Dear Colleagues,

The SFPRG Board of Directors recently conducted our quarterly retreat on May 7. Mia Salaverry, our Chairperson of Marketing and Branding, made a proposal that the San Francisco Psychotherapy Research Group become an Institute, perhaps renamed the San Francisco Psychotherapy Research Institute.

Our Mission hasn't changed. It is to promote research on the development of Control Mastery Theory, to train mental professionals in the theory and practice of psychotherapy, and to provide mental health services to the community. We are a research group but we also have a primary function to teach a theory. In addition, we have a Clinic and Training Program where we offer low-fee psychotherapy to the community and we train a new generation of clinicians in Joe Weiss' theory of therapy.

The Board of Directors unanimously agreed to change our San Francisco Psychotherapy Research Group to an Institute. We have set up a task force to recommend how exactly things will change. We don't want to lose the core of who we are. We have a wonderful group with a long history. We already have a brand that we do not want to lose. But we are prepared to enlarge and solidify our identity.

One of the ideas mentioned was that we should offer a way for clinicians to be "certified" as practitioners of Control Mastery Theory. What would that look like? We already have offered an extensive post-graduate course in Control Mastery Theory over the past 4 or 5 years that has included certificates for those who have taken the course. Our task force is wrestling with what "certification in Control Mastery Theory" would look like. We are trying to formalize what curriculum we should teach for that "certification."

We have worked hard to develop core seminars that we offer during the yearly international conferences in March. We are also comparing notes with the Clinic about what material they include in their core seminars to interns. Hopefully, we will improve and better organize our thinking in all spheres of teaching.

Would we require people to not only take a course to be "certified", but also receive supervision, in the model of the psychoanalytic institutes? Our task force will begin to address some of these questions in collaboration with the Education Committee and the Clinic Committee.

I am happy to announce that Ginger Rhodes, chair of the Clinic Committee has offered to chair the Research Committee as well. Ginger has been committed to research ever since she took over the Clinic Committee. She has been working with Jessica Broitman, Clinic Director and Carol Drucker, Clinic Training Director, as well as with John Snyder, an energetic and creative intern who is committed to research, to revamp the research protocols, starting new studies on pathogenic beliefs with patients at the Clinic.

Several valued members of the Board are stepping down in May - David Auld, Rachel Rivers, and Kasandra Burr. We will miss them and we thank them for their wonderful service. We will be adding new Board Directors soon. If any of you are interested in participating on committees or on the Board, please let me know. We would love your energy, your creativity, and your help. See you next month.

Steve Foreman

Featured: Bob Nemerovski

Bob Nemerovski, who is in the midst of a two year post-doc internship at the SFPRG clinic, was introduced to CM theory without even knowing it. His therapist at the time was a CM practitioner, but did not at first identify herself to him as such. His more direct connection with the theory came in graduate school at the Wright Institute through his work with Patsy Woods and Mary Lamia. Through these separate routes the theory started to make sense to him on both a personal and academic level, and his interest grew.

It was in his internship at CIP in San Rafael that he gained further exposure to the concept of case formulation from a CM perspective taught by Karen Weinberger, a longtime SFPRG member. It was through her teaching that he immediately experienced the positive shifts in his clinical work, and led him to seek an internship in the SFPRG clinic where he is being supervised by Carol Drucker.

It is clear that Bob is thriving in the experience, and particularly appreciates the range of training opportunities offered. He cited Carol's ongoing case conference as one of these opportunities with its mixture of trainees and seasoned CM therapists, offering a range of ideas, perspectives, and expertise.

Bob passed his EPPP exams in March and along his continued psychotherapy training at the SFPRG clinic is embarking on a private practice internship in Marin County. His clinical interests are varied, and include issues of early trauma and its effects on later life, and working with men around life crises and transitions. A particular interest, and one on which he wrote his dissertation is on road rage, and the dynamics that lead to such behavior.

Bob can be reached at ROBERT@DRNEMEROVSKI.COM or at (415) 272-3282.

The Membership Committee is working on two main fronts. First, we want Interns and Past Interns to feel connected to SFPRG, make use of its benefits and opportunities. In that light the Board has voted to extend no fee membership past internship until licensed. We want your participation and interest in this community and see you as a strong future of SFPRG.

We are also exploring what a voting membership would look like and how feasible a route that would be in the continuation of our Board and Committee chairs. We welcome your input on this idea.

Also, it has come to our attention that membership is unclear on how to become part of the different committees and what that entails. Each committee Chair is also a Board member. Others on the committee are not required to be Board members. It is recommended that Chairs/Board members have the experience of working on a committee for the experience it gives toward making decisions about the group as a whole.

If you are interested in becoming part of this great group of people as a committee member you can contact Steve Foreman, Rob Petitpas or myself for more information. As Membership Chair, we need your help on this committee!

Please consider this great opportunity to put your ideas into play, work with other colleagues and make decisions about how Control Mastery theory and SFPRG will meet the needs of its future!

New Psychological Asst. Seeks Supervision in a Family/Couples/Individual Psychotherapy Practice

Ph.D. psychologist, Valerie Crawford, seeks supervision in a solo or group psychotherapy practice with a psychodynamic orientation, with individuals, couples, and families. I am a developmental psychologist (Clark University, Worcester, Mass.: M.A. 1996, Ph.D. 2006) who exited a successful 12-year career in research on learning 3 years ago to have children and am now re-specializing in clinical psychology in accordance with CA Board of Psychology requirements. I am knowledgeable in control mastery theory, object relations and self-psychology theories, among others. I have extensive experience with clinical interviewing (adults) and working in schools with teachers and students. Resume and personal statement available upon request. Contact info: valerie.crawford@gmail.com; (415) 846-1227.