by Aaron Fink MD, FAGPA, CGP
In my first President’s Letter, I shared the theme for my term as HGPS President, Group Therapy: Making Connections. The Executive Committee and I are excited at the number of members who have chosen to make connections by joining a committee, but we hope everyone will do so. We have decided to personally call all HGPS members who are not on a committee and encourage their involvement. Committee involvement will benefit you, the organization and ultimately the larger community.
Since the last newsletter, Cindy Hearne and I have met with representatives of Mental Health America (MHA). We are looking at ways the two organizations can make connections that will benefit us both. A number of exciting ideas were discussed and we are currently working out details. We continue to provide training for the Menninger staff and the Baylor psychiatry residents. Cindy’s committee, Community Outreach, will also be looking at ways we can connect with other organizations.
The Education Committee, under the leadership of Micki Grimland, continues to do incredible work. While I will not list all that her committee does to educate our members and the larger therapy community, I do want to highlight one recent program that was planned by Connie Moore. The one-day workshop by Steve Shapiro, PhD, was very informative and well attended. I was particularly excited to see a number of attendees who were not HGPS members and who had never attended one of our functions. This was another opportunity to extend the connections of HGPS.
The Membership Committee, under Jennifer Palermo’s leadership, is actively recruiting new members by connecting with therapists in the community. I have given her a goal of doubling our membership during the two years I will be president. This is a very ambitious goal, but very obtainable if we make an attempt to connect with colleagues who are not currently members. Through connections we have a lot to offer each other.
— Aaron H. Fink, M.D., FAGPA, CGP