Introductory Course in Group Analysis
The Introductory Course in Group Analysis consists of 5 residential weekends (5pm Friday to 3.30pm Sunday) over one academic year starting in October. This course is suitable for anyone who has an interest in working with groups, including mental health workers, such as doctors, psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists etc, as well as counsellors, teachers, managers, probation officers, prison staff, voluntary workers and others.

Course Convenor: Patrick McGrath, BA (Hons), HDipED, Dip Soc, Member Institute of Group Analysis

Other Staff: Sheila Ritchie MSc, MemberTIGAP, Member Institute of Group Analysis; and Marion Panchkowry, RMN, Member Institute of Group Analysis.
The Theory Patrick McGrath

The seminars provide an introduction to the psychodynamic theory underlying Group Analysis. On Saturday mornings there are two sessions with a guest-speaker, usually a senior member of the IGA.

  • other seminars and workshops explore further the practicalities of working with groups in various settings (NHS, Social Services, Private Practice, Counselling etc.)
  • students will be invited to participate actively by presenting relevant papers
  • In other seminars students can, if they wish, present their own work situation and discuss problems they experience there
  • A reading list is provided as soon as students have registered for the course.
The Group Experience Sheila Ritchie and Marion Panchkowry
Although the 45 hours spent in an experiential group can only provide an introduction, it is also true that the participants discover quite a few things:
  • About themselves as they seek to relate to each other in the group on a personal level
  • About therapeutic groups: which experiences can be helpful and which might be potentially harmful
  • About the skills of a group conductor: how to cope with the stress which working with therapeutic groups inevitably brings about; how to facilitate communication and how to safeguard group boundaries etc.
  • About the limitations of group therapy, concerning one's own suitability and also its use for others
The Timetable

Members need to be certain they can attend all 5 weekends.

Block weekends take place as follows - October: second weekend of the month; December, February and June: first weekend of the month; April: weekend after Easter.

Each weekend there are six experiential group meetings, and also one large group experience together with students of other courses. Then there are lectures, seminars and workshops which include the possibility of looking at one's own work.
Further Training

Our course provides an initial introduction, and has been recognised by the Institute of Group Analysis (IGA) as equivalent to its 'General Course'. It is a requirement for the Qualifying Course of the IGA or the Turvey MSc course, both providing a full clinical and theoretical training, enabling graduates to register with the UKCP register of psychotherapists and to become a professional member of the Institute of Group Analysis.

See Enquiries page for further information and how to contact us
return to top of page