Breakfast Club: Leader' Illumination of Group Phenomena: Hidden in Plain Sight or Why Nobody is Talking of an Elephant in the Room

Leader Illumination of Group Phenomena: Hidden in Plain  Sight or Why Nobody is Talking of an Elephant in the Room       

Presented by Jerry Gans, MD
Hosted by Sara Emerson

Sunday, October 29, 2017 
11am - 1:30pm

We are partly a mystery to each other, and even to ourselves. So much of us remains hidden, inscrutable, unknown, and maybe unknowable. An equal or even greater amount can be learned about us, the other, and the world when the leader helps group members attend to group phenomena that either are not observed by the group, or observed and not commented upon by them. The group becomes a more potent therapeutic agent as members internalize this leader function. Topics include scenarios that often initiate member omission, ways to mitigate shame that can result from uncovering members' blind spots, or misuses of this leadership function. Many clinical examples will be cited to illustrate this point. 

About the Presenter

Jerry Gans is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Group Psychotherapy Association and the American Psychiatric Association. He ran T-groups for the MGH/McLean psychiatric residents for 20 years. He is currently instructor in PCFINE. The author of over 50 referred articles, book chapters, book reviews and newspaper articles, Jerry has published on group and individual psychotherapy, psychological aspects of physical rehabilitation, liaison psychiatry, and psychotherapy and literature. His book, Difficult Topics in Group Psychotherapy: My Journey from Shame to Courage, was published by Karnac Books of London in 2010. Jerry has a private practice in Wellesley.