AGPS Workshop: Starting a Group - An Internal and External Process

Starting a Group -

An Internal and External Process

led by 

Janet Griffis, MA, LPC, LMFT

&

Monrovia Van Hoose, LCSW-S, CGP

Location:

St. Edward’s University 

3001 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704 

Maloney Room

Please join Janet Griffis and Monrovia Van Hoose for our spring workshop: "Starting a Group -  An Internal and External Process."  Come for the practical handouts, stay for the experiential learning and lively discussion. This event is open to everyone - whether you've never started a group or are a veteran leader with insights to share.

Conventional wisdom holds that launching a group is a hard and lengthy endeavor. But once established, leading groups is exciting, fulfilling, and professionally sustaining. Many therapists want to start groups, but the space between here and there seems too daunting.  The myriad of questions and feelings around groups stops many clinicians from starting one, or can leave new leaders floundering when the first “storm” hits.

Let us help!  

This workshop is aimed at providing community support as well as practical tools to address these challenges. Through didactic and small group discussion, we’ll introduce participants to the internal and external processes necessary for starting a group.

 Whether you are new to group leadership, or a seasoned expert, you are welcome to join us in this space of learning and discussion.  

About the Presenters

Janet Griffis, MA, LPC, LMFT

Janet Griffis, MA, LPC, LMFT is an individual, couples and group therapist. Janet is an active member of the Austin Group Psychotherapy Society and the American Group Psychotherapy Association.  She has recently begun studying with the Center for Group Studies in New York.  Janet enjoys learning about group therapy, participating in group therapy, and mentoring younger therapists in the practice of group therapy.  Her specialties include family of origin attachment wounds, trauma recovery, eating disorders and substance abuse, divorce recovery, blending families, infertility and parenting. Janet sees individuals, couples, families and also runs groups.  

Monrovia Van Hoose, LCSW-S, CGP

Monrovia Van Hoose got her Master’s in Social Work at Columbia University in 2007. She was the Clinical Director of Out Youth from 2008 – 2012. She opened her private practice in 2011 where she provides individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapy.

She became a Certified Group Psychotherapist and a Clinical Supervisor in 2023, and currently runs a training group and a supervision/consultation group.

She served on the Board of AGPS from 2022 to 2024 and has been a student at the Center for Group Studies since 2021.

She has presented and written on gender identity, borderline personality disorder, boundaries, LGBTQI populations, sexuality, dual diagnosis, working with adolescents, anxiety, and OCD. Personal interests include music, exercise, cooking, reading, and watching dumb comedies.

She loves meeting new people, but hates public speaking.

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