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_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
d a n m e t e v i e r, p s y.d.
c l i n i c a l p s y c h o l o g i s t
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
| ph: 916.410.9140 ■ 1899 east roseville parkway, suite 100, roseville, california 95661 ■ fax: 916.313.0902 site map ■ privacy policy ■ disclaimer ■ ca license psy19748 ■ copyright 2010 daniel j. metevier |
When you want to feel better about your self, your life, and your relationships
Personal Group Psychotherapy for Therapist Interns and Students
Frequently Asked Questions
What, specifically, is being offered?
A small group environment (no more than seven or eight members), oriented toward
persons training to become therapists. This group will meet weekly for 90 minutes for the
purpose of helping each member address any personal issues that might get in the way of
the member’s progress toward their personal and/or professional goals.
Is this a supervision group?
No, this is a therapeutic group. There is no intention for this group to provide direct
assistance with case consultation or professional issues. However, any member may seek
help from the group in addressing personal issues that come up for that member in a
professional setting. This might include issues that activate so-called “counter-
transference” while providing therapy to a client (e.g., a member’s own experience with
abuse, grief, depression, etc.) or that relate to the therapist training process (frustrations,
performance anxiety, overwhelm, etc.). In some cases, I may refer the member back to the
appropriate supervisor, teacher, etc., to follow up on issues that might be better handled
in those settings.
How much does the group cost?
The fee is $25 per 90-minute session. This is payable by cash or check. Visa or
MasterCard may also be used to pay for two or more sessions at a time. I will expect
payment at the time of the session, unless we make other arrangements beforehand.
If my graduate school program or licensing process requires or accepts therapy
hours, will this count?
Yes, you may use this experience as a low-cost, practical way of fulfilling your program’s
requirements. I will happily provide whatever evidence or fill out any documents you need
for this.
What theoretical orientation will you use within the group?
There will be a strong emphasis on freedom within the group, so I will not impose any
particular theoretical orientation on group members. I intend to facilitate this group using
broadly-defined “person-centered” concepts where the members and I will attempt to
maintain therapeutic “attitudes” (congruence/authenticity, unconditional positive
regard/acceptance, and empathic understanding) and will feel free to make the group
their own in a democratic manner. Beyond this, I will not enforce or impose any specific
orientation or methods (e.g., Gestalt, Cognitive-Behavioral, Psychodynamic, etc.), unless
the group agrees and wants to try this out. I will encourage group members to suggest
orientations or methods of interest to them (e.g., art therapy, psychodrama, etc.) for the
group’s consideration. If the group agrees, members may even facilitate sessions using
these methods.
Will I be put on a “hot seat,” like in a Gestalt group?
Not unless you want this. This group will not be intentionally run like a Gestalt group,
where an expert therapist focuses on one individual at a time. However, if the group would
like and agrees, we can try this approach. More generally, the group can decide the
extent to which members can or will challenge other members.
What is your experience with groups?
I must be upfront and tell you that while I have lots of experience as a group member, I
have a “beginner” status as a group facilitator. I ran a “Shyness Group” during my pre-
doctoral internship and have been a member of several person-centered groups and self-
development groups in the past. Currently, I participate as a member in a leaderless men’
s group and a Gestalt process group (talk about opposite ends of the spectrum!). Please
feel free to talk to me about this if this concerns you.
What will I get out of this group beyond just the hours?
At the very least, you will: gain exposure to a licensed psychologist working in a private
practice environment; experience how it feels on “the other side of the couch;” and make
personal and professional contacts with other members of the group. If you commit to the
group’s process and work at it, you will begin to understand yourself better, become
aware of attitudes you have that might be self-defeating within therapy (and other)
relationships, and learn how to relate to others in ways that would be helpful and could
easily carry over into your work as a therapist. You may work through issues with which
you struggle personally, or at least gain some perspective on how they could be worked
through. I really believe this group will be of great value to persons who intend to do
therapy and, indirectly, to those persons’ clients. I look forward to discussing how this
group might benefit you.
What do I need to do to apply for the group?
Please feel free to contact me with further questions or if you think you have an interest in
this group. A free 30-minute screening interview will be required to determine your
appropriateness for group membership. An earnest commitment to the group will be
expected.
Frequently Asked Questions
What, specifically, is being offered?
A small group environment (no more than seven or eight members), oriented toward
persons training to become therapists. This group will meet weekly for 90 minutes for the
purpose of helping each member address any personal issues that might get in the way of
the member’s progress toward their personal and/or professional goals.
Is this a supervision group?
No, this is a therapeutic group. There is no intention for this group to provide direct
assistance with case consultation or professional issues. However, any member may seek
help from the group in addressing personal issues that come up for that member in a
professional setting. This might include issues that activate so-called “counter-
transference” while providing therapy to a client (e.g., a member’s own experience with
abuse, grief, depression, etc.) or that relate to the therapist training process (frustrations,
performance anxiety, overwhelm, etc.). In some cases, I may refer the member back to the
appropriate supervisor, teacher, etc., to follow up on issues that might be better handled
in those settings.
How much does the group cost?
The fee is $25 per 90-minute session. This is payable by cash or check. Visa or
MasterCard may also be used to pay for two or more sessions at a time. I will expect
payment at the time of the session, unless we make other arrangements beforehand.
If my graduate school program or licensing process requires or accepts therapy
hours, will this count?
Yes, you may use this experience as a low-cost, practical way of fulfilling your program’s
requirements. I will happily provide whatever evidence or fill out any documents you need
for this.
What theoretical orientation will you use within the group?
There will be a strong emphasis on freedom within the group, so I will not impose any
particular theoretical orientation on group members. I intend to facilitate this group using
broadly-defined “person-centered” concepts where the members and I will attempt to
maintain therapeutic “attitudes” (congruence/authenticity, unconditional positive
regard/acceptance, and empathic understanding) and will feel free to make the group
their own in a democratic manner. Beyond this, I will not enforce or impose any specific
orientation or methods (e.g., Gestalt, Cognitive-Behavioral, Psychodynamic, etc.), unless
the group agrees and wants to try this out. I will encourage group members to suggest
orientations or methods of interest to them (e.g., art therapy, psychodrama, etc.) for the
group’s consideration. If the group agrees, members may even facilitate sessions using
these methods.
Will I be put on a “hot seat,” like in a Gestalt group?
Not unless you want this. This group will not be intentionally run like a Gestalt group,
where an expert therapist focuses on one individual at a time. However, if the group would
like and agrees, we can try this approach. More generally, the group can decide the
extent to which members can or will challenge other members.
What is your experience with groups?
I must be upfront and tell you that while I have lots of experience as a group member, I
have a “beginner” status as a group facilitator. I ran a “Shyness Group” during my pre-
doctoral internship and have been a member of several person-centered groups and self-
development groups in the past. Currently, I participate as a member in a leaderless men’
s group and a Gestalt process group (talk about opposite ends of the spectrum!). Please
feel free to talk to me about this if this concerns you.
What will I get out of this group beyond just the hours?
At the very least, you will: gain exposure to a licensed psychologist working in a private
practice environment; experience how it feels on “the other side of the couch;” and make
personal and professional contacts with other members of the group. If you commit to the
group’s process and work at it, you will begin to understand yourself better, become
aware of attitudes you have that might be self-defeating within therapy (and other)
relationships, and learn how to relate to others in ways that would be helpful and could
easily carry over into your work as a therapist. You may work through issues with which
you struggle personally, or at least gain some perspective on how they could be worked
through. I really believe this group will be of great value to persons who intend to do
therapy and, indirectly, to those persons’ clients. I look forward to discussing how this
group might benefit you.
What do I need to do to apply for the group?
Please feel free to contact me with further questions or if you think you have an interest in
this group. A free 30-minute screening interview will be required to determine your
appropriateness for group membership. An earnest commitment to the group will be
expected.