Editor’s Introduction

Abstract

Editor’s Introduction Dr. Marty Cooper, Editor When I was asked to be the special editor for this issue of the journal, I thought I had an idea of what I was engaging in. It seemed to be a straightforward task where I would be reviewing journal articles and making decisions on what to include in the issue. What I found instead was a deep dive into interpersonal relationships and working within a larger group myself to bring this issue to fruition. Indeed, what I found was the magic that makes the Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society (EGPS) and GROUP special—its people. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to say that I was asked to be a temporary editor for a special journal of a special organization. There is one person without whom this issue would not have been possible—Christine Schmidt. Through this process, I have found a friend, a colleague, and a collaborator in Christine. Many thanks to you, Christine, and to the executive committee and board of directors for their support of this issue. This issue reflects the multiplicity of group work across disciplines. We decided to open the journal with the EGPS one-year group training program graduation address by Robert Grossmark. Dr. Grossmark captures the essence of the training program as well as the importance of ushering in the next generation. Additionally, he provides a timely goodbye to the esteemed training program leadership and a warm welcome to those who will take the helm. Following Dr. Grossmark’s remarks, we turn our attention to a paper by Kathleen Isaac and Christine Schmidt, who share with us their work co-leading organizational group therapy in a nonprofit setting. Brenda Boatswain discusses secondary traumatic stress experienced by nurses and a brief therapy group designed to address this. Sean Grover provides us with insight into the work he has been doing providing on-site parenting support groups. Francine R. Mendelowitz discusses the use of applied theater to promote social-emotional health in adolescents. Melisa Stevanovic and colleagues discuss casting group counseling as peer support in a mental health rehabilitation committee. Hang Ruan and colleagues [End Page 9] present long-term weekly mindfulness groups at a large Veterans Affairs hospital. Finally, Andrew I. Smolar discusses how group identification has contributed to our national discord. Although it has been a pleasure to work on this issue, I was even more excited by the recent news that I was recently selected to coedit the journal with an esteemed colleague, Dr. Jessica Jean Baptiste. I look forward to working with Dr. Jean Baptiste, the editorial team of the journal, and the Executive Committee and Board of EGPS. [End Page 10] Copyright © 2023 Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society