CURRICULUM COMMITTEE Report prepared by Jackie Kinley May 2012 CGPA National Training and Education Committee

Terms of Reference COMMITTEE PROFILE: the committee should represent the sector by including members across Canada. The committee should also reflect the multidisciplinary nature of the association and to the extent possible have members from the following fields: nursing, social work, psychology, psychiatry and OT. RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERS – Regular attendance at NTC meetings. Consult and communicate with regional members as needed to meet aims. Participation on main or sub committees as needed to meet aims. Occasional minute taking as per rotation. RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHAIR/S- The chair/s will prepare and circulate the agenda and minutes for the meeting. Chair the meeting and distribute schedule for minute taking. Be central contact person/s for all members of the committee. ACCOUNTABILITIES- The NTC will be accountable to the CGPA Membership and Council. Recommendations and Currcula developed by the NTC will be presented to the Training Advisory Committee for review. Final approval of recommendations remains with CGPA council. STRUCTURE AND MEETINGS The NTC will meet as needed to meet the committees aims. Meetings will be held at mutually agreed upon times. These meetings will be conducted by teleconference and all expenses incurred by these teleconferences will be the responsibility of the CGPA national council.

Multidisciplinary Working Group JoAnn Hammond Meiers – Winnipeg - Edmonton Joan Dianne Smith – Winnipeg- Social Work Lois Goodman – Prince George - Anne Mahoney – Calgary- Psychology Karen Feinstein – Toronto - Psychology Co Chairs: Jackie Kinley – Halifax- Psychiatry Terry Simonik- Toronto - Nursing

8PG/ 9MSTCalgary/ 10Central Winnipeg/ 11TO/ 12Halifax Initial Teleconference Meetings held on: December 9, 2011 December 16, 2011 then every Friday in the New Year January 13, 2012 January 20 January 27 February 3 February 10 February 18 March 2 March 16 March 23 April 13 April 20

Initial Questions Why bother? HOW DO WE ADD VALUE? Unique position, national non profit with communities, offer professional community, Also a national community of practise: expert group leader Many of these are Didactic with supervision, vs. Experiential – this is unique Why bother looking at LANDSCAPE? We really need to know how to situate ourselves! And we need to adapt to the needs of the membership, to be responsible in how to serve our current membership, and simultaneously to grow and develop our potential membership base. Start with Breadth, and then decide where to dive in… and go deep. Then the Depth will come! We will need in the next few weeks to develop priorities about where to focus in this committee and then if we need to assign other committees or working groups to focus on other specific areas. Final Report from Endeavour - External scan – map of Canada – the trends in different parts of the company, other organizations (can org for counselling and psychotherapy) that are ready to move into group process! So if this is our area GROUP!, then we really have to be very clear about what we bring to the table… and, develop it!

Endeavour Recommendations

Reviewed and acquainted ourselves with… Vision, Mission, Values and Beliefs 5 year out Ideal Scenario Previous NTC Report

5 years out –“ ideal scenario” A learner can get started form anywhere in Canada Central infrastructure: coordinator, marketing, Products & materials In person elements of training are delivered via local workshops, the conference, or summer institute. Continuing Ed and Basic Training options Online & Teleconference/skype Online forums - web is seen as a “group space” Directory of approved therapists, trainers and supervisors is available that learners can connect Supervisor Training Supervision Experiential Opportunities both Process & Institutes Program development on sustainability Training leads to Certification – available for at different levels - group therapist, group facilitator and supervisor Mentorship program – encourages, nurtures, share wisdom & expertise 2 Streams - Organizational and Individual Strong link with research, grant writing, community of practice Funding available –in different forms- scholarships, bursaries, sponsorships Partnerships Networking /Advocacy for group intervention Secure funding from corporations and foundations – i.e. Bell Canada and Canada Post

Mission of National Training Committee Together with other professionals we will collaboratively develop a national training program that is receptive and responsive to the promote and provide educational services to professionals across the country, and link those practicing group therapy and working with group processes in both clinical and non-clinical settings.

Core Values (adopted at AGM 2011) Respect Diversity Accessibility Responsiveness Sustainability

1. We understand a group to mean more than just a collection of individuals but an entity in and of itself operating from a shared purpose or common intention. This may be task related or a commitment to reflecting on their process for the purpose of personal growth. 2. We recognize the immense value of working in the group format because of the availability of multi perspectives and the synergy created through the activation of therapeutic factors unavailable in the individual context. 3. We acknowledge the relevance and centrality of unconscious processes (both individual and collective) in the life of all groups. 4. We understand that there are external factors that impact on groups and the individuals within them, including but not limited to cultural, sociopolitical, ethnic, and economic factors. 5. We contextualize possible applications of group knowledge as existing on a continuum from: Clinical to non-clinical Structured to unstructured Traditional to non-traditional 6. We recognize the value of group therapy as well as group counseling and non-clinical applications of this knowledge (i.e. clinical practice, training, education, research, social activism and consultancy Core Beliefs (adopted at AGM 2011)

January 20 th … underway! “I'm sending a very preliminary list of topics for the general intro course to aid us in discussion. I put together a few, then sent them off to Karen who added hers and then combined them. I've also added Anne's suggestions to the soup. ( thanks Anne!)” - TS

Template including the above two sets: What and Why Groups Matter? What and Why Groups Matter? Group as a relational paradigm of thinking – together we’re more Group as a living system – “Isomorphy”: intra-psychic, inter-personal, family, community, globe The Value of Connection – attachment and human needs Culture building: A sense of Belonging creating positive group norms and boundaries ethics Diversity issues The value of perspective: encouraging and dealing with differences Gender Multicultural Mind-sight and Reflection – the shared perspective History of group practice – A new Chapter: group today and interpersonal biology – development and growth – evolution How to? How to? Groups and your setting: Getting started : membership, focus, size issues Context of group, focus of group basic tasks and goals Joining Understanding the group: Group Roles; What they are and the importance of establishing them Roles taken by members Role of group facilitator/leadership Phases of group development Mechanisms and processes of change Communication patterns Content and process Dealing with conflict, anger and intimacy: relational challenges

Flexible formats Short lecture and large group discussions, structured exercises in small groups, feedback looks on structure, team building exercises, facilitated discussions, process experiential.

Training Components Foundations of Group Process ProfessionalPersonalOrganizational 3 Streams Each with it’s own Tiers Level 1 Level 2 Level 3

Group Leadership and Process Facilitation: Base program – underpinning - Group Process and Systems Theory (non clinical) – for all group facilitators/leaders  Professional Development Stream (both non clinical and clinical) Counselling (non mental health (addictions, heart health, cancer)) – for group counsellors Psychotherapy (clinical) – for group therapists (Advanced Thematic Institutes)  Personal Development Stream Process groups / Institutes Small & Large group process  Community or Organizational Development Stream Small & Large group processes (e.g. Block and others)

Initial Focus Foundational Level: Process Review of last discussion and list of what might be included in a multidisciplinary, inter-professional, introductory course. Group as a relational paradigm - together we’re more – Karen, Terry Group as a System – Jackie, Karen The value of connection – attachment and human needs - Lois, Jackie Culture Building - Joan Dianne, JoAnn Diversity Issues The Value of Perspective – Anne, Terry The Value of Perspective – Anne, JoAnn Mind sight and Reflection - Jackie The History of Group - Karen, Lois Each subheading was assigned to two individuals to on their own accord to consider and summarize what might be 4 – 5 main teaching objectives.

Foundational Program Modules  Group as a relational paradigm  History of group practice  Group as a living system  The Value of Connection – attachment and human needs  Culture building: How to Create a Working Group  Diversity and Difference  The science of connection: working with our Neuro- Biology

Next Steps 3 streams  Professional  Personal  Organizational