It was the Fall of 1992. After completing my MSW at UCLA in 1991, I was working part-time at Sherman Oaks Hospital on their Immune Suppressed Unit (HIV/AIDS), and at the same time I was welcomed into the private practice of Cindy Busto, LCSW and Jody Frank, LCSW (aka West Coast Counseling Center). Little did I know at the time that I would not only work as their associate until my licensure in March of 1995, but I would stay on as an independent contractor until the turn of the century (2000). I don't recommend this training path to everyone, but I wouldn't trade it for the world because I was rather young at the time, and they provided a fantastic clinical laboratory for me to stretch and grow in ways that continue to influence my practice today.

Fast forward a few decades, and I've had the pleasure to give back what I was generously given, and I feel super grateful for the unique opportunity to do just that. Private practice internships can be quite challenging to interns as well as to supervisors at times. It can be a clinically-rich, mutually-satisfying experience, but it takes the right chemistry, the right timing and the right perseverance. Being an intern can sometimes feel like a thankless position so I want to seize the moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of my interns who have been some of my greatest teachers through the years. With that said, I currently have an opening in my practice as follows:

Private Practice Internship Available

Part-time, post-graduate associate/intern position available for BBS-registered MSW associate or MFT intern. Addictions experience required; group and somatic experience preferred. Prefer candidates with fewer than 1500 hours toward licensure. Some referrals available but will need to build practice as well. To apply for this position, email CV to andrew@westsidetherapist.com.

Group Gratitude

I'm proud to call The Group Psychotherapy Association of Los Angeles (www.gpala.org) my professional home. Not only has it been a terrific growth opportunity with outstanding conferences and workshops through the years, but it's also a supportive, loving group of clinicians who come together because of their passion for group. I've also had the good fortune to attend and give workshops at the Annual Meeting of the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) — the national umbrella organization for GPALA. As a result, I get to mingle with group therapists from around the country (and around the world). It's a very full, week-long event that always leaves me fortified and deeply-connected to my desire to be the most effective group leader I can be.

My Co-ed Psychotherapy Group
Seeks Female Members

• Current group composition: 4 men, 1 woman.
• Weekly interpersonal, process group meets Mondays from 6-7:30pm.
• Group has been meeting 5+ years in my West L.A. office.
• Intended for those with individual therapy experience under their belt.
• Concurrent individual and group therapy recommended (not required).

GPALA Events in Review

Group Principles Course. At the end of January I was invited to be on the faculty of the Group Principles Course which is a requirement for those interested in becoming a Certified Group Psychotherapist. Along with Ellie Dunn-Grayer, Nancy Fawcett, Michael Frank and Keith Rand, I was part of the 12-hour course that was held in Venice at Clearview Treatment Programs (Thanks as always to Michael Roy, LCSW for offering his beautiful space). The course was sold out, and according to the evaluations, it was a clinically-valuable experience for everyone in attendance.

Sunday workshop. In March I facilitated a 3-hour Sunday afternoon workshop based on my workbook, Seven Keys to Purposeful Recovery: The Intersection between Positive Psychology and Second-Stage Recovery. Offered as an experiential, psycho-educational workshop, the attendees worked through some of the highlights of my workbook and took home brand-new ways to offer coaching and positive psychology tools to clients in addiction recovery. Feel free to visit my websites to order a copy of my workbook.

Group Psychotherapy
Association of Los Angeles
Annual 2-Day Conference:
Friday May 20 - Saturday May 21

The Power of Shame in Group Psychotherapy
Stewart Aledort, MD, CGP, FAGPA

Dr. Aledort is coming to the West Coast, which is a rare opportunity to see this very seasoned, intuitive and provocative approach to conceptualizing and leading psychotherapy groups. If you're interested in considering a brand-new lens for experiencing group work, this is the conference for you.

If you prefer not to receive future mailings, simply unsubscribe below. I wish you all the best as springtime unfolds.

Warmly,

Andrew

Spring 2016

In This Issue:

• Private Practice Internship
• Group Gratitude
  
• Group Openings
• GPALA in Review
  
• GPALA Annual 2-Day Conference
  

Order Andrew’s Workbook:
From Now On:
Seven Keys to Purposeful Recovery