Healing Trauma in Group Settings

Stephanie Wise, ATR-BC, ATCS, LCAT, is an associate professor of practice and director of the Art Therapy Program at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Emily Nash, LCAT, is a graduate and senior clinical affiliate of the Integrative Trauma Studies Program at The National Institute of Psychotherapies, where she co-conceived and co-implements their Trauma Group Therapy Program.

"A comprehensive book that covers much more than the challenges of co-leadership! Filled with useful ideas for group therapy approaches for traumatized individuals, it focuses on the 'prerequisite' for any co-led therapeutic group: the relationship between the two leaders. A must-read for therapists beginning group work with traumatized populations." — Janina Fisher, PhD, author of Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors and co-author (with Pat Ogden) of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Interventions for Trauma and Attachment"By interweaving relational healing, neurobiological underpinnings, clinical illustrations, and guidelines for practice, the authors present a deep understanding of the transformational journeys of clients through the art of co-leader attunement. I highly recommend this timely book for practitioners who work with traumatized people in group settings." — Robert Landy, PhD, LCAT, RDT, professor emeritus, New York University"In this book there is much to be learned about working in an attuned manner as co-leaders while, at the same time, remaining attuned to both the needs of individual group members and the group as a whole. It is masterfully conceived and orchestrated and should be read by all who wish to deepen their understanding of co-leadership in groups with trauma survivors. This book is a splendid achievement." — Judith L. Alpert, PhD, professor of applied psychology and former co-chair of Trauma and Violence Transdisciplinary Studies Program at New York University"What a gift! Stephanie Wise and Emily Nash have written a much-needed book about the power of co-therapy with groups, using their respective modalities of art and drama. In pragmatic yet often poetic prose, they articulate both the potentials and the pitfalls of this intimate, demanding collaboration. Their vivid clinical examples illustrate the importance of mutual respect, of a constant striving for attunement, and of rigorously honest and continual joint reflection. There is no question in my mind, after 50 years of conducting groups with a trusted drama therapy colleague, that the benefits for both the therapists and the group are beyond measure." — Judith A. Rubin, PhD, ATR-BC, HLM, author of The Art of Art Therapy, Artful Therapy, and Introduction to Art Therapy; past president and honorary life member of the American Art Therapy Association; president of Expressive Media, Inc.

• Part I. 1. The Role of Co-Leader Attunement in Service to Healing 2. Attuned Therapeutic Presence and Relationship 3. Preparation of the Attuned Therapists 4. Neurobiological Mechanisms Underlying Co-Leadership Part II. 5. Co-Creating Healing Dramas 6. Co-Leading Trauma Groups Across Disciplines 7. Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts: The Value of Co-Led Trauma Group Psychotherapy 8. Within the Circle: Guidance and Attunement Within the Supervisor/Supervisee Relationship 9. Co-Leadership as Stimulus for Surrogate Parenting Within a Healing Community 10. Attunement Within the Supersized Group 11. Attunement Vignettes