Re: Weekly Support Group for CATs Forming

[Guest guest]

I agree! Professional supervision is one thing, a nontherapeutic support group is another. I would be interested in the group if there were no charge because I don't need supervision; I need community.

Shoshana

May I ask why the $30 charge? If you truly want a support group there is no need to charge that amount in my mind unless we are paying for someone to teach something or for materials. I feel that many people can't pay the prices for the support they really need. Laurie>Reply-To: NYCCAT >To: NYCCAT >Subject: Weekly Support Group for CATs Forming>Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 00:23:49 EST>>Hello Everyone,>> I am forming a weekly support group on Monday evenings (6:30-8PM) for>creative arts therapists. This is open to all practicing CATs seeking to >develop a>professional network & working affiliation with other CATs. Group >membership>will be kept limited & requires members to have an ongoing commitment to >the>group. An announcement & description of the group is enclosed within this>e-mail. Perspective group members need to have a low fee individual >consultation>prior to joining. Anyone interested in the group can contact me at> or at gmharamtbc@... to gain further information or >arrange the>consultation.>Thank you for this attention.> Hara, MA, MA, CGP, MT-BC, CAT>_________________________________________________________________________>WEEKLY SUPPORT GROUP FOR> CREATIVE ARTS THERAPISTS> MONDAY EVENINGS 6:30-8:00 PM>> Creative arts therapists face many professional challenges as health>providers.>This support group, exclusively for creative arts therapists, is to provide>support and>assist group members with their professional goals.>> This group provides the opportunity to share and problem solve>professional issues such as one’s professional identity at the work >place, dealing with>other professionals, work stressors, and being able to improve one’s >clinical>practice. Group members can also further enhance their clinical work from >the>sharing and dialogue with other creative arts therapy clinicians. *>> The group provides the opportunity to establish a strong supportive>professional network that can provide strength to one’s identity as a >creative arts>therapist.>> Hara, MA, MA, CGP, MT-BC. LCAT will facilitate this support group.> has over twenty-five years of experience working in various >psychiatric>inpatient and outpatient treatment settings. He has closely worked with and >co-led>clinical sessions with other creative arts therapists. He has several years>of supervisory experience working with professional creative arts therapies>staff and students. He is a board certified music therapist, certified >group>psychotherapist, and licensed creative arts therapist.>>All support group meetings will be held at the Frisch-Hara Music Therapy>Studio located on 84th Street & 3rd Avenue. Office is easily accessible by >public>transportation or car.>>Open to all creative arts therapists. Group size will be kept limited to>allow all participants the fullest possible experience and benefit.>Membership will close upon reaching the maximum group size.>Fee: $30 per session>>*This group is not intended to provide clinical supervision in one’s >creative>arts therapy modality or personal therapy.>>A low fee personal consultation is required before joining this group.>>For further information & to join: Call >Or e-mail: gmharamtbc@...>>

[Guest guest]

Although I may clearly be biased, I wonder why our community of professionals is often so disenfranchised that they cannot support their professional needs.

A support group does not equal a peer group and can be as helpful and necessary as a supervision group.

And having an experienced facilitator in a fully equipped studio is invaluable.

Clearly it is every professional's choice to undergo their own psychotherapy, supervision and/or CAT support group. And, like making those choices, what something is "worth" is a highly personal experience.

Best, Frisch Hara, MA, MT-BC, LCAT

[Guest guest]

Although I may clearly be biased, I wonder why our community of professionals is often so disenfranchised that they cannot support their professional needs.A support group does not equal a peer group and can be as helpful and necessary as a supervision group.And having an experienced facilitator in a fully equipped studio is invaluable.Clearly it is every professional's choice to undergo their own psychotherapy, supervision and/or CAT support group. And, like making those choices, what something is "worth" is a highly personal experience.Best, Frisch Hara, MA, MT-BC, LCAT

I'd be satisfied with simply getting together and jamming for fun. Music therapists need to make time for their own music. So, if anyone is wanting and willing, let me know and join in. I live 1/2 block from the ocean in Brooklyn which is a beautiful place, esp. in the spring and summer.

Shoshana

[Guest guest]

Hello Laurie,

My support group is not a peer support group and the charge is for my professional service as the group facilitator. In that role, I will be actively facilitating the group to maintain focus on professional issues and/or clinical questions that the group members themselves would like to work on. I can also present educational literature on topics of interest and provide information based upon my extensive experience in co-leading mutli-modality creative arts therapy groups, group therapy, psychiatry,

health care systems, & government affairs affecting CATs (I was formerly on NYCCAT,former AAMT President, & current CAT department head dealing with OMH).

I hope that people in the group would gain learning in clinical & professional matters as well as get a sense of emotional support.

Of course, people can come together as a peer group on their own for mutual support & sharing.

My experience with peer groups is that they can lose their focus & be fragile in their cohesion. This group is intended to be more focused & structured than a leaderless group format while requiring an ongoing commitment (attendance & participation) to the group.

It is not intended to be for everybody but for those who want more a professional connection and learning with other CATs.

You are urged to be involved with NYCCAT and other CAT professional organizations to gain an affiliation with other CATs especially by attending their sponsored events. There is great value in meeting other CATs in person in any format you feel most comfortable with. However, that is your personal choice and initiative to make.

Regards,

Hara,MA,MA, CGP,MT-BC, LCAT

[Guest guest]

May I ask why the $30 charge? If you truly want a support group there is no

need to charge that amount in my mind unless we are paying for someone to

teach something or for materials. I feel that many people can't pay the

prices for the support they really need. Laurie

>From: GMHaraMTBC@...

>Reply-To: NYCCAT

>To: NYCCAT

>Subject: Weekly Support Group for CATs Forming

>Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 00:23:49 EST

>

>Hello Everyone,

>

> I am forming a weekly support group on Monday evenings (6:30-8PM) for

>creative arts therapists. This is open to all practicing CATs seeking to

>develop a

>professional network & working affiliation with other CATs. Group

>membership

>will be kept limited & requires members to have an ongoing commitment to

>the

>group. An announcement & description of the group is enclosed within this

>e-mail. Perspective group members need to have a low fee individual

>consultation

>prior to joining. Anyone interested in the group can contact me at

> or at gmharamtbc@... to gain further information or

>arrange the

>consultation.

>Thank you for this attention.

> Hara, MA, MA, CGP, MT-BC, CAT

>_________________________________________________________________________

>WEEKLY SUPPORT GROUP FOR

> CREATIVE ARTS THERAPISTS

> MONDAY EVENINGS 6:30-8:00 PM

>

> Creative arts therapists face many professional challenges as health

>providers.

>This support group, exclusively for creative arts therapists, is to provide

>support and

>assist group members with their professional goals.

>

> This group provides the opportunity to share and problem solve

>professional issues such as one’s professional identity at the work

>place, dealing with

>other professionals, work stressors, and being able to improve one’s

>clinical

>practice. Group members can also further enhance their clinical work from

>the

>sharing and dialogue with other creative arts therapy clinicians. *

>

> The group provides the opportunity to establish a strong supportive

>professional network that can provide strength to one’s identity as a

>creative arts

>therapist.

>

> Hara, MA, MA, CGP, MT-BC. LCAT will facilitate this support group.

> has over twenty-five years of experience working in various

>psychiatric

>inpatient and outpatient treatment settings. He has closely worked with and

>co-led

>clinical sessions with other creative arts therapists. He has several years

>of supervisory experience working with professional creative arts therapies

>staff and students. He is a board certified music therapist, certified

>group

>psychotherapist, and licensed creative arts therapist.

>

>All support group meetings will be held at the Frisch-Hara Music Therapy

>Studio located on 84th Street & 3rd Avenue. Office is easily accessible by

>public

>transportation or car.

>

>Open to all creative arts therapists. Group size will be kept limited to

>allow all participants the fullest possible experience and benefit.

>Membership will close upon reaching the maximum group size.

>Fee: $30 per session

>

>*This group is not intended to provide clinical supervision in one’s

>creative

>arts therapy modality or personal therapy.

>

>A low fee personal consultation is required before joining this group.

>

>For further information & to join: Call

>Or e-mail: gmharamtbc@...

>

>

[Guest guest]

, you may be biased, but I am not (at least not when it comes to ). : )

I think you make an extremely valuable point.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank for making a group like this available to the community.

I think it's important we take ourselves seriously and expect the same from others, including those in our very own field. Charging appropriate fees for the work, skill, and time we give is mandatory.

As for peer support...why not? That's great too, but it's a different thing. I encourage folks who are looking for that to make it happen too.

Take Care,

Laurice , MA, RDT

Re: Weekly Support Group for CATs Forming

Although I may clearly be biased, I wonder why our community of professionals is often so disenfranchised that they cannot support their professional needs.A support group does not equal a peer group and can be as helpful and necessary as a supervision group.And having an experienced facilitator in a fully equipped studio is invaluable.Clearly it is every professional's choice to undergo their own psychotherapy, supervision and/or CAT support group. And, like making those choices, what something is "worth" is a highly personal experience.Best, Frisch Hara, MA, MT-BC, LCAT

[Guest guest]

I agree with Laurice. We all have to make a living for God's sake! If you don't want to join a group that is your choice but please don't put someone else's professional skills, time and energy down by trying to negotiate an already very low fee for service. I am a business owner and I can tell you people try to get something for nothing all the time. If I mark something up 50% to make a living I am told the item is too expensive. I have had folks try to get wholesale prices from me. This is rude at best!

Barbara Ann Levy

Barbaraannlevy@...

[Guest guest]

I agree with Laurice. We all have to make a living for God's sake! If you don't want to join a group that is your choice but please don't put someone else's professional skills, time and energy down by trying to negotiate an already very low fee for service. I am a business owner and I can tell you people try to get something for nothing all the time. If I mark something up 50% to make a living I am told the item is too expensive. I have had folks try to get wholesale prices from me. This is rude at best!

As a professional, I agree with you, Barbara. However, the way that I interepreted the posting about the group was that the facilitator wanted to charge a fee for a peer group which is what I objected to. The intentions of the group were stated clearly, but it was not clear to me that the group was of a therapeutic nature rather than a get together. Maybe just something to take note of.

Shoshana

[Guest guest]



I think language and definitions are the problem here rather than being about devaluing ourselves or the facilitator. Many people think of a support group as an informal or formal meeting among peers, usually without a leader, to talk and discuss a common issue. Self help groups and professional peer group gatherings are two examples of this. They are usually free or by donation and by their very nature do not have someone in the role of the 'expert". many do not even have a facilitator.

What is offering is a professionally led group for people who want to look at issues around the role of creative art therapist. One might label it a vocational group.. I suspect that labeling it a "support" group made people assume it was one of the former, and only by the end of the email was it clear that it was a group led by a professional, with much expertise. I have run such groups in the past and they have been very valuable for the people involved. In any case, it certainly serves an important purpose andmany will find it well worth the minimal fee.

There are many ways to create support groups that meet different needs. Up here in New Paltz we have a chapter of the American Society for Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama. We put on once a month open sessions that are open to anyone interested in psychodrama. It certainly has created sense of community (and the cost is only $6, to cover the space rental). For years I was part of a six person psychodramatist support group in which we took turns directing one another. But mostly we just talked, and it turned into a very important support group that met every six to eight weeks for about ten years.

Walters, MS TEP LCAT (couldn't resist putting my 'letters' in so I could see my new LCAT in print!)

Weekly Support Group for CATs Forming>Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 00:23:49 EST>>Hello Everyone,>> I am forming a weekly support group on Monday evenings (6:30-8PM) for>creative arts therapists. This is open to all practicing CATs seeking to >develop a>professional network & working affiliation with other CATs. Group >membership>will be kept limited & requires members to have an ongoing commitment to >the>group. An announcement & description of the group is enclosed within this>e-mail. Perspective group members need to have a low fee individual >consultation>prior to joining. Anyone interested in the group can contact me at> or at gmharamtbc@... to gain further information or >arrange the>consultation.>Thank you for this attention.> Hara, MA, MA, CGP, MT-BC, CAT>_________________________________________________________________________>WEEKLY SUPPORT GROUP FOR> CREATIVE ARTS THERAPISTS> MONDAY EVENINGS 6:30-8:00 PM>> Creative arts therapists face many professional challenges as health>providers.>This support group, exclusively for creative arts therapists, is to provide>support and>assist group members with their professional goals.>> This group provides the opportunity to share and problem solve>professional issues such as one’s professional identity at the work >place, dealing with>other professionals, work stressors, and being able to improve one’s >clinical>practice. Group members can also further enhance their clinical work from >the>sharing and dialogue with other creative arts therapy clinicians. *>> The group provides the opportunity to establish a strong supportive>professional network that can provide strength to one’s identity as a >creative arts>therapist.>> Hara, MA, MA, CGP, MT-BC. LCAT will facilitate this support group.> has over twenty-five years of experience working in various >psychiatric>inpatient and outpatient treatment settings. He has closely worked with and >co-led>clinical sessions with other creative arts therapists. He has several years>of supervisory experience working with professional creative arts therapies>staff and students. He is a board certified music therapist, certified >group>psychotherapist, and licensed creative arts therapist.>>All support group meetings will be held at the Frisch-Hara Music Therapy>Studio located on 84th Street & 3rd Avenue. Office is easily accessible by >public>transportation or car.>>Open to all creative arts therapists. Group size will be kept limited to>allow all participants the fullest possible experience and benefit.>Membership will close upon reaching the maximum group size.>Fee: $30 per session>>*This group is not intended to provide clinical supervision in one’s >creative>arts therapy modality or personal therapy.>>A low fee personal consultation is required before joining this group.>>For further information & to join: Call >Or e-mail: gmharamtbc@...>>

[Guest guest]

I am reading the mail and wanted to respond even though I am not in your direct network.

Here's a distinction as I see it: Often support groups are located in "public places" like churches so one individual does not have to be responsible for opening up the store, so to speak, and being there to lock up. A peer support group in a business space would have a fee because one person is providing the space and paying the costs that go with that space. In many cases, that person also makes a committment to being there, opening up, locking up, and facilitating intergroup communication. It is a generous offer.

IF you would like, you can create a peer supervision group (model developed by my partner, Benshoff), wherein you can give each other support by addressing key issues of professional practice such as professional development issues, skills development, case conceptualization, or personal awareness. usually peer supervision groups are perceived as very supportive. This type of supervision also qualifies foe continuing education credits for most professions.

Armeniox

Re: Weekly Support Group for CATs Forming

Although I may clearly be biased, I wonder why our community of professionals is often so disenfranchised that they cannot support their professional needs.A support group does not equal a peer group and can be as helpful and necessary as a supervision group.And having an experienced facilitator in a fully equipped studio is invaluable.Clearly it is every professional's choice to undergo their own psychotherapy, supervision and/or CAT support group. And, like making those choices, what something is "worth" is a highly personal experience.Best, Frisch Hara, MA, MT-BC, LCAT

[Guest guest]

I think it's an interesting idea to have this type, or any other type

of group to " brainstorm " ideas and gain some guidance. Maybe for this

specific group there could be arrangements made for CEUs be factored

in due to the fee request.

Not sure if this will work or not, but I am glad to see an effort for

us to connect.

Walters LCAT-ATR

BTW, are CEUs required to keep our LCAT license?

[Guest guest]

So, when are we getting together just for fun, jamming, and schmoozing? I live near the ocean in Brooklyn which is a beautiful and healing location, esp. in the warmer weather.I'm available usually on Sat. night, some Sundays, and Mondays.

Shoshana

n a message dated 1/27/2006 12:31:28 PM Eastern Standard Time, larnold659@... writes:

I agree with Shoshana--the intentions need to be clear if it's a peer group get together (which is so needed!) or a lead group that the leader facilitates and teaches with materials etc. I feel there is a big need for creative therapists to come together and teach each other without the paid element involved. Leadership could be minimal and rotate. Personally I want to experience my peers without the need to pay a facitator and many of us are good at group work who are in this field anyway.Laurie>Reply-To: NYCCAT >To: NYCCAT >Subject: Re: Weekly Support Group for CATs Forming>Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2006 11:52:17 EST>>>I agree with Laurice. We all have to make a living for God's sake! If you>don't want to join a group that is your choice but please don't put someone>else's professional skills, time and energy down by trying to negotiate an >already>very low fee for service. I am a business owner and I can tell you people >try>to get something for nothing all the time. If I mark something up 50% to >make>a living I am told the item is too expensive. I have had folks try to get>wholesale prices from me. This is rude at best!>As a professional, I agree with you, Barbara. However, the way that I>interepreted the posting about the group was that the facilitator wanted to >charge a>fee for a peer group which is what I objected to. The intentions of the >group>were stated clearly, but it was not clear to me that the group was of a>therapeutic nature rather than a get together. Maybe just something to take >note of.>Shoshana

[Guest guest]

I agree with Shoshana--the intentions need to be clear if it's a peer group

get together (which is so needed!) or a lead group that the leader

facilitates and teaches with materials etc. I feel there is a big need for

creative therapists to come together and teach each other without the paid

element involved. Leadership could be minimal and rotate. Personally I want

to experience my peers without the need to pay a facitator and many of us

are good at group work who are in this field anyway.

Laurie

>From: Healgnotes@...

>Reply-To: NYCCAT

>To: NYCCAT

>Subject: Re: Weekly Support Group for CATs Forming

>Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2006 11:52:17 EST

>

>In a message dated 1/26/2006 6:44:36 AM Eastern Standard Time,

>Barbaraannlevy@... writes:

>I agree with Laurice. We all have to make a living for God's sake! If you

>don't want to join a group that is your choice but please don't put someone

>else's professional skills, time and energy down by trying to negotiate an

>already

>very low fee for service. I am a business owner and I can tell you people

>try

>to get something for nothing all the time. If I mark something up 50% to

>make

>a living I am told the item is too expensive. I have had folks try to get

>wholesale prices from me. This is rude at best!

>As a professional, I agree with you, Barbara. However, the way that I

>interepreted the posting about the group was that the facilitator wanted to

>charge a

>fee for a peer group which is what I objected to. The intentions of the

>group

>were stated clearly, but it was not clear to me that the group was of a

>therapeutic nature rather than a get together. Maybe just something to take

>note of.

>Shoshana

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

Continuing education credit can often obtained for attending my group with necessary documentation (hours, content covered). This sort of documentation is accepted by the CBMT in the music therapy field( I am also in the process of applying as a CBMT CE provider). I would be happy to do the necessary documentation without further charge, for attendees interested in gaining CEU credit.

In regards to your question, NYS does not formally require LCATs to have CEUs to maintain the license.

However, it does expect LCATs to maintain their CAT credentials as current when renewing the license. This requires CEU's in most CAT disciplines.

Regards,

Hara,CGP,MT-BC,LCAT

Re: Weekly Support Group for CATs Forming

I think it's an interesting idea to have this type, or any other type of group to "brainstorm" ideas and gain some guidance. Maybe for this specific group there could be arrangements made for CEUs be factored in due to the fee request.

Not sure if this will work or not, but I am glad to see an effort for us to connect. Walters LCAT-ATR

BTW, are CEUs required to keep our LCAT license?