The GPGP Council meets every month and has been active in working to promote the specialty for training programs. Thanks to the graduate assistants working with Gary Burlingame and Noelle Lefforge a spreadsheet was created listing all of the accredited psychology training programs, their directors, and if group was mentioned in the program’s page. This spreadsheet will be used to contact training program directors and to determine if they are receptive to the specialty.
The COS approved postdoctoral specialty competencies for group were sent to the Commission on Accreditation to be reviewed by them and then posted for public comment. The Council will notify all members of the society to encourage them to respond to the request for public comment. That is expected to happen this summer. These competences are expected to be the guide for postdoctoral programs who have group specialty.
The Council approved changes in the bylaws at the March meeting. Changes voted were to have approved affiliate members of the Council, to designate an executive committee that would be composed of president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and representatives from AGPA and ABGP to conduct business between regular meetings of the Council and that the office of secretary-treasurer be separate positions. Elections were held for the newly created positions and Misha Bogomaz was elected treasurer and eleanor counselman was elected secretary.
Gary Burlingame described a proposed web page which will be an evidence-based website similar to that of Div. 12 that presents research findings on group psychology and group psychotherapy. At the April meeting Nina Brown officially turned over the presidency of the Group Specialty Council (GPGP Specialty Council) to Noelle Lefforge who will also be leading the resubmission for the specialty due in 2025.