What are the group stages
- Initial
- Transition
- Working
- Final
Characteristics of Initial Stage
- Participants test the atmosphere and get acquainted
- Risk taking is relatively low – exploration is tentative
- Central issues are trust versus mistrust and inclusion versus exclusion
- There are periods of silence and awkwardness
- Members are deciding how much they will disclose and how safe the group is
Initial Stage: Common Fears Experienced by Group Members
- Anxiety over being accepted or rejected and not fitting in
- Concern about the judgment of others
- Afraid of appearing stupid
- Not knowing what is expected
- Concern over communicating feelings and thoughts effectively
Advantages of Developing a Here-And-Now Focus
- Dealing with the here-and-now energizes the group
- Being in the here-and-now serves as a springboard for exploring everyday life concerns
- Here-and-now communication also helps to move the group process along and gives members a chance to express what they are experiencing
Attitudes and Behaviors That Generate Trust
- Careful attending and genuine listening
- Understanding verbal and nonverbal behavior
- Empathy
- Genuineness and self-disclosure
- Respect
- Caring confrontation
Examples of group norms
- Expectation of promptness and regular attendance
- Norm of sharing oneself in personal ways
- Expectation of giving meaningful feedback
- Members encouraged to offer both support and challenge to others
- Members functioning within the here-and-now context of the group
Three key constructs that capture the essence of the therapeutic relationship in group treatment:
group climate, cohesion, and alliances
Leader Functions: Initial Stage: Leaders must think about
- Division of responsibility
- Degree of structuring
- Opening group sessions
- Closing group sessions
Characteristics of Transition Stage
Anxiety and defensiveness are common
Common Fears Emerging at the Transition Stage
- Making a fool of oneself
- Emptiness
- Losing control
- Being too emotional
- Self-disclosure
- Taking too much of the group’s time
- Being judged, challenged, singled out, or rejected
Problematic Styles of Behaving in a Group
Silence
Monopolistic behavior
Storytelling
Giving advice
Questioning
Dependency
Intellectualizing
Hostility
Acting superior
Avoidance by adopting role of “assistant leader”
Subgrouping
Offering pseudosupport
Dealing with Transference and Countertransference
Transference: feelings members project onto the counselor, which are rooted in the members’ past relationships
Countertransference: feelings aroused in the counselor by members, which are related more to unresolved conflict from other past or present relationships than to any feature of the therapeutic relationship
A group context has the potential for multiple transferences. Feelings can be productively explored so members become aware of how they are keeping these old patterns functional in present relationships
Leader Functions: Transition Stage
Show members the value of dealing fully with conflict
Help members to recognize their own defensive patterns
Teach members to respect reluctance and to work constructively with the many forms it takes
Model how to deal directly and tactfully with any challenge
Encourage members to express reactions that pertain to here-and-now happenings in the group
What are Characteristics of a Productive Group
- Focus is on the here-and-now
- Members’ goals are clear and specific
- Cohesion is high – a sense of emotional bonding in the group
- Conflict in the group is recognized and explored
- Members are willing to make themselves known
- Trust is increased and there is a sense of safety
The Value of Homework in Groups
Group is not an end in itself
Group is a place to learn new behaviors and acquire a range of skills in living. It is training ground for everyday life
Homework is a means for maximizing what is learned in group
Members can devise their own homework assignments
Ideally, homework is designed collaboratively between members and the leader
Coleader Issues During the Working Stage
Engage in ongoing evaluation of the group and of your performance as coleader
Discuss with each other issues related to theoretical orientations, therapeutic styles, techniques, self-disclosure, etc.
Leader Functions: Working Stage
Explore common themes that provide for some universality, and link one or more members’ work with that of others in the group
Focus on the importance of translating insight into action; encourage members to practice new skills
Promote behaviors that will increase the level of cohesion
Tasks of the final stage of an open group
Educate members to give adequate notice when they decide it is time to terminate
Discuss informed consent from the beginning of a group and explain how to terminate productively
Assist the member leaving to prepare emotionally for termination and give others the opportunity to express their reactions
Explore cultural influences on members’ perceptions and understandings of endings
Assist the member who is leaving to review what has been learned in the group and, specifically, what to do with this learning
Help participants learn how to face future challenges with the tools they acquired in the group
Make referrals, when appropriate
Tasks of the final stage of a closed group:
Dealing with feelings of separation
Dealing with unfinished business
Reviewing the group experience
Practicing for behavioral change
Giving and receiving feedback
Discussing ways of carrying learning further– using contracts and homework
The sentence completion method can enhance the quality of feedback and can result in focused feedback
Examples:
My greatest fear for you is …
My hope for you is…
I hope that you will seriously consider…
I see you blocking your strengths by…
Some things I hope you will think about doing for yourself are…
Some ways I hope you’d be different with others are…
Leader Functions: Ending Stage
- Assist members in dealing with any feelings they might have about termination
- Provide members with an opportunity to express and deal with any unfinished business within the group
- Reinforce members’ changes and ensure they have information about resources to continue their growth
- Assist members in determining how they will apply specific skills in a variety of situations in daily life
Leader Functions After Termination of a Group
Offer private consultations if any member should need this service
Provide for a follow-up group session or follow-up individual interviews
Identify referral sources for members who may need further assistance
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the group
