On Friday, March 26, 2010, Dr. Myrtle Heery, spoke to the SCV-CAMFT Chapter at Michael's at Shoreline in Mountain View.

Her specialty is in Group Work with an interest in issues of the Aging. Dr. Heery is a Psychology Professor at Sonoma State University and at The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. She is both a Psychologist and a licensed MFT.

Most of the talk was about staying present with one's self and with the patient as a psychotherapeutic style. Her work is from the model of Existential Humanistic Psychology. From the start, she taught about the importance of self-disclosure as a way of being real, in the moment, and modeling for a patient. The purpose of this is to further the relationship between the therapist and patient. She reminded us that the quality of the relationship is the most important part of psychotherapy according to the research on successful outcomes.

Dr. Heery was warm and engaging. From the beginning, she effectively involved the audience in the discussion. She talked about the layers of resistance in all people and recommended the acknowledgement of the resistance without judging. Patients who feel accepted are more open to the change they are wanting in their lives. Mortality is a common thing in all lives. People want to have "meaning" in their lives. Acceptance leads to meaning, and this leads to making "choices" in our lives. It also leads to taking "responsibility" for our lives. People both feel a part of, and apart from, others. Meaning helps to lessen the sense of “isolation.” She told us to be curious and to ask patients about their experiences without judgment. She said that the body always holds resistance, so that we should first notice what our own bodies are telling us, then to notice the other.

Dr. Heery believes that group psychotherapy is the wave of the future in our field. She recommended that therapists get training in group psychotherapy. She offered a handout on an 18-month training that she is conducting (see www.humanstudies.com). Her style is being with the experience without much “analyzing,” which moves one into their head and away from their experience (our gut's reaction).

The speaker told us that successful groups come from the therapist's passion for the subject of the group. She mixes process and psychoeducational styles in her groups. Following the flow of a discussion can lead to process work. Successful groups are formed from the leader's passion for the subject of the work. Retention of group members is also a result of the leader's passion for the subject. Dr. Heery strongly recommended individual interviews before allowing someone to join a group (especially for those of us in a private practice). The leader should be very clear about the goals for the group ahead of time. She suggested that we run our goals by other practitioners for their feedback, and for our own clarity.

Someone asked about "open" versus "closed" groups. Dr. Heery believes that closed groups are best. They provide safety and containment for the patients. Also, the patient's commitment to the group is extremely important and this is to be assessed in the interviews. Her groups tend to be for 8 weeks. She then reassesses the group and asks the patients to do the same. Then, those who want to continue are asked to commit again for the next 8 weeks.

Another question was about what to do with group members who dominate or monopolize the sessions. Dr. Heery will move the energy around the room by asking the other members about their reactions to the talker "in the moment." Then, she asks the talker about his or her reaction to the comments of the other members. Sadness is often the outcome of not being connected to the other group members.

Finally, Dr. Heery recommended always handing out a piece of paper at the end of the group with some advice or assignment. People leave with a sense of taking something away from each session.

Dr. Heery and colleague Dr. Gregg Richardson (a Neuropsychologist) have edited a new book entitled Awakening to Aging, Glimpsing The Gifts of Aging. Sixteen experts have contributed. They are from the fields of psychology, law, gerontology, and spiritual disciplines. The book is available on www.Amazon.com

Author: George I. Deabill, PhD, MFT
Presented by: Dr. Myrtle Heery