Growing Ourselves Whole Therapy Group for People with a Loved One with BPD (or similar emotional deficits) has a proven effectiveness for helping clients recognize and start to shift patterns from the impact of growing up in an invalidating environment. It  has been offered to ten groups of clients over recent years.

Filling Our Cup First: Experiential Growth Oriented Training for Therapists takes therapists through the 10-week journey of the GOW therapy group while learning the theory behind the group. Therapists gain the benefits firsthand that this group provides to clients in the target population, while being guided to the underlying purpose for each element of the experiential journey.

Didactic modules will focus on each of these nine outcomes:

Students will learn about, recognize, and experience:

Group/Relationship

1. Harnessing the benefits of group experience to grow ventral vagal regulatory capacity
   The therapist intentionally guides participants to expand their window of tolerance through interactive regulation.
2. The healing role of inclusion and group interaction
   The experience of belonging, which was likely lacking in the clients’ past, is deliberately cultivated, acknowledged and encouraged. Clients who may have felt excluded, unsafe, or in competition with others in the past, can discover new ways of relating.
3. The healing value of organic emergence of insight, validation, and shared understanding through the group connectivity
   When a member of the group has an epiphany on the spot, it can have a ripple effect. Others may have their own insights or in any case may benefit from the exhilaration of the ah-ha! moment. 

Learning

4. Healing/Regulating impact of Psychoeducation A client can read on their own about psychological concepts to increase their self knowledge and understanding of their personal history. However, if the same concepts are delivered in real time by a caring, empathetic therapist, in the company of peers with similar history, the potential for integration, healing and learning increases multifold.
   The therapist’s creativity in presentation, dynamic examples, and responsiveness to questions that arise in the moment, bring concepts to life in a way that is healing. Guided by the idea that “The medium is the message,” we focus on how psychoeducation is delivered. When offered in a way that includes regulation, validation and healing it can make all the difference.
5. The transformative nature of experiential process
   Group participants learn by encountering and studying themselves through the combination of mindfulness with experiential explorations. This supports integration and lasting transformation. 

The therapist

6. The healing role of tracking and interactive regulation
   For clients who have a history of not being seen, there is great value in being tracked by the therapist and validated by the group.
7. The impact and healing capacity of genuine relational presence.
   Clients feel a difference when their therapist/group leader courageously leads with their authentic vulnerability and shared humanity. 

Regulation

8. The importance of structure, titration and deliberate progression in the creation of relational group safety
   The group structure is deliberately designed with stair step deepening that allows emotions to be metabolised and supports relationship building. The pacing creates safety and allows for safe relational vulnerability.
9. The role and integration of Somatic resourcing for effective regulation and stability
   Participants who grew up in invalidating environments with high volatility and unpredictability benefit greatly from somatic resourcing. They’re equipped with tools for mindfulness, increased bodily awareness, self care. An emphasis is also placed on the healing value of humor. When laughter is shared by group members, it stands as a testament to a shift in perspective and shows that a healing experience has landed.