“The Group space is a sacred atmosphere co-created for the dialogue, the encounter, and the re-invention of one another and ourselves” – Dr. Yaqui Martinez

This programme is dedicated to the Existential work process with groups. It is structured in two terms of 5 weeks, but each Term can be taken separately, as it is a complete process itself.

Participants can expect to gain extensive knowledge about the Art of Group Therapy in a way that becomes personally meaningful and relevant to their work with clients.

Who is this Seminar for?

Group Therapists who want to deepen their knowledge on the Theory & Practice of designing and conducting Groups from an Existential approach.
Practitioners who wish to create and design their own group model.
Professionals seeking to further develop their Leadership skills. (Executive Coaches, Senior Managers, Directors, Sport Coaches, and Team Leaders).
Artists who want to build a Group container which effective structure also would allow for “Artistic Licence”; Creativity, flexibility, and risk.

Journey Description:

What is a Group? – Jean-Paul Sartre

The difference between the Group and Series.

The experience of Groupness.

Experience of recognizing one another. What is needed for it to be fulfilled?

My History in Groups. – Family, School, Friends.

Feelings towards groups: Likes, Dislikes, Fears, Pains, Discomfort, Joys.

Biases or assumptions of being in a Group.

Group Gestalt Therapy – Fritz Perls/Based on the principles of Gestalt Method

This form of therapy focuses on the emotional, psychological and relational work of the group members.

Vestal Rol –

Not a guide or somebody who determines the direction of the group, but sombody offering the service to look after the atmosphere, to look after the time/space of the sacred.

Group Types

Philosophics
Twelve Steps
Construct therapeutic world

Therapy Types

In Group (Fish Bowl)
With Group
Of Group

Conflict & Psychodrama – Jacob Levy Moreno

Difference between horizontal and vertical work – Irvin Yalom

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Vestals

Dr. Yaqui A. Martínez-Robles is a psychologist with Masters, PhD and PsyD in Psychotherapy. He has training in Gestalt Therapy; Music Therapy; Transpersonal Psychology and Holotropic Breathwork (with the Grof Transpersonal Training Association); Narrative and postmodern therapies and Social Constructionism; and in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (with the Integrative Psychiatry Institute and MAPS-Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies). He is the author of four books, and co-author of another two, focused on the existential perspective. He has participated with chapters in several books and with articles in several journals. Yaqui is the founder of the Circle of Studies in Existential Therapy, in Mexico City and in Medellin, Colombia,. He teaches existential-phenomenological psychology and therapy in Mexico and different countries of South America. He is the current president of the Latin American Association of Existential Psychotherapy (ALPE). He works in private practice as an existential-phenomenological therapist and coach, in modalities one-on-one, couples and groups.

Bárbara Godoy M.A., Adv. Dip. Exi. Psy. Existential Psychotherapist Group Leader, Counsellour, Lecturer and Supervisor, MBACP & UKCP accredited, SEA Professional Member, Director of Therapy Harley StreetBárbara’s academic contributions in London since 2008 include lecturing and researching on the theory and practice of Phenomenological Existential Therapy on Doctorate, MA and professional courses at the School of Psychotherapy and Counselling Psychology, Regent’s University and the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling directed by Emmy van Deurzen. Bárbara has facilitated and designed therapeutic Group Work since 1997. She brought her earliest workshop: “Experiences” to large groups in The Netherlands, Italy, France, UK and Argentina. These awareness-intensive processes are a legacy of the human potential movement (HPM) of the 1960s, with techniques such as AUM Meditation Marathons, Psychodrama, Bioenergetics and Primal Feelings work.

Thursdays 7:00 to 9:00 pm UK Time.

Autumn Term Phase Two 2025

Dates: 2, 16 & 30 October, 13 & 27 November.

Group Details: Maximum 10 participants

"The Art of Group Therapy" with Dr. Yaqui Martinez and Bárbara Godoy-Term 2