I am humbled and excited to serve in the role as President of The Society for Group Psychology and Group Psychotherapy. Like many of us, my life has revolved around groups of all sizes, types, and membership. I hope to support inclusiveness, curiosity, passion, and satisfying relationships within our division, our work, and ourselves.
For many of our membership, these last several years have been personally challenging with the trauma and isolation of COVID, unexpected changes in our finances, and important relationships interrupted. In addition, numerous concerning threats confront our embedding system of the United States, including increased polarization, stereotyping, segregation, and racial, gender, and ethnic violence. The mass media echo chambers have decreased our ability to discuss, think critically, disagree respectfully, and collaboratively problem solve. The many destructive group dynamics that we all know have taken center stage. As we examine our social and political sphere, many of us identify dynamics such as group think, obedience to authority, conformity pressures, idealization, scapegoating, and onwards. The knowledge and wisdom of our membership is urgently needed.
While each of us try in our own ways and as a division to address these concerns, my hope and request is that we also begin to focus on our connections and teamwork within the division. While attending the mid-winter meetings, the board members shared many moments of connection, intimacy, support, and kindness; however, I also witnessed how a small number of division members are working with great effort in solitude and potentially with limited recognition. We all can be grateful for the many younger, early career professionals and students, many from marginalized identity positions, who give of their time, energy, and expertise towards our continued survival and growth.
Moving forward I want to offer an invitation to all to reconnect with one another and contribute to the other division members in any manner that fits with your current situation. For early career members, there are many opportunities to be involved, learn new skills, network, and establish and broaden one’s own expertise. While many of us have given to the division and the field, I wonder if now, we can find time and energy for each other. The many personal benefits that come from forging new relationships include new learnings, increased hope, and mutual emotional nourishment. This is a call of encouragement to extend beyond our current circles.
For mid and later career professionals, there are opportunities to share your experience and scholarship through our expanding educational and scholarship programs, but also to grow through connections with our new generation. The division’s institute program that pairs members from different career stages has been wonderful for all who have participated and provides significant benefit beyond just the hour or so each side gives each month. As group people, can we not only talk about constructive group functioning, but live towards these ideals with one another. I believe we can create an inclusive diverse division where beyond the sharing of labor, we share, more importantly, ourselves.
The current board and I are available to support and help you find a meaningful place that fits with your interests. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the board and myself. I hope to see many of you during op discussions and meetings in our future. My desire is that you will be able to feel sustained and affirmed, while we move towards our personal and professional goals together.