Groups for Therapists
Therapist groups are run by Dr. Whittingham, a former President of Division 49 and Fellow of APA and AGPA. He is the founder of focused brief group therapy, an approach named as a Trend in 2024 by the APA Monitor and is out in book and video by APA Press. The approach is sometimes considered a "brief Yalom" interpersonal process approach and features heavily in Yalom's 2020 text revision. FBGT focuses on interpersonal distress and utilizes measurement-based care to inform and enrich treatment. Self-assessment of interpersonal style and interpersonal distress is performed pre-group and a working alliance established. Moving toward goals is encouraged, as is exploration of relationship themes. The groups are designed for personal and professional renewal.
About therapist groups
What groups are available for therapists?
There is a choice of two groups for therapists. One is a longer-term Yalom group, informed by focused brief group therapy (FBGT). FBGT is a brief Yalom approach that incorporates measurement-based care to enhance treatment and is published in book and video form by APA Press (Whittingham, 2024).
This group offers support, feedback and interpersonal work for therapists looking for ongoing personal renewal, support and insight.
The second group is for those looking for a 15-week FBGT experience. it is not a therapy group but rather a mixed experiential/teaching group where participants experience the approach while learning its methods. FBGT is a brief Yalom approach incorporating measurement-based care and behavioral activation. It also involves Q and A with the therapist after each group to discuss methods and techniques. For some people, this group will contribute as a module toward Level 2 FBGT certification. However, it can be taken without going through a certification process. Participants may wish to consider submitting it for CE's, and paperwork will be provided for those seeking approval (although CE's will need to be approved by each license board and are not guaranteed).
Focused brief group therapy-informed longer-term Yalom groups
This group is a therapy group rather than an experiential training group. It is designed to help therapists with personal growth. To express an interest in this group, go to the "Contact " page at the link below and enter the phrase "I am interested in the long-term Yalom/FBGT therapist group" and send a form with contact information, including an email and phone number where I can reach you. I will get back to you within 3 business days
FBGT experiential training groups - fifteen weeks
Please note, this group is not considered a therapy group, but rather an experiential training group. Although you will go through the experience of being in a group, you are invited to consider to what degree you wish to take on a role, hide personal facts about yourself or monitor your disclosures. The purpose of this group is to learn a therapy method by experiencing it. I can discuss this more with you after you express an interest, as part of the informed consent and confidentiality process. To express an interest in this group, reach out on the "Contact" page and put a header saying "I am interested in the therapist short-term experiential FBGT group"
Other information
If interested, when using the contacts form, please state which therapist group interests you. The FBGT experiential group is a closed group - it will begin as a whole group, run for 15 weeks and then finish. The longer-term group is a rolling membership group and members can each decide how long they wish to continue. However, I do ask that any member who joins commits to a minimum number of twenty sessions and attends every week. Membership is capped at eight people and the group will be closed once full. Once full, I will open a wait list.
About the therapy
I developed FBGT after studying Dr. Yalom's work and incorporating measurement-based care to enhance and accelerate its therapeutic processes. Dr. Yalom and Dr. Leszcz have since endorsed the approach and it is featured heavily in his latest (2020) group text "The theory and practice of group psychotherapy". Research on the approach has validated its mechanisms of change, while showing strong outcomes and low dropout, as well as equivalent outcomes by race and gender. FBGT is used throughout the USA and Asia at university counseling centers, outpatient and hospital based settings and in private practice. It was featured in the APA Monitor as one of the trends in psychology in 2024. The FBGT Institute offers more comprehensive training on FBGT for those wishing to pursue it.