Working With Groups Introductory Course- 2024

This 6-block introductory course has been designed to meet South African realities, requirements, and resources. It is influenced by the models developed by the London-based Institute of Group Analysis and the Tavistock Clinic. Ububele has run the IntroductoryCourse to Working with Groups annually since 2004 and is offered in association with The Institute of GroupAnalysis, London.

The Introductory Course attempts to provide an experiential and reflective space to enrich human capacity in the field of group work, particularly developing the skills and knowledge of group facilitators and leaders, as well as trainers of group work. The experiential nature of the course aims to create an appreciation of an orientation to groups as central to understanding and working with interpersonal dynamics in different contexts.

This course is aimed at people from all walks of life working with, or wishing to work with groups. Participants have come from amongst others the medical and mental health sector, NGO’s involved in development work, the consulting, creative, engineering, sport, coaching and teaching industries. Corporate managers, leaders,and team members of all levels of seniority have benefited from the course.

No previous experience of group work is required. 

Ububele is an accredited ServiceProvider of the Health ProfessionsCouncil of SA (PSB137/06/2011), and 30CEUs on Level 1 have been applied for relevant professions.

What does the course consist of?

1. Experiential Small Groups 

This is an experiential space which focus on the personal, emotional life of the members, and an opportunity to connect with self and others. 

2. Large/median groups 

Include all course members and faculty. This is a free-floating dialogue developed over time with a democratic way of relating. Together we can explore each other’s views, how they differ from, or are similar to, yours and hope to discover why we think the way we do. This is an opportunity for self-awareness and growth and a way to reach out to others in a spirit of democratic friendship. 

3. Lectures/seminars

The seminar space is for exploring Group Analytic theory, principles, and practice in the South African context. The lectures frame and extend the seminar discussions.

4. Work discussion groups 

The focus of Work discussion groups is a space for members to think about current or planned groups. The discussions are framed by the group analytic approach.

5. Social dreaming 

Social Dreaming is a way of working with dreams where the focus is on the dream and not the dreamer, where dreams are shared amongst people who come together solely for this purpose. With Social Dreaming, the meaning of a dream is about the broader world in which one lives. Participants should expect their initial unease to fade in a process of joining with others to generate new thinking, discover new knowledge, and gain a different perspective

Course dates for 2024

Block 1: February 16th, 17th, 18th

Block 2: April 5th, 6th, 7th

Block 3: May 17th, 18th, 19th

Block 4: July 12th, 13th, 14th

Block 5: August 23rd, 24th, 25th

Block 6: October 4th, 5th, 6th