OUR HISTORY    

In 1952, the first year of its activity, the founders of GPASC spent hours in spirited debate about membership, attempting to find the balance between "too unwieldy and too loose" or "too narrow"....in other words, how many specialties of the profession should be included. And how best to provide for the interchange of experiences among members, rather than having "didactic talks presented by outside speakers".

Fortunately, the "founders", headed by Louis Sparer as the first president, decided not to limit the group to those in correctional work, and to think of group psychotherapy as a "generic process" that would provide a common basis for the interchange of experiences and ideas.

In those days, the membership started at 16, then expanded in its first year to a grand total of 49 members, including 14 psychiatrists, 7 social workers, 26 psychologists, and 4 "miscellaneous practitioners" whatever that may have meant. Interestingly, according to the first report, that membership included 75% of all professional workers in the Los Angeles area practicing group methods of psychotherapy. In l955, GPASC, then a thriving group of 64 members, held its second annual meeting at the Hollywood Athletic Club, an event that ran from 9:30 AM until midnight. Members must really have enjoyed each other's company, because in addition to workshops---i.e. "Effect of a Psychopath in a Group of Neurotics", led by Solon Samuels; "Research and Group Method in a City Jail", led by Arthur Lerner---the group had a gala dinner, cocktail party, and a dance that evening.

Here's the best part. Registration was $1.00, the lunch was $2.00, and the dinner party was $3.50. Unfortunately, we've not been able to continue offering events at those prices.

And Now.......

The association has continued to evolve. To keep pace with the constantly changing field of psychotherapy, GPASC continually broadens it programs to include new approaches to treatment. We've grown from a one conference a year organization to one that offers numerous benefits. We've shifted from the lecture format to a more didactic/experiential one; and our membership has grown to 88 members.

Today, GPASC is a dynamic, broad-based, highly interactive organization which remains dedicated to those same founding principles.