Institute: Transcending Divides: A Collective Path Forward

AGPS Institute

Transcending Divides:  A Collective Path Forward

Facilitated by: 

 Kristen Wicke, MA, LPC, CGP

We all have topics we tend to avoid—conversations that feel taboo, emotionally charged, or likely to lead to conflict. In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic, increased reliance on electronic platforms, and growing polarization in American society have only deepened patterns of isolation and avoidance. Group therapy offers a powerful counterpoint: a living, relational space where what feels difficult to say can slowly become speakable.

In this institute, participants will experience how Modern Group Analysis helps people stay engaged when emotions rise. Rather than pushing for resolution or agreement, group leaders learn to slow the process, invite reflection, and support members in becoming curious about their inner experience. Attention is given not only to what is said, but also to what is felt, thought, or held back. Participants are encouraged to speak—or not speak—at their own pace, honoring choice as a foundation for safety and trust.

As the group unfolds, members explore the subtle obstacles that make it hard to remain connected when differences emerge. Through this shared inquiry, the group becomes a place where understanding, tolerance, and genuine closeness can grow—even in the presence of opposing views.

This institute offers an intensive experiential group therapy process designed to demonstrate how Modern Group Analysis builds a culture over time where differences can be expressed, held, and explored. Through self-reflection and engagement with fellow participants, you will be invited to notice your own relational patterns and the personal barriers that may limit risk-taking in your relationships. Core concepts include the group alliance, modeling an unhurried pace, cultivating curiosity, emotional insulation, and learning through mistakes.

This is an opportunity to deepen your capacity to stay present, connected, and human—especially when it matters most.

About the Presenter:

Kristen Wicke, MA, LPC, CGP, is a Certified Group Psychotherapist who has provided individual, couples, and group therapy in private practice since 2017. Her dedication to group therapy is deeply rooted in her own transformative experiences as a group participant, where she witnesses firsthand its power to improve self-awareness, emotional growth, and relational skills.

Kristen earned her Master of Arts in Professional Counseling from Texas State University and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She pursues ongoing professional development through the Center for Group Studies, the American Group Psychotherapy Association, and the Austin Group Psychotherapy Society, where she currently serves on the Board Nominating Committee.

A longtime Austin resident of over 30 years, Kristen is deeply committed to community engagement and civic connection. Beginning in 2025, she began collaborating with neighbors to build meaningful dialogue and connection around shared values of honesty, integrity, human rights, and democratic participation across political differences. Her recent areas of focus include voting rights, immigrant advocacy, healthcare accessibility, and addressing food insecurity.

What Are Group Institutes?

Institutes are a highly experiential form of small group teaching led by experienced instructors. They are intended to develop therapy skills relevant to leading groups. They often offer a chance to explore a particular theme in greater depth or to experience a different theoretical approach. Institutes are primarily designed for mental health professionals who have clinical psychotherapy experience. While institutes are not therapy, they are process-oriented and it is expected that they may stir feelings spanning the whole range of human experience. Members agree to attend the entire group, to participate actively, and to respect the confidentiality of the other members. The secure environment of these small groups allows for rich cognitive and deep emotional learning about group process and oneself, not to mention a chance for personal and professional renewal.

Objectives:

 Attendees will be able to:

1. Apply a Group Agreement to establish clear expectations, boundaries, and shared responsibility among group members.

2. Recognize and identify forms of resistance to experiencing and expressing thoughts and feelings in the present moment.

3. Describe and implement bridging interventions to foster emotional connection and cohesion within the group.

4. Engage intentionally in the group process to practice remaining present in challenging conversations, including tolerating discomfort and learning from mistakes.

Event Schedule:

(including lunch and breaks, as needed) 

Friday, April 3, 2026

1:00pm - 1:45pm    Introductions and discussion of Modern Group Analysis techniques

Break

2:00pm - 3:30pm    Process group

Break

3:45pm - 5:15pm    Process group

5:15pm - 5:30pm    Reflection

Saturday, April 4, 2026

9:00am - 10:30am   Process group

Break

10:45am - 12:15pm Process group

Lunch break

1:30pm - 3:00pm    Process group

Break

3:15pm - 3:45pm    Reflection and questions

3:45pm - 4:00pm    Survey

Location given at registration. The location is wheelchair accessible.

9.25 CEUs available for social workers, LPCs, LMFTs, and psychologists.