About the Book
Core Principles of Group Psychotherapy is designed as the primary curriculum for the Principles of Group Psychotherapy course in partial fulfilment of the Certified Group Psychotherapist credential awarded by the International Board for Certification of Group Psychotherapists. The text is divided into five modules: foundations, structure and dynamics, formation and development, leadership tasks and skills, and ethics, neuroscience, and personal style.
The book is part of the AGPA Group Therapy Training and Practice series. This series aims to produce the highest quality publications to aid the practitioner and student in updating and improving their knowledge, professional competence, and skills with current and new developments in methods, practice, theory, and research, in the group psychotherapy field.
In addition to helping group psychotherapists bolster their skills so as to ensure the availability of quality mental health services, this guide is an essential resource for students and clinicians interested in learning more about group psychotherapy, as a text in academic courses, or as part of a practicum or internship training curriculum.
Table of Contents:
Guidelines for Students Guidelines for Instructors Acknowledgements and Dedication Contributors Course Objectives Preface: The joys and challenges of group leadership MODULE 1: Group Psychotherapy Foundations: Historic, Contemporary, and Cultural Perspectives Chapter 1: Historic and Contemporary Developments Chapter 2: Towards Multicultural and Diversity Proficiency MODULE 2: Group Structure and Group Dynamics Chapter 3: Group Structure and Levels of Analysis Chapter 4: Therapeutic Factors Chapter 5: Anti-therapeutic, Defensive, Regressive, and Challenging Group Processes and Dynamics MODULE 3: Group Formation and Group Development Chapter 6: Preparing to Begin a New Group Chapter7: Group Development MODULE 4: Group Leadership: Tasks and Skills Chapter 8: Basic Leadership Tasks Chapter 9: Advanced Skills MODULE 5: Group Psychotherapy in Action: Ethics, Neuroscience, and Personal Style Chapter 10: The Ethical Group Psychotherapist Chapter 11: Implications of Neuroscience for Group Therapy Chapter 12: Finding the Leader in You
About the Author :
Francis J. Kaklauskas, PsyD, CGP, FAGPA, has worked extensively as a group clinician in a wide variety of settings. He leads the Existential/Humanistic doctorate program at Saybrook University, and teaches group psychotherapy at the University of Colorado and Naropa Unversity. He has published widely on the pragmatic integration of theory and research into actual clinical practice.
Les R. Greene, PhD, CGP, DLFAGPA, is a past president of the American Group Psychotherapy Association and a Distinguished Fellow of AGPA. He has served as editor of the International Journal of Group Psychotherapy. He is on the clinical faculty of Yale University School of Medicine and the staff of the VA CT Healthcare system where he teaches and supervises group, couples and individual psychotherapy.
Review :
Core Principles of Group Psychotherapy: A Training Manual for Theory, Research, and Practice lives up to its ambitious title. It successfully integrates well-established basic principles of group therapy, traditional and emerging theoretical approaches, significant research, and applicability to a wide variety of populations and settings. It will prove useful for beginning and experienced group therapists alike, and it is designed to provide a template for effective teaching of a group therapy course.
Eleanor F. Counselman, EdD, CGP, LFAGPA; president, American Group Psychotherapy Association
Although I am not given to sweeping statements, I find myself compelled to offer one here about this marvelous book. This is a remarkable compendium of valuable information about the theory and practice of group therapy along with the research support for various group therapy models. An expansive range of core principles and the techniques that derive from them are presented in a beautifully organized and eminently readable manner and will provide useful material for novice and experienced clinicians alike.
Joseph Shay, PhD, CGP, LFAGPA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; coauthor, Psychodynamic Group Psychotherapy (4th & 5th Eds); coeditor, Complex Dilemmas in Group Therapy (1st & 2nd Eds.)
Core Principles of Group Psychotherapy by Kaklauskas and Greene is an important and timely new group therapy manual that balances being comprehensive and accessible. It provides an overview and comparison of various approaches to group therapy, inviting readers to identify the perspective that best fits them, which is a key component to effective therapy. Both pragmatic and thought provoking, this volume is an extremely valuable contribution to the group therapy literature.
Louis Hoffman, PhD; fellow, American Psychological Association (Divisions 1, 10, 32, 36, & 52); editor, Existential Psychology East-West (Vol. 1 & 2)
The Core Principles of Group Psychotherapy provides both entry and advanced level group therapists the current essential knowledge and skills needed for effective group leadership. The enduring and modern group theories and evidence-based practices and applications that are presented should serve to help therapists hone their own leadership styles and facilitate their ongoing professional growth. The Core Principles is highly recommended for group leaders who want to advance their knowledge and applications of effective and evidence based group leadership understanding and skills.
Nina W. Brown, EdD, LPC, NCC, FAGPA; professor and eminent scholar, Old Dominion University; author -- Psychoeducational Groups (4th edition), Conducting Effective Psychoeducational Groups
Francis Kaklauskas and Les Greene's book, Core Principles of Group Psychotherapy, is a wonderful addition to the growing literature on group psychotherapy. Its uniqueness emerges in its being grounded both in practice and research, and its serving as a practical manual. The editors have made a huge effort to include as many core topics in group therapy and beyond. I was especially impressed by the extended and detailed chapter on a multicultural perspective in group work, which is very attuned to current crucial issues in the USA. Another important chapter is on the ethical group therapist. This book will become very valuable to teachers and students, practitioners and scholars alike".
Haim Weinberg, PhD; coauthor, Fairy Tales and the Social Unconscious: The Hidden Language; coeditor, The Social Unconscious in Persons, Groups and Societies: Volume 3: The Foundation Matrix Extended and Reconfigured
The new Principles Manual is a must have guide to the latest in group psychotherapy research and practice. Clearly written, scholarly, and grounded in clinical experience, immediately applicable to group practice in all settings. We highly recommend this insightful new resource manual for anyone interested in group psychotherapy!
Michele D. Ribeiro, EdD, CGP, FAGPA; Joshua M. Gross, PhD, ABPP, CGP, FAGPA, FAAGP, Marcée M. Turner, PhD, CGP; editors of The College Counselor’s Guide to Group Psychotherapy
The Core Principles of Group Psychotherapy provides both entry and advanced level group therapists the current essential knowledge and skills needed for effective group leadership. The enduring and modern group theories and evidence-based practices and applications that are presented should serve to help therapists hone their own leadership styles and facilitate their ongoing professional growth. The Core Principles is highly recommended for group leaders who want to advance their knowledge and applications of effective and evidence based group leadership understanding and skills.
Nina W. Brown, EdD, LPC, NCC, FAGPA; professor and eminent scholar, Old Dominion University; author -- Psychoeducational Groups (4th edition), Conducting Effective Psychoeducational Groups
Francis Kaklauskas and Les Greene's book, Core Principles of Group Psychotherapy, is a wonderful addition to the growing literature on group psychotherapy. Its uniqueness emerges in its being grounded both in practice and research, and its serving as a practical manual. The editors have made a huge effort to include as many core topics in group therapy and beyond. I was especially impressed by the extended and detailed chapter on a multicultural perspective in group work, which is very attuned to current crucial issues in the USA. Another important chapter is on the ethical group therapist. This book will become very valuable to teachers and students, practitioners and scholars alike".
Haim Weinberg, PhD; coauthor, Fairy Tales and the Social Unconscious: The Hidden Language; coeditor, The Social Unconscious in Persons, Groups and Societies: Volume 3: The Foundation Matrix Extended and Reconfigured
The new Principles Manual is a must have guide to the latest in group psychotherapy research and practice. Clearly written, scholarly, and grounded in clinical experience, immediately applicable to group practice in all settings. We highly recommend this insightful new resource manual for anyone interested in group psychotherapy!
Michele D. Ribeiro, EdD, CGP, FAGPA; Joshua M. Gross, PhD, ABPP, CGP, FAGPA, FAAGP, Marcée M. Turner, PhD, CGP; editors of The College Counselor’s Guide to Group Psychotherapy
