On Friday April 27th and Saturday April 28th, the Group Psychotherapy Association of Los Angeles (GPALA) will be hosting its Spring Conference at the American Jewish University on Mulholland Drive. I will be a small group leader throughout the weekend event as we explore ethnic and racial identities and differences, and I want to personally invite all therapists to consider joining us. Here is the full description of the 2018 conference:
Callin’ In Race: Finding Words, Finding Courage in Group
Presented by Christine Schmidt and Rudy Lucas
Course Description:
Racism in the United States is uniquely structured in such a way that inequities based on the spurious notion of visible ethnic/racial difference are woven into the fabric of our society. Racism impacts our relationships, often beyond our awareness. Internalized racial oppression heightens our differences, yet we yearn for connection with others to heal personal and societal ills. As social beings, we are drawn to groups whether in therapeutic settings or communities.
This conference will offer group leaders an opportunity to learn how our racial identities are consciously and unconsciously transformed through personal interactions. Group leaders nourish responsive groups by being able to identify and respond to colorblindness, racially encoded dog whistle language and micro-aggressions with honesty and openness. Once limiting racial taboos are spoken aloud they lose their toxicity. As we expand our skills about racial dynamics, we confidently foster cohesion in groups by making space for every member to be visible and heard.
Each person attending the Conference participates in a small group experience that meets three times over the course of the two days and is led by an experienced senior member of GPALA. The purpose of this activity is to provide everyone an in vivo group experience, reminding us of our clients’ position as group members and to expose us to a different style of group facilitation.
