RELATIONSHIP IS THE INTERVENTION – MASTER IT IN GROUP SETTINGS
Relational Group Therapy
Workshop for Social Workers
WHY THIS WORKSHOP
The Relationship Is Not the Means – It Is the Method
Most practitioners understand that the therapeutic relationship matters. But relational group therapy takes this further. It asks us to stop using the relationship to do therapy – and to recognise that the relationship IS the therapy.
"the relationship IS the intervention" - Carol Stuart
Many of the problems our clients carry – difficulty trusting, chronic conflict, isolation, inability to ask for help – are fundamentally relational in origin. Early experiences of adversity of trauma leave people with unhealthy blueprints for how to connect with others. These patterns suface again and again in their lives.
In a group setting, something powerful becomes possible: clients don’t just talk about their relational patterns – they enact them, right there in the room. And the group becomes the space where new, healthier ways of connecting can be practised and internalised. The group provides the relational safety for clients to take the risk to try something new, and being supported in this new way of doing, it can become their new way of being. This is why relational group therapy is also, at its core, a trauma-informed approach.
This workshop gives social workers the conceptual grounding and practical tools to facilitate this kind of work with skill and confidence.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This Workshop Is Designed For You If…
- You are a registered social worker facilitating therapeutic or support groups in any setting
- Your work in community health, mental health services, NPOs, schools, correction facilitaties, or private practice
- You have some experience running groups, but want to deepen your theoretical grounding in a relational approach
- You find certain group dynamics challenging – conflict, silence, domination, withdrawal – and want better tools
- You are interested in trauma-informed approaches and want to understand how they apply to group contexts
- You are an early-career social worker looking to build a strong foundation in group work
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Something for the experienced and the inexperienced
WHEN GROUP THERAPY IS THE SUPERIOR CHOICE
Not every client struggles – sometimes it’s the intervention that isn’t working. Individual therapy isn’t the right fit for everyone, yet when clients don’t respond, the blame too often falls on them rather than the approach. For many people, the group is the therapy.
Group therapy is not therapy made easier – it’s therapy made richer. Participants are assessed, prepared, and purposefully brought together. Sessions are structured yet responsive, and a skilled facilitator doesn’t just watch the group unfold – they shape it, tending carefully to each member’s experience. What emerges is something uniquely powerful: a live, relational environment where people can practise being in relationship, take supported risks, and experience the kind of breakthroughs that follow them beyond the therapy room.
This workshop invites participants into a relational approach to therapeutic groups — where “relational” isn’t a loose descriptor, but a precise and purposeful commitment to using the relationship itself as the primary vehicle for change, guided by a distinct and proven model.
Logistics and Investment
Format: Online (Zoom)
Duration: 4 half-days (9h00 – 12h00)
Next Dates:
- Available on demand for group bookings
CPD Points: 11.5 points for Social Workers (SACSSP)
Workshop Includes: Workshop Notes, CPD Certificate
Investment: Group tarrifs available on request
Technical Requirements:
The workshop is facilitated fully online via Zoom. Participants are required to remain on camera for the full duration of each session and should ensure that their equipment and internet connection is suitable for this kind of interaction. Attendance with a phone or tablet isnot recommended – it is recommended to use a PC or laptop since some of the screens that will be shared may include text or diagrams that would be too small to read on a cellphone screen. It is recommended that each participant should attend from a suitable physical space (for example, not while travelling or while sharing office space with others). The use of headphones is recommended – alternatively participants should be in a space not shared with others. It is not ideal for participants to share a device, since it will limit their interaction and participation.
YOUR FACILITATOR
Werner is a Clinical Social Worker registered with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP). He offers counselling, consulting and training – with a focus on meaningful, evidence-informed therapeutic work delivered entirely online.
His approach is relational and strengths-based – meeting clients where they are, and helping them build the insight and resources to move forward.
Werner holds master’s degrees in both Psychology and Clinical Social Work, is registered as a Clinical Social Worker with SACSSP and SAASWIPP, and trained in EMDR, NLP and Hypnotherapy.
He brings over 30 years of practice experience to his engagement with clients, and has authored numerous articles, book chapters, and published a book on Building Resilience in Children.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cancellation policy?
We keep our cancellation policy simple: no financial penalties, just a commitment to being responsible and respectful. When you register, take a moment to make sure you can genuinely attend — your spot counts toward the minimum needed to run the workshop and has a real impact on the group and the facilitator’s preparation. Life happens, and if you absolutely must cancel, please reach out to the facilitator in advance rather than leaving them and the group without word.