[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ background_color=”#FFFFFF” background_image=”https:\/\/growthinconnection.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ICGC-Our-History-background-3.jpg” parallax=”on” z_index=”3″ custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”12vw|0px|0|0px|false|false” background_last_edited=”on|phone” use_background_color_gradient_phone=”on” background_color_gradient_start_phone=”rgba(0,83,108,0.6)” background_color_gradient_end_phone=”rgba(0,83,108,0.6)” background_color_gradient_overlays_image_phone=”on” background_image_tablet=”https:\/\/growthinconnection.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ICGC_History-Hero-Image_031521_v3.jpg” background_enable_image_tablet=”on” parallax_phone=”off” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” collapsed=”on” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ padding_top_bottom_link_1=”false” padding_left_right_link_1=”true” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”1160px” custom_margin=”|||||false” custom_padding=”2px|0px|0|0px|false|false” use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”1160px”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.4″ background_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_padding=”0px|40px|0px|40px|false|false” background_color_phone=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text quote_border_color=”#FD8C25″ _builder_version=”4.9.4″ text_font=”||||||||” ul_font=”||||||||” ol_font=”||||||||” header_font=”|700||on|||||” header_text_color=”#00536C” header_font_size=”3vw” header_line_height=”1.5em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_3_font=”Rubik|500||on|||||” header_3_text_color=”#098cf2″ header_3_font_size=”14px” header_3_letter_spacing=”2px” header_3_line_height=”2em” header_4_font=”||||||||” header_5_font=”||||||||” header_6_font=”||||||||” header_text_color_tablet=”” header_text_color_phone=”#FFFFFF” header_text_color_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”5vw” header_font_size_phone=”6vw” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n
\nOur History<\/h1>\n<\/blockquote>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”How It Works” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ background_color=”#FFFFFF” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(255,255,255,0.85)” background_color_gradient_end=”rgba(255,255,255,0.76)” background_color_gradient_direction=”90deg” background_color_gradient_overlays_image=”on” background_image=”https:\/\/growthinconnection.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ICGC-backgrounds-shapes-2.jpg” z_index=”3″ custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” collapsed=”on” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” sticky_enabled=”0″ da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ background_color=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width=”72%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_margin=”0px|||” custom_padding=”|40px|60px|40px|false|true” custom_padding_tablet=”|||” use_custom_width=”on” width_unit=”off” custom_width_percent=”100%” locked=”off”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_tabs active_tab_background_color=”#75C15C” inactive_tab_background_color=”#00536C” active_tab_text_color=”#FFFFFF” _builder_version=”4.9.3″ _module_preset=”default” tab_text_color=”#FFFFFF” body_font_size=”1vw” body_line_height=”1.8em” tab_font=”|700|||||||” tab_font_size=”16px” tab_line_height=”2.5em” background_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”|0px||0px|false|true” custom_padding=”|2%||2%|false|true” body_font_size_tablet=”2.2vw” body_font_size_phone=”4.5vw” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_css_tab=”width: 20%;||text-align: center !important;” custom_css_tab_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_tab_tablet=”width: 100% !important;||text-algin: center !important;” custom_css_tab_phone=”width: 100% !important;||text-algin: center !important;”][et_pb_tab title=”The Early Years” _builder_version=”4.9.1″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n
The International Center for Growth in Connection (ICGC) is an outgrowth of four decades of research and practice in Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT).\u00a0 RCT is generally acknowledged to have started with psychiatrist Jean Baker Miller<\/a>\u2019s ground-breaking and bestselling book\u00a0Toward a New Psychology of Women<\/em><\/a>\u00a0in 1976. In this book, Miller critiqued the dominant paradigm of individualism that celebrated separation and independence, recognizing that this point of view often led to unequal power dynamics in human relationships. She began to define a new psychology centered in the idea that humans grow best through connections to one another.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Miller\u2019s ideas were further developed in a collaborative group including three additional founding scholars– Judith V. Jordan,\u00a0Irene Stiver\u00a0and\u00a0Janet Surrey. Meeting for years in Miller\u2019s living room, the scholars continued to develop concepts and approaches that would forever change psychological theory.\u00a0 It\u2019s important to remember that the notion that humans grow through and toward relationship throughout the lifespan, and that humans are profoundly social beings, was a significant departure from prevailing psychological theories of the time.\u00a0 In the late 1970s and early 1980s, these feminist viewpoints were considered radical, despite the fact that they are thought to be mainstream today.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Over time, additional meeting groups, scholars, and clinicians joined the emerging network, furthering its impact, and expanding its relevance.\u00a0 The founding scholars began publishing and presenting the work, nationally and internationally. The model of \u201clistening into voice\u201d, engaging in an ongoing process, and being open to new perspectives remain a hallmark of Relational-Cultural Theory to this day.<\/p>\n
Since the initial development of Relational-Cultural Theory, numerous academics, practitioners and educators have further developed the approach.\u00a0 Relational-Cultural Theory has emerged in medicine, neuroscience, counseling, social work, psychology, education, and environmentalism, among other disciplines.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As the approach continued to gain a following, a home for RCT was found at Wellesley College, specifically at The Stone Center-Wellesley Centers for Women.\u00a0 With infrastructure and support from the College and in recognition of Miller\u2019s contributions, The Stone Center became the Jean Baker Miller Training Institute (JBMTI) in 1995.\u00a0 With the college\u2019s support, the JBMTI held annual conferences for students and practitioners of RCT, reaching thousands of scholars and practitioners.<\/p>\n
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Relational-Cultural Theory was initially known as \u201cSelf-in-Relation\u201d theory.\u00a0 The approach\u2019s initial name was intended to reflect the interconnected experience of women and offer a positive psychological approach to understanding the female experience that centered on being in connection with others and recognized the profound negative impact of social isolation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As JBMTI attracted wider attention, the initial founders of Self-in-Relation Theory responded to the complaints of those who pointed out that the initial theoretical components had the unintended consequence of leaving out many important voices. This critique led to a growing awareness of the impact of culture and race, and the many ways that experiences of privilege and marginalization profoundly shape relational development.\u00a0 In addition, what was initially understood to be a female experience, was acknowledged to be a universal human experience, and that the need for connection is not limited to any specific gender. Reflecting the shift in mindset, in the mid 1990\u2019s, Self-in-Relation became known as Relational-Cultural Theory.<\/p>\n
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From its initial local origins, Relational-Cultural Theory has grown to national and international prominence.\u00a0 RCT theory and practice groups exist nationally and internationally. Conference presentations on the approach have been attended by a variety of audiences, and publications by RCT writers have gained global appeal. \u00a0 We\u2019ve presented to over 26,000 people around the world.<\/p>\n
Over the years, RCT scholars have produced over 105 Works in Progress, more than 30 books (starting with Women\u2019s Growth in Connection <\/em>in 1991 and most recently, Jordan\u2019s Relational-Cultural Therapy<\/em> in 2009 and 2018) and numerous book chapters and teaching videos.\u00a0 RCT has been cited in over 10,000 publications and continues to serve as the theoretical underpinning for hundreds of doctoral dissertations; new articles and reports are published monthly\u2014often by people unknown to RCT\u2019s leadership.\u00a0 RCT scholars and founders have been recognized with national and international awards. The American Psychological Association identified Relational-Cultural theory as one of the ten most important psychological theories in contemporary America.<\/p>\n
The application of RCT continues in new and exciting directions.\u00a0 Theory and practice areas include the established and the emerging, including eating disorders, health issues\/health care, diversity, new models of application (for example, in neuroscience) and new areas of inquiry (such as social justice).\u00a0 Counseling, psychology, education, social work, healthcare, and many other areas have been influenced by Relational-Cultural Theory.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_tab][et_pb_tab title=”Today” _builder_version=”4.9.1″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n
Relational-Cultural theory is valued for its dedication to better understand growth-fostering relationships, to lessen the isolation and suffering caused by chronic disconnection, to acknowledge that development occurs in a broader context in which is gendered and stratified, and the recognition that culture is an active agent in all development.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
In 2018, the Jean Baker Miller Training Institute grew into the International Center for Growth in Connection (ICGC).\u00a0 As an independent non-profit organization, ICGC is the world hub for Relational-Cultural Theory, allowing for a wider portfolio of activities and a more global presence. New scholars and practitioners have been added to the leadership group, and many established scholars and practitioners have been engaged in reinvigorating the work and broadening its scope.\u00a0<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_tab][\/et_pb_tabs][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Team” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ background_color=”#eeeeee” background_color_gradient_direction=”90deg” background_image=”https:\/\/growthinconnection.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ICGC-bg-3.jpg” background_size=”contain” background_blend=”multiply” z_index=”3″ custom_margin=”||400px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”||600px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”||700px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”55px|0px|55px|0px|true|false” hover_enabled=”0″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ collapsed=”on” sticky_enabled=”0″ da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.3″ custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.3″ background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”|60px|120px||false|false” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text quote_border_color=”#FD8C25″ _builder_version=”4.9.3″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”2em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”|700||on|||||” header_2_text_color=”#00536C” header_2_font_size=”3vw” header_2_line_height=”1.5em” header_3_font=”Rubik|500||on|||||” header_3_text_color=”#098cf2″ header_3_font_size=”14px” header_3_letter_spacing=”2px” header_3_line_height=”2em” max_width=”500px” custom_padding=”||9%||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”5vw” header_2_font_size_phone=”8vw” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop”]<\/p>\n
\nOur Founders<\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,1_4,1_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.9.3″][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.2″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”1vw” text_line_height=”2em” link_font=”||||||||” link_text_color=”#35B6D2″ ul_font=”||||||||” ol_font=”||||||||” quote_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_3_font=”||||||||” header_4_font=”|700|||||||” header_4_text_align=”center” header_4_font_size=”0.9vw” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” header_5_font=”||||||||” header_6_font=”||||||||” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” background_color_gradient_end=”#0a0a0a” background_color_gradient_start_position=”40%” background_color_gradient_overlays_image=”on” background_image=”https:\/\/growthinconnection.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ICGC_Jean-Baker-Miller_031521_v1.jpg” text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”300px|40px|40px|40px|false|true” link_option_url=”#miller” text_font_size_tablet=”2.2vw” text_font_size_phone=”3.5vw” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_font_size_tablet=”2vw” header_4_font_size_phone=”3vw” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” border_width_all=”2px” border_color_all=”#eff5f7″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” content__hover_enabled=”off|hover” content__hover=”<\/p>\n
Jean Baker Miller,
M.D.<\/h4>\nRead Bio<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
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Jean Baker Miller,
M.D.<\/h4>\nRead Bio<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
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Judith Jordan,
Ph.D<\/h4>\nRead Bio<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
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Judith Jordan,
Ph.D<\/h4>\nRead Bio<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.3″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”1vw” text_line_height=”2em” link_font=”||||||||” link_text_color=”#35B6D2″ ul_font=”||||||||” ol_font=”||||||||” quote_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_3_font=”||||||||” header_4_font=”|700|||||||” header_4_text_align=”center” header_4_font_size=”0.9vw” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” header_5_font=”||||||||” header_6_font=”||||||||” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” background_color_gradient_end=”#00536c” background_color_gradient_start_position=”40%” background_color_gradient_overlays_image=”on” background_image=”https:\/\/growthinconnection.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ICGC_Founder_Janet-Surrey.jpg” text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”300px|40px|40px|40px|false|true” link_option_url=”#surrey” text_font_size_tablet=”2.2vw” text_font_size_phone=”3.5vw” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_font_size_tablet=”2vw” header_4_font_size_phone=”3vw” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” border_width_all=”2px” border_color_all=”#eff5f7″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” content__hover_enabled=”off|desktop” content__hover=”<\/p>\n
Janet Surrey,
Ph.D.<\/h4>\nRead Bio<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
” transform_styles__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” transform_scale__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” transform_translate__hover_enabled=”on|hover” transform_rotate__hover_enabled=”on|hover” transform_skew__hover_enabled=”on|hover” transform_origin__hover_enabled=”on|hover” transform_scale__hover=”103%|103%”]<\/p>\n
Janet Surrey,
Ph.D.<\/h4>\nRead Bio<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.4″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”1vw” text_line_height=”2em” link_font=”||||||||” link_text_color=”#35B6D2″ ul_font=”||||||||” ol_font=”||||||||” quote_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_3_font=”||||||||” header_4_font=”|700|||||||” header_4_text_align=”center” header_4_font_size=”0.9vw” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” header_5_font=”||||||||” header_6_font=”||||||||” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” background_color_gradient_end=”#00536c” background_color_gradient_start_position=”40%” background_color_gradient_overlays_image=”on” background_image=”https:\/\/growthinconnection.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ICGC_partners-Irene-Stivers.jpg” text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”300px|40px|40px|40px|false|true” link_option_url=”#stiver” text_font_size_tablet=”2.2vw” text_font_size_phone=”3.5vw” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_font_size_tablet=”2vw” header_4_font_size_phone=”3vw” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” border_width_all=”2px” border_color_all=”#eff5f7″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” content__hover_enabled=”off|hover” content__hover=”<\/p>\n
Irene Pierce Stiver,
Ph.D<\/h4>\nRead Bio<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
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Irene Pierce Stiver,
Ph.D<\/h4>\n