
I encourage those who are working or directing in college counseling or community mental health centers, hospitals, prisons or any other setting to utilize group coordinators in effectively managing group programs and advocating for their professional development through funding their attendance at the annual APA convention/Div. 49 programming. The cost/benefit ratio is worth the investment.
Yesel Yoon, PhD, Senior Staff Psychologist, Pace University Counseling Center NYC Campus; Group Specialist and Co-Coordinator of Outreach and Consultation
I newly entered my role as the group specialist, also known as a group coordinator in some settings, at Pace University (NYC) Counseling Center in May 2017. I had just launched from an incredible growth year as a group therapist during my postdoctoral fellowship at Montclair State University CAPS. Susan Walker, PhD, (from MSU CAPS) served as my process group co-leader and group therapy supervisor, and during that year I was beginning to learn what was entailed in building and maintaining a robust group program. I felt I was ready to take my role as a group therapist to the next level and I was excited to bring this energy to a different setting at Pace Counseling Center.
My years of clinical work at several university and college counseling centers (UCC) have taught me that no UCC is alike. Each environment comes with its unique student population, staff and student concerns. That being said, I had to take time to readjust my goals and expectations for the group therapy program for this specific context at Pace University and took the summer months to get my footing. I oriented myself to the university and student population, our center’s staff’s attitudes towards group psychotherapy and the history and culture of the group program here at Pace.
Fortunately, the center had a standing group program, so I was not in the position of needing to create a group program from scratch. The student numbers at this university were smaller than the most recent settings I had come from, but it is not to say the clinical needs were any less. It was clear from the outset that the group therapy program played a key role in the provision of therapeutic services as well as for our training program for doctoral interns and psychology externs. The responsibility of being the “specialist” of group therapy became increasingly apparent and concrete as I entered into the new training and academic year, and at times the gravity of this role felt daunting.
It is important to note that entering this role was not happening in a vacuum and thus some of the challenges I experienced were not necessarily specific to a group coordinator. As I entered this role as the group specialist, I was simultaneously developing my identity as a new full-time staff member and a new professional. This transition required me to utilize many support systems whether it was the director of our center or past supervisors and trusted colleagues who were there to remind me of my strengths and what I had to offer. I was very fortunate to have these people as “touchstones” to normalize this developmental process and bolster my confidence.
In addition to supervisors, the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) and Anne McEneaney, PhD, and Joshua Gross’s, PhD, Groupsinscc Listserv have served as sources of support, validation and continuing education and consultation for me as a newer group coordinator. I encourage group therapists of all levels to take advantage of the Groupsinscc Listserv, AGPA Listserv, join Special Interest Groups in AGPA, join Div. 49 and participate in the webinars offered throughout the year. When I in a pinch, I have thrown out a question or request to these Listservs and have been so grateful to get such quick and helpful responses. I have utilized the resources people have graciously shared with me through training seminars and staff meetings for my own professional development.
In addition to accessing the trainings and mentoring, another benefit of being a group specialist is that I can watch a cohort of trainees, who coming in with a range of group therapy experiences leave at the end of the year adopting a new-found sense of identity as a “group therapist.” I have received feedback from trainees who previously could not have imagined being a group therapist but were now hoping to someday facilitate groups in private practice or wanting to offer psychoeducational groups when such interventions were never in their toolbox before. I enjoy watching the trainees get excited about the exploration and growth their group clients undertake in their groups and to serve as their supervisor in our own little social microcosm throughout the year.
With a full year under my belt and another academic year underway, I feel more prepared to continue my journey as a group specialist. I am looking to connect further with other group coordinators and group therapists at the next AGPA conference in February 2019 and the next APA Convention to connect with the Div. 49 community and programming. My hope is that over time, I can give back to the various professional communities. To new group coordinators or those who are intrigued about growing your role in group therapy, do not be afraid to take that risk. We ask our clients and supervisees to do take these risks all the time, so surely you can too.
Joshua Ziesel, PsyD, HSP-P, Staff Psychologist and Groups Coordinator Wake Forest University Counseling Center
I had the opportunity to co-lead my first interpersonal process group during my predoctoral internship in 2015-2016, and not long after this experience, I adjusted my career goals. I’d known for a while that I wanted to work as a psychologist in a university counseling center, but now I had a more specific goal. I wanted to work toward being a groups coordinator and to play an instrumental role in shaping the groups program at my future counseling center. I just needed to figure out how to get there.
That same year I attended my first American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) conference and met dozens of groups coordinators. I asked many of them about their experiences. How did they get to where they were? How did they prepare for the role? What did they enjoy about the role? What were some of the challenges? I was hopeful these conversations would provide a clear road map for me to follow and a clear outline of what I could expect, but instead I was surprised (and truth be told, a little frustrated) that just about every clinician I spoke to had a different experience and perspective.
The only consensus I could identify was to continue to take opportunities to enhance my group therapy skills, so enhance them I did. I led as many groups as I could during my internship and postdoctoral fellowship years. I attended AGPA every year and selected workshops that were particularly relevant to university counseling center work. I wanted to accumulate a wealth of experience and knowledge so that when I applied for groups coordinator positions in five to 10 years, I would be ready right out of the gate to make a positive impact.
Of course, my plans to prepare for the role did not turn out the way I expected. Although I only applied for generalist positions out of my postdoctoral year, I was immediately offered the role of groups coordinator at my current institution. I was both thrilled and terrified. I’d never even been a staff psychologist before. How was I possibly ready to take a coordinator role? I’d only been preparing for two years. There were so many more workshops and trainings to attend. Sure, I had the passion and energy for the position, but how would I know what to do?
After the initial shock of being offered the position subsided, the imposter syndrome set in. I felt out of my league and had no idea how I would possibly be able to do a good job. Once again, though, colleagues connected to AGPA and Div. 49 proved to be an invaluable resource. I read an email on the Listserv that invited early clinicians to join an online consultation group for groups coordinators, and I immediately reached out to get more information about joining the group.
Based on my first interactions with groups coordinators at AGPA, I had more of a sense of what to expect and instead of being frustrated by the difference in experiences and perspectives, I found hope and comfort. I was able to discuss my anxieties about the role and find support and empathy but also guidance and a variety of strategies to employ. How wonderful to have multiple options.
I still meet with this consultation group regularly, and they have helped me navigate all the ups and downs of being a group’s coordinator. They have helped me envision how to make my fellow staff members excited about leading groups and have stoked my creativity in adapting to the needs of my specific campus. I would not be nearly as successful in my current role if it weren’t for my wonderful group therapy colleagues, in addition to a wonderful supportive staff team, of course. Although I originally approached this position thinking I needed to have everything figured out by myself, it’s been a pleasure to learn that even the sometimes solitary role of group’s coordinator is best done in groups. If you are an independently licensed mental health professional and a member of AGPA, I'd highly encourage you to email Vinny Dehili for more information about joining a consultation group. My hope is that these groups will be as helpful for you as they were for me.