The model of group psychotherapy developed by Irvin Yalom is now considered the ‘gold standard’ of group therapy approaches throughout the world. Its focus on the interpersonal relationships and the process underlying them allows the group to become a powerful agent of change.
For many therapists, adding group therapy to your suite of services is a wonderful way to augment your practice, as well as provide valuable growth experiences for your clients. However it’s essential that you complete specific training in group therapy as the skills required are different from the skills of individual or couple therapy.
June Lake is the leading teacher in Australia of the Yalom group psychotherapy approach and speaks with Australia Counselling about this powerful and effective type of therapy.
In this 30-minute interview June also shares:
- how her passion for working with groups came about
- how the skills we use in the therapy room are different from group facilitation skills
- a brief overview of the Yalom group psychotherapy approach
- the qualities of an effective group facilitator
- specific skills group facilitators need to develop to be effective
- the most common mistakes new group facilitators tend to make
June also speaks about her 5-day intensive Yalom group therapy facilitation training that she runs every year.
Links and resources mentioned in this episode
- The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy by Irvin Yalom
- Group Therapy Training with June Lake
- Australia Counselling membership – Join Australia Counselling to promote your private practice
About the presenter:
June Lake is co-founder and a Director of The Australian Institute of Counselling in Addictions since 1987, June holds graduate diploma qualifications in the field of chemical and behaviour addictions and is a Gestalt Psychotherapist. Widely experienced as a psychotherapist, counsellor, interventionist, clinical supervisor, teacher, trainer and consultant, she has designed, implemented and evaluated training programs for the private and government sectors. As senior lecturer and trainer at AICA, June trained hundreds of counsellors as addiction specialists and is the Master Trainer nationally for the USA originated and internationally applied program, Life Management – Relapse Prevention & Building Health Relationships.
Accredited in Myers Briggs Psychological Type Theory, June also presents workshops in personality theory within the corporate sector and Australian Armed Services. Constantly looking for new challenges, June trained in USA gaining new insight from world leader, Professor Dr. Edgar Schein, in process consultancy and corporate culture.
Her work with health professionals as a clinical supervisor for the past 23 years is supported by a strong background in substance abuse counselling and psychotherapy. Industry reputation in this area of work has resulted in all clinical supervision contracts being awarded by invitation. She is a Registered Clinical Member of CAPA and PACFA.
With 17 years experience in structured interventions and systemic family workshops, June has worked successfully with corporate companies, organisations and families in this specialised arena. In 2002 she established LakeScope Consulting to further this work. Today, June Lake and the LakeScope team of consultants and advisors apply the most recent research in interventions and offer Family Systemic Interventions, intervention by invitation. Involving family, friends and co-workers, this new model of intervention includes a process of reconstructing relationships that have inadvertently allowed, and sometimes even encouraged, the chemically or process dependent person to continue his/her behaviour. June believes in the power of love when working with families and sees miracles occur when whole families experience recovery from the painful and destructive patterns of addiction.
June’s expertise in counselling theory and facilitation of group processes allow her to work and demonstrate a unique ability with deepened awareness and sensitivity towards change and growth in clients. An engaging communicator with gifted insights and a commitment to achieving practical results in her work she is recognised as a leader in this field. For more information visit www.lakescope.com
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