Work and Study Program

Qualification Course
“Group Analysis:  Theory and Practice” 

The Program is approved by 
the SGA Training Committee
27 March 2014, the Minutes No.1
The TC Chairman
V.A. Shamov 

The editing as of:  
16 October 2014, the TC Minutes No.12,
13 November 2014, the TC Minutes No.15, 
19 February 2015, the TC Minutes No.23, 
26 February 2015, the TC Minutes No.27, 
5 March 2015, the TC Minutes No.28,
17 December 201, the TC Minutes No.26, 
30 December 2017, the TC Minutes No.07, 
1 March 2018, the TC Minutes No.10, 
13 September 2018, the TC Minutes No.04.

Theory – 160 astronomic hours
Practice – 410 astronomic hours
Total – 570 astronomic hours

Saint-Petersburg
2015

1.    Introduction

The Qualification Course Program was adopted and approved by the SGA Training Committee resolution (the Minutes No.1 as of 27 March 2014).  The program meets the requirements of the European Group Analytic Training Institutions Network (E.G.A.T.I.N.) and the Diploma Course Program of the Institute of Group Analysis (IGA, London).

Aim:  
Preparation of professional group-analytic group conductors capable of working in different areas of group-analytic practice.

2.    Qualification Course Structure

2.1.  General 

The Qualification Course lasts for 4 years.
The Course is comprised of 570 hours (here and further an astronomic hour is meant), with 410 hours for practice and 160 hours for theory.
The block form of training includes a minimum of 5 blocks a year.

Requirements for applicants:
•    The applicants must have a higher education or a qualification in psychology, medicine, education, social sciences.  Those who do not meet this requirement can be admitted on agreement with the SGA TC.  
•    The applicants must have a background in group analysis equivalent to the SGA Introductory Course “The Basics of Group Analysis” or equivalent courses recognized by the SGA TC.  
•    The applicants take an interview.

Requirements for lecturers and conductors:
•    Small and large group conductors must have a qualification level equivalent to the SGA status of the Training Group Analyst.
•    Supervisory group conductors must have a qualification status no lower than the SGA status of the Supervisor.
•    Lecturers and seminar conductors must have an appropriate professional group-analytic experience, as well as the experience of teaching the theory and practice of group analysis, psychoanalysis and related subjects.
•    Lecturers can be invited on approval of the TC or the Qualification Course Convenor.
•    Small, large and supervisory group conductors should not change during the training, apart from cases when on the SGA TC resolution it is possible to change training and supervisory group conductors.

2.2.  Course Structure and Stages 

Students must take the practice and the theory parts.  

Practice
•    As for a large or small group, a minimum of 50 hours is recommended. (Adopted at the TC on 26 February 2015, the Minutes No.27.)
•    The personal group-analytic therapy in small groups should be a minimum of 240 hours or 160 sessions (1 session is 90 minutes).  (Adopted at the TC on 26 February 2015, the Minutes No.27.)  These personal therapy hours can include the hours spent on the SGA Course “The Basics of Group Analysis” (usually 90 astronomic hours, i.e. 30 sessions) or equivalent courses recognized by the SGA TC (adopted at the TC on 01 March 2018).
•    Supervisions should be a minimum of 120 hours during the training and the student’s running his/her two-year training group.  Furthermore, at least two sessions of the supervision group (1 session – 90 minutes) must be within the block.  The remaining sessions can be outside the block and be conducted on Skype or intramurally.  (Adopted at the TC on 05 March 2015, the Minutes No.28.)
•    Running one’s own group as a conductor should take 120 hours (a minimum of 80 sessions 90 minutes each) during two years.

Theory
•    The theory part is 160 hours.  It is recommended that psychoanalytic theories should be covered in 40 hours (this part can be shortened if there is evidence of the material having been studied at some other place). Group-analytic theories should be covered in 120 hours.  (Adopted at the TC on 5 March 2015, the Minutes No.28 and the TC on 17 December 2015.)
•    It is recommended that regular organizational meetings should be held at least once in a block. (Adopted at the TC on 5 March 2015, the Minutes No.28.)

Training Stages 

The training comes in three consecutive stages.

•    The first stage aims at, among other things, composing a student’s patient group (for about one year).  At the first stage students are in their personal small group therapy, work at supervisory and intervisory groups, study the theory of group analysis and psychoanalysis.

•    The second stage aims at, among other things, students’ conducting their own patient group (for about two years).  At the second stage students continue to be in their personal small group therapy, work in supervisory and intervisory groups, study the theory of group analysis and psychoanalysis.  The supervisory group makes a resolution on whether the standards of conducting a patient group have been completed, which is further approved by the supervisor and the Qualification Course Convenor.  This is a requirement for proceeding to the third stage.

•    The third stage aims at writing a theoretical and then a clinical part of the final qualification paper.  The theoretical part is delivered either at the Qualification Course work conference, or at the seminar group.  Before the completion of the Qualification Course, the Qualification Course Convenor, supervisors and lecturers make a resolution on the adequacy of the final qualification paper theoretical part.  Only on completion of the theoretical part, the student starts writing the clinical part of the final qualification paper.
•    For a successful completion of the Course there is a minimum attendance requirement of 90% for this Course (theory classes, seminars, large, small and supervisor groups).  If a student has missed a greater amount of the Course (but not over 20% of the Course), then provided that there is the Course Convenor’s permission and technical opportunity, he/she can be allowed to make up the missing hours through participation in large groups, small groups, lectures, etc. outside the Course structure (the addition as of 16 October 2014, the TC Minutes No.12).  The hours spent on participation in a small group-analytic group outside the Course structure can be credited as training hours.  In this case, the time overlap between this group and the Course must be at least 60%.  Such training can be credited on permission of the Course Convenor and on condition that the group conductor has a required qualification.   Moreover, the group must meet the requirements of the SGA document “Procedures Regulating the Accreditation and Participation in Training Group Analysis” (2002).

The paper must be submitted in the SGA TC not later than two years after the completion of the Qualification Course.  If there is a valid excuse, an exception can be made and the date for the submission of the final qualification clinical part can be prolonged on the SGA TC resolution.
The SGA TC takes a decision on whether the clinical work meets the Qualification Course requirements.  The candidate’s group analyst and supervisor cannot participate in taking this decision.  
On completion of the Qualification Course, on the Qualification Course Convenor’s request and the SGA TC resolution graduates receive a standard SGA participation certificate.  On the successful graduate’s request in the SGA TC he/she can be assigned a SGA status of Group Analyst (the editing as of 13 November 2014, the TC minutes No.15).  

3.    Qualification Course Content

3.1.     Practice

Personal analysis in group
•    Students take a personal analysis in a steadily working small group-analytic group or in shuttle groups within the Course (the conducting of small groups according to the SGA Qualification Criteria and the program on “The Basics of Group Analysis”).  The minimum duration of the personal analysis is 240 astronomic hours (160 sessions).
•    A small group is conducted by one and the same group analyst, apart from force majeure including a change of the group conductor or transition of a participant from one group to another on condition there is a relevant resolution of the SGA TC (the editing as of 13 September 2018, the TC minutes No.4).  The conductor’s qualification status should be at least the Training Group Analyst according to the SGA standards or any organization recognized by the SGA. 
•    When in a personal group analysis, it is recommended to suspend all other kinds of training psychotherapy and analysis (both group and individual).
•    There is usually a maximum of 10 participants in a small group.
•    The hours spent on participation in a small group-analytic group outside the course structure can be credited as training hours.  In this case, the time overlap between this group and the Course must be at least 60%.  Such personal analysis in a group can be credited on condition that the group conductor has a proper qualification and there is the Course Convenor’s permission.  Moreover, the group must meet the requirements of the SGA “Procedures Regulating the Accreditation and Participation in Training Group Analysis” (2002).   

Large (median) group
•    A large (median) group is composed of all the Course trainees.
•    A large (median) group is conducted together by the Course small training group conductors.
•    Participation in a large (median) group is a minimum of 50 astronomic hours.

Group-analytic group conducted by student
•    During the Course each student must compose and run his/her own group-analytic group under the supervision for at least two years.  
•    The group should meet for a minimum of 80 sessions, once a week, one session is 90 minutes.
•    The student’s group-analytic group must meet the requirements of the SGA “Procedures Regulating the Accreditation and Participation in Training Group Analysis” (2002).

Supervision of group-analytic group run by student
•    The supervision of the group-analytic group run by the course student is carried out in a supervisory group.  In some cases, at the Course Convenor discretion group supervisions can be combined with individual ones.  
•    The usual size of a supervisory group is from 3 to 5 participants.
•    The supervisory group conductor must have a minimum qualification level of a Supervisor.  
•    The small group conductor cannot be a supervisor for his/her group participant.
•    The recommended duration of the supervisory group is a minimum of 120 astronomic hours.
•    There should be at least 120 hours of supervising the preparation, composition, dynamic administration, students’ work with their groups and completion.  Additional time can be spent on discussing theoretical and clinical work and the theoretical paper presentation.

Intervision of student’s group-analytic group
•    On a block form of training extra discussion of the group-analytic groups run by students is carried out within intervisory groups.  Starting intervisory groups is also recommended at a standard form of training.
•    Intervisory groups are composed of the Course students, with 3-5 participants.
•    The frequency of meetings between the blocks (it is recommended that it should be a minimum of once or twice a week) must ensure the possibility for regular discussion of the dynamic of group-analytic groups run by students.
•    The group composition, schedule and intervisory group work content should be open for discussion in the supervisory group.

3.2.    Theory

The theory includes (a) lectures, (b) seminars, active forms of studying (role and business plays) and discussions of the literature resources.  The studying methods may vary, e.g. reading and studying articles, presentations, discussions, etc.  
Seminars are held in groups with a maximum of 10 participants.

Thematic Planning:  Compulsory Part

1.    Group Analysis and theories associated with it
Group analysis and psychoanalysis.  Gestalt psychology and group analysis.  Group analysis in the context of social theories (N. Elias).  Group analysis and the development theories.  Group analysis and the object relations theory.  Group analysis and intersubjective approach.  Group analysis and the general system theory.

2.     Psychoanalytic models of group psychotherapy
The therapy of the group.  The therapy in the group.  The therapy of the group by the group, including the conductor. 

3.    The main ideas of group analysis
Setting, matrix, communications, translation, mirroring, resonance, condensation, location (localization), polarization, roles in a group.

4.     The main psychoanalytic concepts employed in group analysis   
The unconscious, transference, countertransference.  Resistance.  Defense mechanisms:  projection, identification, introjection, projective identification, acting out, regression, repetitive acting out and others.

5.     The conductor (as a dynamic administrator)
The aims, objectives, stages.  The initial stage of dynamic administration.  Evaluation and preparation of participants.  The composition of the group.  The signing of the contract.  The dynamic administration stage within a working group.

6.     The conductor as an analyst
The intervention loop.  Kinds / techniques of interventions.  The levels of communication.  The phases of group developing.  The main assumptions of Bion.
The work with a transference, countertransference, resistance.

7.    Group-analytic methodical techniques
The setting, open and close groups, small, median and large groups.  Evaluation and selection.  The work with group boundaries. Dropping out of the group.  The phases in groups.  The beginning and the completion of a group.  Problematic patients.

8.    Some applications of group analysis
Groups consisting of pairs, family groups, children, teenage groups, groups for senior people.  Groups for alcohol and drug addicts.  Patients who have experienced violence, with a physical and emotional trauma.  Borderline and psychotic patients.  Groups in hospitals and in organizations, such as prison.  Groups in private practice.  Groups in a non-clinical setting.  Practice in organizations.

9.    Special topics
Ethic principles used in group analysis.  The nationality and culture.  The current context and its influence on the setting of group work.  The modification of the technique in different settings.