2-Year Intensive Group Training Program
Group Therapy in the 21st Century: Dynamics, Identities, and the Power of the Collective
October 2026 - April 2028
Registration opens: April 14th, 2026
Tuition: $2,700 for regular tuition (by October 1st), $2,450 for early bird registration (by August 1st)
The NGPI provides a variety of educational and training opportunities for mental health professionals seeking to learn about group dynamics and develop their capacity to become effective psychodynamically-oriented group therapists.
Our award-winning 2-Year Intensive Training Program forms the cornerstone of the NGPI. Comprised of six 2-day conferences and a virtual summer workshop, the program examines group therapy through a variety of contemporary theoretical lenses and immerses participants in experiential small and large group activities that bring those theories to life. Overall, the cycle addresses issues that arise in the early, middle, and termination phases of group treatment. Past conference themes have included effective group leadership, freedom and belonging, rupture and repair, resistance, co-leadership, envy and competition, implicit bias, and group therapist self-disclosure.
Recognizing the influence of both developmental factors and sociocultural identities on relationships and group process is a particular strength of our program. Ultimately, we aim to build a skilled and aware community of group therapists and contribute to a broader dialogue of hope, healing, and growth.
The NGPI serves licensed and unlicensed mental health professionals – including social workers, psychologists, counselors, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, marriage and family therapists, and coaches – as well as trainees with an interest in psychodynamic group psychotherapy. While current or prior group leadership or membership is not a prerequisite to enroll in our 2-year Intensive Group Training Program, we have found that having the support of one's own therapy (group or individual) or access to other similar resources while in the program can help participants get the most out of the experience.
The National Group Psychotherapy Institute joined the New Washington School of Psychiatry in 2024 after 30 years as an integral part of the Washington School of Psychiatry. NGPI holds the distinction of being the only postgraduate group therapy training program in the Washington, DC metropolitan area and one of only a handful across the United States. In 2016, NGPI received the prestigious Harold S. Bernard Group Psychotherapy Training Award from the American Group Psychotherapy Association in recognition of its “outstanding contributions in education and training
in the field of group psychotherapy.” Since its inception, more than 400 professionals – social workers, psychologists, counselors, psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses – have completed the 2-year program, some coming to train from as far away as Europe. Many graduates have gone on to
make significant contributions to the field of group therapy, and many of the current NGPI faculty are leaders in the American Group Psychotherapy Association and its local affiliate, the Mid-Atlantic Group Psychotherapy Society.
In this 2-year program, faculty and students will explore together the intersection of developmental history, cultural identity and group dynamics.
Through a blend of theoretical exploration, skill-building, experiential learning, and reflective practice, participants will immerse themselves in the complex endeavor of conducting group psychotherapy and grapple with the unique demands on us as therapists to respond to the needs of a diverse and ever-evolving world.
Most broadly, our aim is to build a skilled and aware community of group therapists and contribute to a broader dialogue of hope, healing, and growth.
The program is composed of six 2-day in-person conferences, each centered on a unique theme related to the practice of group psychotherapy and complemented by relevant assigned readings.
Experiential learning is a hallmark of the program. In addition to participating in interactive plenaries, every student is assigned to a small process group that meets four times each conference and maintains its membership and leadership throughout the two-year cycle. These “here-and-now”-centered groups, co-led by NGPI faculty, are invaluable vehicles for bringing the theories and techniques we teach to life.
In addition, students take part in three facilitated large process groups each weekend consisting of the entire
student body. These experiences are uniquely powerful in highlighting the impact of broader social forces (e.g., power, privilege and prejudice) on group dynamics.
A virtual summer event between Years 1 & 2 and the option to participate in a faculty-led supervision group in Year 2 provide further opportunities for students to deepen their learning and expand their clinical capacity.
We also pair each student with a faculty mentor to provide support throughout the program and guide them toward additional resources as desired.
Registration for NGPI 2026-2028 will open mid-year.
YEAR 1
Oct 23 & 24, 2026
Why Group?: The Origins and Evolution of Group Therapy Practice
Jan 8 & 9, 2027
Beyond Putting the Chairs in a Circle: Setting the Stage for Meaningful Group Work
Apr 9 & 10, 2027
Theory, Stance & Technique: Discovering Your Group Leadership Style
**Virtual Summer Workshop - Topic & Date TBD**
YEAR 2
Oct 22 & 23, 2027
Unconscious Influences in Group: The Nature of Resistance and Its “Curious Desirability”
Jan 21 & 22, 2028
We Are Family/We Are the World: Working with Developmental and Sociocultural Transferences in Therapy Groups
Mar 24 & 25, 2028
When the Time Comes: Existential Reflections on Group Endings and New Beginnings
All six conferences comprising our 2-Year Intensive Training Program will be held in-person on Friday and Saturday at the Friends Meeting House of Washington (2111 Decatur Place NW) in Washington, DC.
Early Bird (by July 1st, 2026):
$2,450
Regular Tuition (by October 1st, 2026):
$2,700
Single Conference:
$500
Reduced tuition may be available through the Mary Dluhy Scholarship Fund. Preference given to students, early-career clinicians, agency workers, retirees, and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds.
MARY DLUHY SCHOLARSHIP FUND
The Mary Dluhy Scholarship Fund, established in 2024, provides tuition support for mental health clinicians wanting to participate in the NGPI 2-Year Intensive Training Program. Special consideration will be given to applicants who are early career professionals, agency employees, and members of traditionally marginalized communities who are planning to, or currently practice, group therapy.
Mary Dluhy, MSW, CGP, AGPA-F was a founding faculty member of the National Group Psychotherapy Institute at the Washington School of Psychiatry. For nearly 30 years she served in a variety of roles, including Dean, Program Chair, and Large Group Consultant. Mary joyfully supported the development of group therapists at all stages of their careers, serving as mentor, teacher, and supervisor. Mary was co-editor of the NGPI faculty’s 2007 book of essays, Windows into Today’s Group Therapy and co-authored the LG Team’s 2019 journal article, The Large Group
Experience: Affiliation in a Learning Community.
Contributions to the Mary Dluhy Scholarship may be made through the NWSP Donation page.
- 12 CE hours pending per weekend (72 total over 6 weekends)
- Certificate of Completion awarded at program’s end
- Participants must attend each weekend in full to receive credit
- Click here for CE Information for "How Do I Leave Thee: Endings and Existential Issues in Group," April 10-11, 2026
Accreditation provided by AMEDCO. CE approval varies by state; participants are responsible for confirming with their licensing boards.
Co-Chairs:
Rachel Miller, PsyD, CGP
Rachel Miller, PsyD, CGP, is a clinical psychologist and Certified Group Psychotherapist in private practice in Dupont Circle since 2005. She provides individual, couples and group psychotherapy, clinical supervision and professional consultation. Dr. Miller completed the National Group Psychotherapy Institute (NGPI) at the Washington School of Psychiatry and is thrilled to Co-Chair the program she credits with igniting her passion for group psychotherapy. Prior to her NGPI faculty appointment, she taught and provided supervision to pre- and post-doctoral trainees as Adjunct Faculty at Georgetown University’s Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS). Additionally, Dr. Miller is the co-founder and co-director of Prentice, a training institute that guides new professionals on the path toward becoming private practitioners. Dr. Miller completed a two-year advanced training program on couples therapy from the Institute of Contemporary Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. In her private practice, Dr. Miller leads multiple process groups and serves as a small process group leader in the NGPI. rachelmillerpsyd@gmail.com.
Jonathan Stillerman, PhD, CGP
Jonathan Stillerman, PhD, CGP, is a clinical psychologist and Certified Group Psychotherapist with a private practice of psychotherapy, supervision and consultation in Washington, DC. As faculty at the New Washington School of Psychiatry, Dr. Stillerman teaches group therapy in the Clinical Program on Psychotherapy Practice and serves as Co-Chair of the National Group Psychotherapy Institute. He held previous appointments as Adjunct Faculty at The American University and Assistant Clinical Professor of Clinical Psychology at The George Washington University. Dr. Stillerman has been leading groups for 25 years and currently runs several weekly therapy groups and a training group specifically for group therapists. In 2019, he was the featured speaker at the Mid-Atlantic Group Psychotherapy Society’s fall conference on group therapist self-disclosure. Alongside his clinical practice and teaching, Dr. Stillerman is a published poet, and in a former life, he co-founded and co-directed Men Can Stop Rape, non-profit empowering male youth to prevent gender-based violence. jstillermanphd@gmail.com
Dean:
Jessica Chan, LICSW, CGP, MBA
Jessica Chan, LICSW, CGP, MBA is a psychotherapist in private practice in Washington, DC where she works with adults in individual and group psychotherapy. She is on the faculty of the National Group Psychotherapy Institute at the New Washington School of Psychiatry, and also serves on the board of the Mid-Atlantic Group Psychotherapy Society. She formerly taught in the Core Concepts and Techniques of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Program, as well as in the Clinical Program on Psychotherapy Practice, at the New Washington School of Psychiatry. Prior to private practice, she worked as a psychotherapist at a local social services agency.
Our NGPI faculty brings extensive experience in psychotherapy, teaching, and clinical supervision:
Maryetta Andrews-Sachs, MA, CGP, AGPA-F
Kirsten Chadwick, PhD, CGP
Jessica Chan, MSW, CGP
Mary Tatum Chappell, PsyD, CGP
Karen Eberwein, PsyD, ABPP, CGP
Ronald Hopson, PhD
Stacey Jackson-Lampley, PhD
Bradley Lake, MSW, CGP
Victoria Lee, PhD, CGP
Rachel Miller, PsyD, CGP (NGPI Co-Chair)
Farooq Mohyuddin, MD, FAPA, CGP, AGPA-F
Bruce Pickle, PsyD, CGP
Robert Schulte, MSW, CGP
Jonathan Stillerman, PhD, CGP (NGPI Co-Chair)
Christopher Straley, MSW, CGP, CST
Steve Van Wagoner, PhD, CGP, AGPA-F
Ayana Watkins-Northern, PhD, CGP, AGPA-F
Reginald Nettles, PhD, CGP, Faculty Emeritus
Leon Paparella, MSW, CGP, Faculty Emeritus
Guest Faculty
Marcus Hummings, PsyD, CGP
Lara Kassoff, PhD
Nicholas Kirsch, PhD
G. Christopher Ray, PhD
We will begin accepting applications in spring 2026 for the next 2-Year Intensive Training Program (scheduled to start in fall 2026).
Applicants to the 2-Year Program must complete an application and interview.
Single-conference attendees may register without going through the full application process.
For more information, contact:
Jonathan Stillerman
jstillermanphd@gmail.com
Rachel Miller
rachelmillerpsyd@gmail.com
