Paul LePhuoc, PhD, CGP is a licensed psychologist and a Certified Group Psychotherapist in Houston, TX., where he maintains a full-time private practice that includes both solo and co-leadership of therapy and training groups. He is a graduate of the Center for Group Studies program in Modern Analytic Group Leadership. He is also Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine. He has served on the Board of the Houston Group Psychotherapy Society and the International Board for the Certification of Group Psychotherapists for the American Group Psychotherapy Society. He has presented on the local and national level on the topics of race, difference and psychoanalytic group psychotherapy.

Melissa Beason-Smith, PhD, CGP is a licensed psychologist and Certified Group Psychotherapist in private practice in Houston, TX. She has a full-time practice and solo and co-leads analytic therapy and training groups. She received her PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Houston and is currently completing training in modern analytic group psychotherapy through the Center for Group Studies in New York.

Aaron H. Fink, M.D., CGP, AGPA-F is a child, adolescent, adult & sports psychiatrist with extensive experience leading groups and teaching group therapy. He has led therapy groups in a nonprofit community setting, a children’s day treatment program and in his private practice. He has led experiential training groups at HGPS, AGPA, the VA, UT Health Houston McGovern Medical School and Baylor College of Medicine. He was president of HGPS from 1997 to 1999 and again from 2011 to 2013.

Dr. Melanie Gregg is a licensed psychologist who has focused on serving children and families for over 25 years. Dr. Gregg’s undergraduate degree in psychology is from Texas A&M University, a master’s degree in School Psychology from the University of Houston at Clear Lake, and her doctorate in School and Counseling Psychology is from the Texas Woman’s University. She completed her doctoral internship in psychology with Cy-Fair ISD. Dr. Gregg has worked in public and private schools and private practice.

Laila Narsi is a licensed Psychotherapist since 1997 specializing in complex PTSD and disassociation and is a certified EMDR Therapist. Laila has been teaching and developing mindfulness programs for over 25 years. In addition, she is a senior Certified Mindful Self-Compassion and Fierce SC teacher as well as a mentor in Dr. Kristin Neff’s Self-Compassion Community. She is one of the co-developers for the full Shame Course along with Dr. Chris Germer and others.

Learning Objectives:
Following the completion of this breakout group, the participant will be able to:

1. Lead and manage group therapy sessions, including creating a safe, respectful environment and maintaining focus during discussions.
2. Identify and address group behaviors, such as resistance, role conflicts, or subgroups, and how to use these dynamics to promote growth and cohesion within the group.
3. Apply specific therapeutic approaches (such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, etc.) within the group context, tailored to the needs of individuals and the group as a whole.

Dan Workman leveraged his role as guitarist in the Texas punk/experimental noise band Culturcide into a mainstream music career as an engineer/producer and co-owner of the iconic SugarHill Studios in Houston, Texas. Over three decades, his work included Grammy-winning gold and platinum records with Beyonce, Destiny’s Child, ZZ Top, Hubert Laws, Paul Wall, Clay Walker, South Park Mexican, and many more.

After retiring from the music business, he earned his LCSW and began work as a psychodynamic individual and group therapist, providing tailored support to patients who identify as creatives. His treatment frame is based on two novel principles: 1) that creative people have an additional layer of complexity in how they process themselves and the world, and 2) that creatives require a positive understanding and engagement of their talent to enjoy optimal mental health.

Paul Caluscos works with his clients to help identify unconscious patterns and themes that may be affecting their daily lives and relationships and bring them to the conscious mind. Collaborating with them to heal and move forward—past any recurring thoughts and behaviors causing distress or holding them back—towards increased self-awareness and a deeper sense of purpose and meaning. He is the current vice president of HGPS and a chair of AGPAs Nuts and Bolts Committee.

Learning Objectives:
Following the completion of this breakout session, the participant will be able to:

1. Identify phases of group development and the leader’s role in each phase.
2. Recognize one’s role in the group and those of others.
3. Define and apply such concepts as transference, resistance, content versus process and terminaIon.
4. Describe key process interacIons in the group.
5. Identify, if applicable, conflicts which arose in group and interventions used to address them.
6. Identify how group leaders discern subjective countertransference versus objective countertransference and facilitate group process.
7. Identify approaches to addressing termination.

Brittany Burch, LCSW-S, CGP is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker-Supervisor and Certified Group Psychotherapist, and is a social work graduate from Washington University in St. Louis in 2006. Following graduation, she came to Houston for a Social Work post-graduate Fellowship at the Menninger Clinic, working at the clinic on both the general psychiatric and eating disorders units. In 2009, Brittany joined the staff of the Montrose Center, a non-profit agency dedicated to serving the LGBTQ community. She served as the Center’s LIFE Counseling Program Coordinator, overseeing their senior programs, youth programs and developing a highly sought after internship training program. In April 2018, Brittany opened her private practice, Autumn Counseling, Inc. where she specializes in couples therapy utilizing Emotionally Focused Therapy, grief support as well as individuals treating trauma through EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing). She is a certified EMDR clinician, certified EFT Couples Therapist, and EFT Supervisor in Training. Currently, Brittany is the President of the Houston Community for Emotionally Focused Therapy (HCEFT) and Second Vice President for the Houston Group Psychotherapy Society (HGPS). She is passionate about relationships, whether it be in partnerships, with colleagues, with fellow group members or with oneself. She is delighted to cofacilitate this group with the highly talented Jamie Cool, LCSW-S, CGP.

Jamie Cool, LCSW-S, CGP
Jamie’s interest in psychological complexity and living a full, human experience has guided her training for the past fifteen years. Utilizing a background in performance and physical movement, combined with psychodynamic training, she brings a multi-faceted lens to each person she works with. Jamie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker-Supervisor with a private practice in Texas. Her therapy practice includes individuals, couples, families and weekly groups. Before private practice, Jamie worked with individuals and families struggling with relationship and recovery issues at The Council on Recovery and led experientially-focused groups with survivors of domestic violence. It is a privilege to enter sacred therapeutic spaces with her clients and colleagues, and she continues to evolve personally and professionally through this work. Jamie has sought advanced training in areas of particular interest, including attachment and sexuality, couple’s therapy and psychodynamic group leadership. She participates in the Weekend Modern Psychoanalytic Training Program through Center for Group Studies, and is part of an ongoing Jungian training group for eight years. She is a member of AGPA, HGPS and AGS, as well as Houston Center for Emotionally Focused Therapy. Jamie offers therapy intensives, including those for couples, families, and process groups.

Jennifer Markey, PhD, MEd, CGP is a Licensed Psychologist in private practice and is the founder and director of the Petoskey Center. She received her M.Ed in Risk and Prevention from Harvard University School of Education and her PhD in Clinical-Developmental Psychology from Suffolk University. Jennifer brings a wealth of training experiences to her practice, including post-doctoral training on the Professionals in Crisis unit at the Menninger Clinic, an APA-accredited internship through Baylor College of Medicine, and post-graduate training — Studies in Psychoanalytic Thinking — at the Center for Psychoanalytic Studies (CFPS-Houston). Jennifer has facilitated workshops at both the local and national level for many years and holds a volunteer faculty position at Baylor College of Medicine. Currently, Jennifer serves as co-chair of the Training and Education Committee and President of Houston Group Psychotherapy Society.