Children’s Group Therapy Association P.O. Box 521 Watertown, MA 02472 www.cgta.net CONFERENCE COMMITTEE Sandy Houde, LICSW, Co-Chair Pam O'Callaghan, M.Ed., Co-Chair Regina Cancelliere Casey, LICSW Karen Caprenter, APRN, SNPJD Jim Caron, Ed.D., CGP Hyaeeun Sophia Chun, MSW Sandy Houde, LICSW, CGP- Conference Assistants Heather McKeone, MSW Pam O’Callaghan, M.Ed., NCC- CEU coordinator Amy Porreca, MSW - Registration Coordinator Adele Pressman, MD Jennie Shaw, LICSW THE CHILDREN’S GROUP THERAPY ASSOCIATION CGTA was established by a group of professionals actively involved in the field of children’s group therapy. The association functions as a support system for group therapists, and as an advocate for quality group services for children, adolescents and parents. CGTA is committed to providing training opportunities, and expanding resources and networking in the field. Membership in CGTA is open to all professionals invested in child and adolescent group therapy.

The Children's Group Therapy Association Twenty Nineth Annual Spring Conference Friday May 2, 2008 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Holiday Inn~Brookline 1200 BEACON STREET, BROOKLINE, MA Please Join Us Keynote Speaker Adele Pressman, M.D The Cambridge Health Alliance Harvard Medical School; CGTA Board PROGRAM Friday May 2th, 2008 8:00 -  8:30 Registration and Coffee 8:30 -  8:40 Opening Remarks: 8:40 -  9:00 Keynote Speakers: Adele Pressman, M.D. 9:00 - 12:00 Morning Sessions: 3.0 CEU’s 12:00 -  1:30 Lunch 1:30 -  4:30 Afernoon Sessions: 3.0 CEU’s [ Directions and conference information ]  [ Registration Form ] MORNING SESSIONS A. Therapeutic Groups With Difficult Kids This workshop will present a framework for understanding how and when leaders can intervene in a group process to help young clients develop social skills, improve self-esteem, and repair the effects of less than optimal life experiences. The concept "boundaries" can help leaders decide about group membership, structure, rules, and choosing interventions with the stage of group development in mind. Participants are asked to bring case examples to address typical work dilemmas. Mary Lou Pierron, Psy.D., Staff Psychologist, Somerville Mental Health Center, Somerville, MA; Past Member, CGTA Board of Directors B. The Nuts and Bolts Of Conducting A Therapy Group For Latency Age Children Even great therapists struggle with how to prepare for, and run a therapy group. Many components are critical for conducting a successful therapy group for children. We will explore how to form a group, beginnings, endings, rituals, and incentives, how to manage conflict within the group, how to understand the population of your group, and provide you with some group activities. We will focus on therapy groups addressing social skills, but will also touch on short and long-term groups, issue-based groups, and parent groups. This session is intended for those of you new to running therapy groups, and for those who want to go back to the basics! Jennie Shaw, LICSW, Senior Clinician, Kari Spaeth, LICSW, Tufts Medical Center Michelle DeMarco, LICSW, Assistant Director of Clinical Services, Walker School, Needham, MA C. QPR Suicide Prevention Training The QPR Suicide Prevention model (Question, Persuade, Refer) is based upon the following concepts: Those who most need help in a suicidal crisis are the least likely to ask for it; the person most likely to prevent a person dying by suicide is someone they already know; and prior to making a suicide attempt, a person sends warning signs of their distress and suicidal intent to those around them. At this training you will learn about the issues of depression and suicide in new ways, discover the differences between suicide and self- injury, learn how to be of real help to a person in distress, and leave the training with courage, language, and tools you can implement immediately. Jon Mattleman, MS, Director, Needham Youth Commission, Needham, MA AFTERNOON SESSIONS D. Building Therapuetic Alliances: Group Therapy With Adolescents This workshop presents theory and techniques for enhancing the therapeutic alliance between adolescent group therapy clients and the leader, as well as tasks, interventions and activities for facilitating the development of cohesiveness among group members. Special focus will be given to adolescent boys presenting with conduct and social skills difficulties. The workshop will be didactic, experiential, and provide an opportunity for discussion. Mitch Abblett, Ph.D., Clinical Director, Manville School, Judge Baker Children's Center; Staff Clinician, Dana Group Associates E. Groups In Schools: Challenges And Solution School-based groups provide unique opportunities for addressing children's needs in a normative, non- stigmatizing setting, and can often bypass the complications of transportation, reimbursement, and low enrollment. But how can school-based clinicians maximize the benefit of the group experience, while contending with obstacles such as brief sessions, confidentiality and boundary issues, limited resources, etc.? This workshop is for all clinicians who run groups in schools, from the novice to the expert. Come share ideas, strategies, and solutions! Moderator: Jim Caron, Ed.D, CGP, Connections Child and Adolescent Group Program, Lexington, MA; Past Co-Chair, CGTA Board; Panel: Linda S. Chase, Director, Student Services, Lexington Public Schools, Founding Board Member, CGTA; Dr. John Miner, Psy.D., Guidance Counselor and School Psychologist, Brookline Public Schools, Mary Lou Pierron, Psy.D., Somerville Mental Health Clinic Child & Family Service; Adjunct Faculty, Lesley University; Past Member, CGTA Board Accreditation The marked workshops are approved for Association for Play Therapy CEU’s New England APT, Inc. is APT provider # 02-123. For more information about accreditation see this page. THE CHILDREN’S GROUP THERAPY ASSOCIATION CGTA was established by a group of professionals actively involved in the field of children’s group therapy. The association functions as a support system for group therapists, and as an advocate for quality group services for children, adolescents and parents. CGTA is committed to providing training opportunities, and expanding resources and networking in the field. Membership in CGTA is open to all professionals invested in child and adolescent group therapy.