Training for Conveners of
Systems-Psychodynamic Groups
About Training
Training for Conveners of Systems-Psychodynamic Groups is a developmental branch of the Psychosocial Training Programme of the School for Integrative Group Analysis Koinonia-Art, specifically the Systems Psychodynamic Organisational Consultancy (SPOC) training programme. It is open to trainees who have completed the core SPOC training and wish to develop additional skills in designing, facilitating and convening non-clinical groups that foster dialogue across different settings and primary tasks.
People have been exploring the nature of human beings since the dawn of time, and this has been a subject of study in every civilisation throughout history. Belonging and not belonging to groups, from birth to the final parting, bring joy and pain, endless opportunities for learning, and constant challenges. How far can we develop our understanding of ourselves and others within our family relationships, our educational and workplace systems, our communities and societies, and today’s “global village”? It is impossible to grasp the full complexity of human groups and their networks. However, knowledge of group and systems psychodynamics, together with the ability to work with techniques for understanding and engaging with destructive and creative processes, can be helpful in most aspects of our personal and professional lives.
The importance of such activities is growing in today’s turbulent times. Systems of all kinds, both small and large, are undergoing various forms of disruption, including workplaces, organisations, families and other systems. These disruptions can sometimes reach the level of trauma affecting entire systems and communities. People talk about the “end of civilisations”, the “end of times”, and major civilisational crossroads and transformations in our macro- and micro-worlds. Anxiety is increasing, as is the need for people to develop a deeper and broader understanding of what is happening to us as individuals and communities.
In the professional, relatively protected and supportive environment of systems psychodynamic groups, we can continually discover fresh perspectives on the interplay between internal and external dynamics. Our willingness to help others and to engage in fellowship through shared learning can undoubtedly enrich us and help us grow in generosity of spirit.
This training programme, a branch of the SPOC training programme (alongside the ’Training for Hosts, Organisers and Facilitators of Reflective Citizens’ and the ’Training for Social Dreaming Hosts’), was launched in 2018. It is now being further enriched and developed as an advanced level of training, with a more systematic structure, particularly in its theoretical modules.
The range of applications of systems psychodynamic groups is broad:
- Organisational consultancy and organisational development processes involving teams, managers and leaders.
- Decision-making processes.
- A wide range of issues specific to particular professions.
- Themed groups covering a broad spectrum of topics, such as starting a business, job seeking, taking on a new professional role, navigating social media, COVID-19 and other crises, narcissism in relationships, and finding a partner.
- Peacebuilding processes.
- Processes aimed at overcoming cultural, racial, religious and ethnic divisions.
- Exploring and understanding local and global psychosocial challenges.
- Examining educational, civic, partnership and family-related issues.
- Developing dialogue around artistic, social and historical events.
- Patrick de Maré’s dialogue technique in semi-open medium groups.
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The range of settings in which these groups can take place is equally broad:
- Openness: closed, semi-open or open groups.
- Duration: one-off (a single session within a workshop), short-term (such as a series of several sessions) or longer-term (lasting several weeks or months).
- Group size: from three members upwards, in small or medium-sized groups.
- Format: standalone groups or groups integrated into workshops, conferences, consultancy assignments or other work processes.
- Session frequency: ranging from once or twice a day to weekly, monthly or less frequently, in shorter or longer series.
- With or without co-conveners.
- In person or in a virtual setting.
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This is not a clinical training programme. The primary aim of these groups is therefore not psychotherapy, although a therapeutic effect is not excluded as a by-product. Particular attention is paid to this aspect to ensure that the boundary between clinical and non-clinical work remains clear. Training in psychopathology aims to equip participants to recognise the main clinical syndromes, so that clients can be carefully referred to clinical practitioners for treatment when necessary. This distinction is equally important when the groups are facilitated by a clinical practitioner.
