Supervision & Professional Development Groups

The Value of a Group 

According to C. Gratton Kemp, author of Small Groups and Self-Renewal (1971) group process enhances the potential for change in the perceptions and self-concepts of the members (p. viii). Contextualizing group process, David L. Williamson, author of Group Power (1982), describes how small groups facilitate healing and growth, new life, and new discoveries that can be experienced in relation to others. He adds, we learn in part by observing and mimicking, by trying on a role, and by experience as we become aware of the way others respond, not only to us, but to each other. Systems trained clinicians are especially adept at facilitating groups. 

Advanced Clinical Supervision: Mastering the AGI Framework for Transformative Therapy

This supervision group experience, available for LPCCs and MFTCs, is a unique opportunity to gain advanced clinical insights and growth.  

This group will focus on the knowledge, reasoning, and logic underlying the Assessment, Goal, and Intervention (AGI) sequential practice framework to progressively move clients toward the goldmine of psychotherapy - the post-goal development action phase.

During our six-week experience, we will focus on:

 

  1. Setting the stage for sustained client engagement in treatment.

  2. Establishing distinctions for our clinical role and therapeutic practice.

  3. Conceptualizing the scaffolding of sequential practice.

  4. Engaging a process-focused therapeutic assessment for systemic impact.

  5. Narrowing the gap between client story, action, and experience.

  6. Identifying a single transformative outcome during the goal development phase of psychotherapy.

  7. Anchoring the transformative goal to ethics, integrity, values, virtue, and purpose for characterological impact.

  8. Exploring the dilemma of change to minimize impediments to action. Implement interventions to expand client homeostasis and facilitate the sustainment of client action.

 

The AGI framework can guide scaffolding and conceptualizing the clinical efforts for most psychological/systemic theories. 

Participants will gain functional insights to guide clients from hope to action.

Schedule a new client to start soon after the first day of our group meetings.

 

Start Date and time:

Wednesdays:   April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, and May 7, 4-5:30 PM (MST)

Investment: $50 per meeting, per person

Worth 9 hours of group supervision toward licensure.

Here is a partial list of the bibliography underlying our work:

 

Barka, J.B. (1983). Procrastination: why you do it and what to do about it. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company.

Bion, W. (1965). Transformations (1st ed.). Basic Books.

Bloch, S., & Crouch, E. (1985). Therapeutic factors in group psychotherapy. Oxford Press.

Chaleff, I. (2009). The courageous follower; standing up to and for our leaders (3rd ed.). Berrett-Koehler Publishers, inc.

Gilligan, S., & Price, R. (Eds.). (1983). Therapeutic conversations (1st ed.). W.W. Norton & Company.

Glasser, W. (1965). Reality therapy. Harper & Row.

Glasser, W. (1985). Control theory: a new explanation of how we control our lives. Harper & Row Publishers, New York.

Glasser, W. (1998). Choice Theory: A New Psychology of Personal Freedom: redefining your personal freedom. Harper & Row Publishers, New York. 

Hill, N. (2021). Adversity & advantage: achieving success in the face of challenges. Sterling Ethos.

Johir, Q. (2024, August 1). When you speak like this, God answers [video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DGgU8tpOmA

Johnson, S. (1985). Characterological transformation. W.W. Norton & Company

Mahoney, M.J., (2003). Constructive Psychotherapy. The Guilford Press, New York

Mahoney, M.J., (1991). Human change processes. Basic Books

May, Rollo. (1975). The courage to create. W.W. Norton & Company.

Papp, P. (1987). The process of Change (4th ed.). The Guilford Press.

Ruesch, J. (1961). Therapeutic Communication. W.W. Norton & Company.

Satir, V. (1988). The new people making. Science and Behavior Books, Inc.

Sullivan, B. & Thompson, H. (2013). The plateau effect: getting from stuck to success. Penguin Group, New York, NY.

Watzlawick, P., Weakland, J. H. & Fisch, R. (1974). Change (1st ed.). W.W. Norton & Company.

Watzlawick, P. (1978). The language of change: elements of therapeutic communication. Basic Books, Inc., New York

Williamson, D.L., (1982). Group power. Prentice-Hall, Inc., New Jersey.

Clinician Character Development Group

"The stronger your character, the greater your growth potential."

~ John C. Maxwell, The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth

Partially adapted from the character development work detailed in The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth by John C. Maxwell, this clinician development round table will:

  • Meet each week from 2/4 to 6/10, break for the summer, and resume weekly, 9/9 to 12/9. 
  • Each week, we will discuss a principle, along with its characteristics and benefits.
  • We will evaluate ourselves on where we stand in each area.
  • Commit to taking specific action toward personal and professional growth.  
  • We will hold each other accountable for our commitments and discuss the next principle. 

Our Structure

Here's a structured 32-week breakdown that allows for a logical and impactful journey, ensuring each topic builds upon the previous ones:

Weeks 1–8: Core Foundations

  1. Integrity – The foundation of trust and self-respect.

  2. Values – Shape every decision and action.

  3. Ethics – Define moral responsibility and interactions.

  4. Identity – Influences self-perception and actions.

  5. Courage – Essential for growth, change, and standing by values.

  6. Responsibility – Key to personal power and accountability.

  7. Faith – Whether spiritual or personal belief, it guides resilience.

  8. Purpose – Gives meaning but is often shaped by deeper values.

Weeks 9–14: Psychological and Emotional Drivers

  1. Self-Esteem – Impacts confidence and decision-making.

  2. Love – Drives connection, meaning, and fulfillment.

  3. Emotions – Affect perception and behavior deeply.

  4. Fear – A major driver of action or inaction.

  5. Shame – Can be destructive if unchecked.

  6. Fragility – Determines resilience or vulnerability.

Weeks 15–21: Social and Relational Dynamics

  1. Power – Defines influence and control.

  2. Boundaries – Essential for healthy relationships.

  3. Oppression – Affects both personal and systemic realities.

  4. Conflict – A natural part of growth and relationships.

  5. Criticism – Impacts growth, self-awareness, and improvement.

  6. Morale – Determines group and personal energy levels.

  7. Motivation – Drives action and persistence.

Weeks 22–28: Strategic and Practical Influences

  1. Discernment – Critical for wise decision-making.

  2. Judgment – Influences choices and perspectives.

  3. Congruence – Ensures alignment between beliefs and actions.

  4. Directness – Affects clarity and efficiency in communication.

  5. Confrontation – Necessary for truth and resolution.

  6. Curiosity – Fuels learning and adaptability.

  7. Creativity – Drives innovation and problem-solving.

Weeks 29–32: Situational and Behavioral Factors

  1. Efficiency – Maximizes resources and time.

  2. Patience – Needed for long-term success.

  3. Attitude – Colors all experiences and choices.

  4. Pressure – Can drive excellence or burnout.

       

      Group size: 8 participants

      This experience started February 4th, 2025, Tuesday, 4:00-5:30 pm. 

      Fee: $25 per person, each group meeting

      Please note: ******This particular group is now closed.******

      Please contact me at drhlvargas@proton.me if you have any questions.

      To maximize the gains from this round table experience, participants may optionally align the following readings with our weekly discussion in the following order: 

      This curriculum provides a structured approach to expanding self-awareness and fostering meaningful discussions. Journaling is encouraged to enhance personal growth.

      1. John Gardner's, Excellence: Can We be Equal and Excellent Too?
      2. Jonathan Sack's, Morality
      3. John Stuart Mill's, On Liberty
      4. bell hook's, all about love
      5. Rollo May's, The Courage to Create
      6. John Gardner's, Morale
      7. Stephen Jenkinson's, Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul
      8. Erich Fromm's, Escape from Freedom
      9. Antonio Damasio's, Looking For Spinoza: Joy, Sorrow, and the Feeling Brain
      10. Anthony deMello's, Awareness: The Perils and Opportunities of Reality
      11. Donald L. Nathanson's, Shame and Pride: Affect, Sex, and the Birth of the Self
      12. Charles W. Mill's, The Racial Contract
      13. Rollo May's, Love and Will
      14. Robert Sardello's, The Power of Soul: Living the Twelve Virtues
      15. David Brooks', The road to character
      16. Various works on Discernment, Judgment, Congruence, Directness, Confrontation, Curiosity, and Creativity
      17. Selected authors on Efficiency, Patience, Attitude, and Pressure

       

      Upcoming Groups 

      Proposed for May 2025:

      1. A six-week Theories group with a focus each week on the most prominent aspects of:
        • Bowen Theory
        • Satir's experiential approach
        • Structural
        • Strategic
        • Solution-Focused Therapy
        • Narrative
      2. A six-week group focused on Starting and Leading Groups. Will include:
        • value of small groups for private practice and direct-care clients
        • using trending social data to identify group topics 
        • establishing covenants for use in small groups
        • small group types
        • structuring the group
        • ground rules and guidelines
      3. A continued offer of Advanced Clinical Supervision: Mastering the AGI Framework for Transformative Therapy

      Additional details to follow.

      To register for a group, complete the form below: