by Aaron Fink MD, FAGPA, CGP
It is hard for me to believe that I have already completed the first year of my two-year term as President of HGPS. I am proud of what we have accomplished as a professional organization, but feel that there is still so much to do.
In keeping with my theme of Group Therapy: Making Connections we have continued to develop our relationship with Baylor College of Medicine by providing the group therapy training for the PGY-II and III residents. The longstanding training program was the subject of a professional paper in Group (December 2010) by Beth Knight, Pat Barth, myself, Jo Tervalon, Carol Vaughn and Bob White. The program was also the winner of the National Registry for Certified Group Psychotherapists Award for Outstanding Contributions in Education and Training in the Field of Group Psychotherapy at the AGPA Annual meeting in March 2012. We also anticipate continuing to provide training at Baylor’s primary psychiatric teaching hospital, Menninger. I have dreams of creating a similar relationship with the UT-Houston Medical School. HGPS is also pursuing creating a training program in child and/or adolescent group psychotherapy for HISD psychologists and counselors.
Cindy Hearne continues to work with MHA (Mental Health America) to develop connections between our organizations. While we look at ways our organizations can work together, a simple and important thing that we can all do is to join MHA. Many of us are already members of MHA and I encourage the rest of us to join this important community resource and advocate for mental health issues.
Within HGPS there are many opportunities to make connections with other professionals: Attend our meetings (Brown Bags, Annual Institute), join a SIG (Private Practice, Jungian therapy), or help create a new SIG (child and adolescent?), or become involved in a committee. You and HGPS will greatly benefit from your increased involvement.
I look forward to connecting more with all of our members over the upcoming year.
— Aaron H. Fink, M.D., FAGPA, CGP