American Group Psychotherapy Association

06/02/2026

Three practitioners. Three very different projects. One shared belief in the power of the group.

AGPA members, Richard Beck, LCSW, BCD, CGP, AGPA-F, Zachary Thieneman, PsyD, CGP, AGPA-F, and Elliot Zeisel, PhD, LCSW, LP, CGP, AGPA-DF, have helped bring group to life on screen.

The latest issue of the Group Circle features a fascinating conversation with all three about what it's like to have group on camera — and what they hope audiences take away.

📖 Read the full interview in this spring's edition of Group Circle: https://bit.ly/4dDpBe1

05/26/2026

An Experiential Approach to Working with Addicted Populations

This webinar will explore experiential approaches to group psychotherapy with addicted populations, using excerpts from online training groups to demonstrate interventions such as working with resistance, initiating role-plays, and fostering mutual support among members.

Ready to deepen your understanding of addiction and recovery in group settings? Join Barney Straus, MSW, MA, CGP, AGPA-F, and Jeffrey Roth, MD, CGP, AGPA-F, on Saturday, June 6, from 2:00–4:30 p.m. ET!

Register today: https://bit.ly/4nU9lci

05/21/2026

This past March, AGPA welcomed a new chapter in its leadership, and we couldn't be more excited about the team guiding us forward.

At AGPA Connect 2026, we installed a new Board of Directors that brings a breadth of experience reflecting the full spectrum of group psychotherapy today. Swipe through our carousel to meet the incredible people stepping into these roles.

We're so proud of this team and grateful for their commitment to advancing the field of group psychotherapy.

Here's to the journey ahead! 💜

05/15/2026

Happy Mental Health Awareness Month! 💜

Did you know that healing alongside others can be one of the most powerful things you do for your mental health? Swipe through to learn about group psychotherapy — and visit agpa.org to find resources, locate a therapist, and take the next step.

05/12/2026

What do you do when a group member keeps pulling away?

The latest "Consultation, Please" column features two expert perspectives on exactly this: a man who withdraws when he feels excluded, and a facilitator trying to reach him without pushing him further out.

This column dives into attachment theory, group-as-a-whole interventions, and some genuinely provocative clinical moves. It's a rich read for anyone who works with groups.

📖 Read the full column in this spring's edition of Group Circle: https://bit.ly/4dDpBe1

Have a clinical dilemma you'd like expert eyes on? Comment "How" to learn more about being featured in a future issue!

05/05/2026

Grab your tickets! "GROUP - The Schopenhauer Effect" is coming to Los Angeles! 🎉

After a successful multi-week run at NYC's Quad Cinema, "GROUP - The Schopenhauer Effect" — starring AGPA's own Distinguished Fellow Dr. Elliot Zeisel — is heading to Los Angeles for an exclusive one-week engagement from May 8-14!

Weekend screenings will be followed by Q&As with the filmmakers, offering a rare chance to go deeper into the story, the therapy, and the craft behind it. If you're passionate about group psychotherapy, this is a moment you won't want to miss.

📍 Laemmle Monica Film Center | 1332 2nd Street, Santa Monica

Tickets and showtimes here: https://bit.ly/3R2y4P8

04/30/2026

What happens when a group therapist, after years of guiding others through pain and transformation, faces a crisis of his own?

In this episode of "Psych Up Live," AGPA member and Fellow Dr. Suzanne Phillips sits down with AGPA member and Distinguished Fellow Dr. Elliot Zeisel, who plays himself in Alexis Lloyd’s award-winning film “GROUP - The Schopenhauer Effect." Together, they explore the film and the group therapy behind it.

Inspired by Dr. Irwin Yalom's "The Schopenhauer Cure", this is a story about what happens when a group must confront a crisis in their leader's life — and what that reveals about the power of the group itself. It's a meaningful moment for anyone curious or passionate about the future of group psychotherapy.

🎙️ Listen to the full conversation:

In this show, Host Dr. Suzanne Phillips welcomes Dr. Elliott Zeisel, Psychoanalyst and Group Therapist whose award-winning televised series of an ongoing therapy group inspired Alexis Lloyd’s award-winning film, ‘Group: The Schopenhauer Effect,’ just being released and starting to be in theate...

04/09/2026

How to Engage with the Climate Polycrisis in Group

This webinar will explain the fundamentals of the climate polycrisis and explore how to engage with it in group, highlighting the healing potential of human connection and studying the impacts of countertransference resistance.

Ready to truly explore the healing potential of connection? Join Anna Graybeal, PhD, CGP, on Sunday, April 19, from 4:00-6:30 p.m. ET!

Sign up today: https://bit.ly/3PZ3p4R

03/26/2026

April's Online Institute Is Now Open for Registration 📢

In the wake of racism, homophobia, r**e, Xenophobia, violence, and war, the self can become ‎chronically disavowed, suddenly assaulted, and seemingly lost. In this Institute, participants will ‎experience group as a dwelling place to find and reclaim self.

Join Suzanne B. Phillips, PsyD, CGP, ABPP, AGPA-DF on Tuesdays, April 7, 14, 21, and 28 for this timely group training!

Sign up today: https://bit.ly/4bNUbj4