THE SOCIETY FOR GROUP
PSYCHOLOGY AND GROUP
PSYCHOTHERAPY
APA DIVISION 49
NINA W. BROWN
JULY 2013
History
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1907 – Dr. Joseph Pratt created group
treatment for tuberculosis
1934 – Burrow, Schilder & Pratt founded
group analysis and created the term,
“Group Therapy”
1942 – Samuel Slavson founded the
American Group Psychotherapy
Association ( AGPA)
1991 – Division 49 (Group Psychology)
formed and approved
MISSION AND PURPOSE
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Develop and test theories about group and
group process
Apply knowledge about group process to
help solve psychological and social
problems
Encourage and promote graduate training
in group dynamics
Educate the public about the value of
group dynamics and the benefits of group
psychotherapy
MAJOR TOPICS
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Group dynamics
Behavioral change
Medical illnesses
Emotional
disturbances
Addictions
Culture and
diversity
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Disaster and crisis
management
Trauma
Skills training
Team development
Relationship
building
Personal growth
and development
Main Theories
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Systems-centered
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Psychodynamic
Integrative
Humanistic
Interpersonal
Adlerian
Behavioral
Current Issues
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Research to support evidence
based treatment
Internet counseling/treatment
Mental health services
Leadership competencies
Social justice
Military and military families
Careers
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BENEFITS
Competitive salaries for type of
placement
Creating new treatment strategies
and directions
Work in a variety of settings with
diverse groups
Gain an understanding of self and of
others
CAREERS
TRAINING/EDUCATION
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Licensure as a psychologists requires a
doctoral degree, an appropriate
internship, and usually some postgraduate training in a specialty
Employment opportunities are available
with a bachelor’s or master’s degree
Specialty training in group may be
required for some careers
TYPES OF GROUPS AND
CLIENTELE
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Psychotherapy
Skills training
Psychotherapy
Task/work
Clinical
Educational
Activity-based
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Children
Adolescents
Adults
The elderly
Severely and
persistently
mentally ill
Caretakers
Military personnel
EXAMPLES OF CAREER AND PRACTICE
SETTINGS
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High school teachers
University professors
Consultants
Researchers
Therapists
Human resource
personnel
Prisons
Outpatient treatment
Hospitals
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Employer assistance
programs (EAP)
Business, industry
Federal and state
governments
College counseling
centers
Private practice
Military
Community agencies
EXAMPLES OF RESOURCES
WEBSITES
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www.apa49.org – The Society for
Group Psychology and Group
Psychotherapy
www.agpa.org – The American
Group Psychotherapy Association
www.asgw.org – The Association for
Specialists in Group Work
EXAMPLES OF RESOURCES
JOURNALS
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Group Dynamics: Theory, Research
and Practice
International Journal of Group
Psychotherapy
Journal for Specialists in Group Work
Group Facilitation: Research and
Applications
EXAMPLES OF RESOURCES
BOOKS
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Brown, N.W. (2011). Psychoeducational groups.
New York: Routledge.
Coyne, R.K. (Editor) (2010). The Oxford
handbook of group counseling. New York:
Oxford University Press.
Corey, G. (2008). Theory and practice of group
counseling. (7th ed.) Belmont CA: Thompson
Brooks/Cole.
DeLucia-Waack, J., D. Gerrity, C. Kalodner & M. Riva (Eds.)
(2004). Handbook of group counseling and psychotherapy.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Wheelan, S. (Ed.) (2005). The handbook of group research and
practice. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Conclusion
•Fostering the study, practice
and applications of group
dynamics for all types of
groups.