Group Psychotherapy in an Acute Psychiatric ward in Greece. The Unhoused Mind and how to Regain a Sense of Belonging

Sat February 22nd 12;30 pm- 4;30 pm UK time

Seminar leader: Francesca Giuseppina Bascialla, Psychiatrist,  Group Analyst and Honorary Secretary of The Group Analytic Society International.

I will describe how in-patient group psychotherapy can become a safe environment in an acute ward. Also, how the network of relationships between patients and staff during non-structured daily activities of the ward life resonates within the group and the inner world of the patients. Non-verbal communication that takes place outside the group can be intertwined and processed within the group, helping with the patient's ability to regain personal and collective identity.

There will be plenty of time for discussion, and reflection.

Schedule UK Time

12:30- 13:00 Coffee and Meet

13:00- 14:30 Interactive Seminar - Francesca

14:30 - 15:00 Poem Break

15:00- 16:30 Experiential Group- Mike Tait Group Analyst, Drama Therapist UKCP HPC

About Francesca

I graduated as a Medical doctor from the University Statale of Milan (Italy). As a student, I was involved in the activities of one of the first-day hospital and family services in Italy, during the period of the psychiatric reform. After moving to Greece, I was trained as a psychiatrist at the 3rd Department of Psychiatry of the Aristotle University Thessaloniki (AUTh) practicing also liaison psychiatry. I received a Doctorate in Medical Sciences at the same university. My training and graduation in group analysis, from 1997 to 2004 at the IGA-Athens(IGAA), added to my experience in the role of a therapeutic community leader. Since 2008, I am the responsible person for the IGAA’s scientific and training activities organized in Thessaloniki. On behalf of IGAA, I was  responsible for the Psychological Early Intervention (Psych.E.In.) Erasmus+ project. Since 2000, I have become a research assistant of the 1st Department of Psychiatry of AUTh, practicing group psychotherapy with in-patient, research activities, lectures, and supervision. In 2005, I initiated a consulting service for the perinatal period and a reflective Practice group for the staff at the 2nd Neonatal Intensive Unit Care of AUTh.In cooperation with international colleagues, I organized the first Reflective Citizens-Koinonia workshop online in Thessaloniki during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2022, I have been the Group Analytic Society International. (GASi)Honorary Secretary, and in 2024 I became GASi co-chair.

This Seminar is part of our 2025 program of International Series; 

Colours, Mirrors, and Experiences from around the globe.

Dates of our other seminars are; March 22nd, May 31st,June 28, Sep 27th, October 25th, November 22nd, December 6th.

We will do our best to keep to the advertised program but we may need to make occasional changes

EPIC, The Experiential Psychotherapy Initiative Community works as a cooperative of psychotherapists involved in helping health professionals and others benefit from psychodynamic ways of understanding

Please address any enquiries about this or other EPIC events to series convenor Marcus Price at epicentre8@gmail.com

( Illustrative paintings are by Marcus Price)