GA Foundation Course in Singapore

It is with great pleasure that we wish to share with you the photograph of the participants who have just completed the first ever Foundation Course in Singapore. Nearly 4 years ago Frances Griffiths together with Cynthia Rogers conducted and Introductory Weekend in Group Analysis that inspired the wish for a full training. Frances had remained in touch with Dr. Andre Tay-teck who had completed the foundation course in the UK. He is working as part of a therapeutic community at Changi Hospital, Singapore and his boss, Dr. Samuel Cheng had completed his Foundation Course with Nick Sarra in Devon many years earlier.

Sheila Ritchie and myself agreed to work with our two colleagues at Changi Hospital, Dr Samuel Cheng and Dr. Andre Tay-tec, to conduct a Foundation Course in Group Analysis, accredited by the IGA. Due to Covid it was postponed by a year and finally happened in three intense blocks from April 2022 – April 2023.

The participants – psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers plus two members with organisational remits, were committed, clever and have a great sense of humour. It was very moving working with them as they entered fully into the experiential components of the course as well as offering us very thoughtful seminar power-points when asked to present their understanding of the theory reading we suggested.

We learnt a great deal from them about applying Group Analysis in a very different culture and welcome the enthusiasm with which they have worked with us. In fact there are plans afoot to offer another Foundation Course so that enough participants can be recruited to continue on to a Diploma and Qualifying Course.

Sue Einhorn and Sheila Ritchie 2023