Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

SIGs are Special Interest Groups established by AGPA for mental health professionals who share a common interest in a specific area of group psychotherapy and/or group interventions. SIGs allow like-minded group psychotherapists to share ideas and strengthen their knowledge through interaction with their colleagues. SIGs vary in content, structure and activity level, but each is open to all interested members. Throughout the year SIG members have the opportunity to participate in a listserv and other educational activities. Join now by emailing info@agpa.org or call (212) 297-2190.

SIG Task Force

The SIG Task Force promotes the development of SIGs and provides a forum for supporting SIG activities.  

For information contact the Co-Chairs:

Eri Suzuki Bentley, PhD, CGP 
0115 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-0115
Office: (435) 797-1012
Email:Eri.Bentley@usu.edu

Joeleen Cooper-Bhatia, PhD, CGP
Auburn Univ Student Counseling Svcs
400 Lem Morrison Dr #2086
Auburn University, AL 36849
Office: (334) 844-5123
Email: jzc0026@auburn.edu

Elizabeth Driscoll, MA, LPC 
1244 Pine St
Boulder, CO 80302-4809
Office: (630) 650-3173
Email: driscollec@gmail.com

Addiction and Recovery SIG

Provides a forum for those with an interest and expertise in utilizing group methods for the treatment, healing process and recovery of addictions. 

Co-Chairs:

Gregory Greer, MSW, LAC, CGP
208 Cole Ave
Monroe, LA 71291
Office: (318) 366-2553
Email: ggreer@palmettocenter.com

Barney Straus, MSW, MA, PCGC, CGP, AGPA-F
1025 Hinman Ave.
Evanston, IL 60202-1318
Office: (847) 942-2080
Email: barneystraus@gmail.com

Rivkah Lapidus, PhD, LMHC, CGP
44 Kidder Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2010
Office: (617) 666-2110
Email: rivkahlapidus@yahoo.com

Children and Adolescents SIG

Provides a focal point for clinicians treating children and adolescents, furthers training standards, and compiles educational resources.

Co-Chairs:

Seth Aronson, PsyD, CGP, AGPA-F
135 Central Park W #1NR
New York, NY 10023-2500
Office: (212) 579-3105
Email: sethmaronsonpsyd@gmail.com

Thomas K. Hurster, MSS, CGP, AGPA-F
26 Summit Grove Ave
Ste 213- The Wilson Bldg
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Office: (610) 525-5030
Email: thomashurster@gmail.com

Eleni Kanellopoulou, PhD
34 Kallidromiou Street
Exarcheia
Athens, Greece 11473
Office: 306946780081
Email: drkanellopoulou@gmail.com 

College Counseling and Other Educational SIG

Focuses on applying group therapy theory to counseling settings; developing positive communication within the school community; building trust between academic and non-academic personnel, and developing and carrying out research projects using group dynamics and group therapy constructs.

Co-Chairs:

Kristina Hansen, PhD, CGP
1500 WSC
Provo, UT 84602-7924
Office: (801) 422-3035
Email: kristina_hansen@byu.edu

Niki Keating, PhD, CGP
Colgate University Counseling Center, 13 Oak Dr
Hamilton, NY 13346
Office: (315) 228-7385
Email: nkeating@colgate.edu

Markie Silverman, PhD, LP
Michigan State University, 463 East Circle Drive
East Lansing, MI 48824
Office: (517) 355-8270
Email: markie.silverman@gmail.com

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Identities SIG

The SIGGLBTQ is a safe and welcoming place for LGBTQ therapists and anyone interested in better understanding the LGBTQ population. The SIG provides programming, networking, and social events.

Co-Chairs:

Stef Gentuso, MA, LPCC
3600 S Yosemite St #1050
Denver, CO 80237
Office: (303) 756-3340
Email: stefgentuso@gmail.com

Angelynn Hermes, LCSW, CGP
850 Colorado Blvd, Ste 102
Los Angeles, CA 90041-1733
Office: (213) 275-2200
Email: angelynnhermes@gmail.com

Katherine M. Zwick, MA, LPCC, C-DBT, CGP
104 Walnut Ave Ste 200
Santa Cruz, CA 95060-3929
(831) 275-5481
Email: katherine@ridethewaverecovery.com

Groups in Private Practice SIG

Explores issues relevant to establishing and maintaining a private practice of group therapy.

Co-Chairs
:

Jill Lewis, MSW, LCSW, CEDS, CGP
2751 Buford Hwy NE Ste 707
Atlanta, GA 30324
Office: (347) 563-5736
Email: jill@jlewistherapy.com

Jennifer Martin, PhD, CGP
Sage Wellness
1624 NW 6th St
Gainesville, FL 32609
Office: (352) 474-8882
Email: JenMartinPhD@gmail.com

Lisa Wolcott, LCSW, CGP
2830 NW 41st Street Suite J
Gainesville, FL 32606
Office: (352) 363-1998
Email: lisawolcott.lcsw@gmail.com

Group Training and Supervision SIG

Supports the work of individuals involved in the training and supervision of group leaders. Our goal is to help with the dissemination of resources, including helping bridge the gap between science and practice, and to create a forum of support for individuals working to promote the practice of group psychotherapy within their respective settings.

Co-Chairs:

Amelia Black, PhD, CGP
3080 St Rose Pkwy #1054
Henderson, NV 89052

Email: ameliablack1@gmail.com

Meenakshi Denduluri, MD
401 Quarry Road
Stanford, CA 94305
Office: (650) 498-7037
Email: mshiv@stanford.edu 

Health and Medical Issues SIG

Supports group therapists who address health concerns in medical and non-medical settings, provide psychological treatment to the medically ill, and incorporate wellness techniques into their group work such as meditation, mindfulness. 

Co-Chairs:

Leslie Klein, PhD
5318 E 2nd St #665
Long Beach, CA 90803-5324
Office: (562) 344-5675
Email: lesliekleinphd@gmail.com

Leah N. Murphy-Swiller, PhD
966 Comfort Rd.
Spencer, NY 14883
Office: (607) 229-1288
Email: leah.murphy.swiller@gmail.com

Linda Williams, PhD, CGP
3525 Del Mar Heights Rd. #1881

San Diego, CA 92130
Office: (858) 381-3535
Email: linda@wellonline.com

International Relations SIG

The mission of the International Relations SIG is to enhance the work of members in international settings, to serve as liaison to international organizations, and to encourage and enable members outside the USA to affiliate themselves with AGPA. Our goal is to increase the mental health resources available to professional groups throughout the world by participating in professional and scientific exchanges.

Co-Chairs:

Bojun Hu, Ph.D.
Beijing United Family Hospital
 9-11 West Jiangtai Road
Beijing, China
Office: 86-010-59277067 
Email: bojun.hu@gmail.com

Anne M. McEneaney, Ph.D., ABPP, CGP, AGPA-F
726 Broadway Ste 353
New York University Counseling
New York, NY 10003-9502
Office: (212) 998-4787
Email: anne.mceneaney@nyu.edu

Victoria Te You Moore, LCPC, CGP
53 W Jackson Blvd
Ste 1360
Chicago, IL 60604
Office: 312-809-0652 x100
Email: vm@victoriamooretherapy.com

Internet, Social Media and Technology SIG

For those who are interested in how the internet and technology are changing how we connect with each other and affecting the groups we lead and belong to.

Co-Chairs:

Robert Hsiung, MD
122 S Michigan Ave, Ste. 1025
Chicago, IL 60603
Office: (773) 413-0227
Email: bob@dr-bob.org

Lindsey T. Randol, PsychD, LPC
2305 Cliffrose Ln
Louisville, CO 80027-1175
Office: (720) 537-0802
Email: lindseyrandol@gmail.com

David A. Songco, MA, PsyD, CGP
1845 N Farewell Ave., Ste. 303-B
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Office: (414) 604-6413
Email: : dsongco@newinsightsllc.com

Issues of Aging SIG

For those who are interested in Geriatric patients as well as those who are interested in issues of Aging, whether it be their own aging or involving the clients with whom they work.

Co-Chairs:

Ken Schwartz, MD, FRCPC
Baycrest Dept of Psychiatry
3560 Bathurst St
Toronto, ON M6B1L3
CANADA
Office: (416) 785-2500 x2882
Email: kschwartz@baycrest.org

Shayne Vitemb, MA, LMFT, CGP
8709 Glider Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90045-4136
Office: (424) 331-5906
Email: shaynevitemb@gmail.com

Mental Health Agency and Institutional Settings SIG

Addresses the central role of Group Treatment in a variety of settings (i.e., inpatient, outpatient, rehabilitation programs, structured and other independent settings and systems) which serve a population of individuals with diverse mental health conditions and treatment needs over the course of their lifespan. It also addresses the need to promote and develop appropriate group modalities and training.

Co-Chairs:

Claudia Arlo, MSW, LCSW-R, ICADC, CGP, AGPA-F
330 West 58th Street, Suite 303
New York, NY 10019-1819
Office: (917) 575-0532
Email: crda2@aol.com

Greg Crosby, MA, LPC, CGP, AGPA-F
417 Lake Bay Ct
Lake Oswego, OR 97034-3047
Office: (971) 300-5955
Email: gregc1112@aol.com

Organizational Consulting SIG

Provides a home for members who have an interest in incorporating organizational consultation work into their professional repertoires. In this SIG we explore together how group dynamic principles support and enhance our work outside of the therapeutic setting in the context of organizations, companies, governmental agencies, and more.

Chair:

Carolyn Waterfall, MS, LPC, CGP
704 Main St Ste 305-8
Oregon City, OR 97045
Office: (503) 686-3918
Email: c.waterfall@comcast.net

Psychiatry SIG

Not limited to psychiatrists, this SIG is for those who work in psychiatry departments, have training in psychiatry, or are interested in the application of group psychotherapy in the discipline of psychiatry.

Co-Chairs:

Seamus Bhatt-Mackin, MD, CGP
4205 Amesbury Ln
Durham, NC 27707
Office: (919) 765-0062
E-mail: bhatt.mackin@duke.edu

Joseph E. Wise, MD, CGP
268 Henry Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Office: (301) 356-2188
Email: wiseje01@gmail.com

Amy J. Yang, MD
25 E Washington St Suite 1811
Chicago, IL 60602
Office: (773) 217-9266
Email: yang.amy.md@gmail.com

Racial and Ethnic Diversity SIG

The Racial and Ethnic Diversity (RED) SIG is charged with addressing the unique needs of historically racially and ethnically marginalized populations in the field of group psychotherapy.  This includes engaging members from these groups and others to dialogue about issues related to group psychotherapy and advocating for and encouraging participation in diverse group psychotherapy programming that promotes social justice and equity.

Co-Chairs

Shemika M. Brooks, PsyD, CGP
Office: (410) 516-8278
Email: drshemikabrooks@gmail.com

Karin Bustamante, PsyD, LPC, CGP
Office: (720) 515-6254
Email: karin@karin-bustamante.com

Vincent Malik Dehili, PhD, CGP
Office: (813) 816-2766
Email: vmdehili@ncsu.edu

Marcée M. Turner, PhD, CGP
Office: (770) 891-6613
Email: mturner4@alumni.nd.edu

Research SIG

For those interested in stimulating, conducting, or furthering their understanding of research in the field of group psychotherapy.

Co-Chairs:

Joseph R. Miles, PhD
410C Austin Peay, 1404 Circle Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996
Office: (865) 974-4183
Email: joemiles@utk.edu

Rainer Weber, PhD
University Clinic for Psychosomatics, Kerpenerstr. 68
50924 Koln Germany
Office: 0049 221 4785881
Email: rainer.weber@uni-koeln.de

Zipora Shechtman, PhD, AGPA-DF
Haifa Univ. Mount Carmel
3491151 Haifa Israel
Office: 97248249722
Email: ziporas@edu.haifa.ac.il

Women in Group Psychotherapy SIG

To increase knowledge of the influence of gender on group life and to develop structures within the AGPA to support women who are interested in group therapy and research.

Co-Chairs:

Carmen Burlingame, MA, MPA, MSW, LSW
Mishawaka, IN 46545
Office: (269) 953-0116
Email: cburlingame09@gmail.com

Rachelle Rene, PhD, BCB, HSM, CGP
P.O. Box 16259
San Diego, CA 92176-6259
Office: (858) 212-4330
Email: rene.rachelle@yahoo.com