Understanding Group Work from a Systemic Perspective: Dynamics, History, and Modern Applications

1. Group Work Chapter 7

2. Groups: A Systemic Perspective • Can be viewed from systemic and cybernetics perspective • Dynamic interaction of its members • Communication patterns • Power dynamics • Hierarchies • Homeostasis

3. Why Have Groups? • Groups have become much more popular • But, why choose a group over individual counseling? • See advantages and disadvantages, Table 7.1, p. 227

4. History of Group Work(Early History) • Prior to 1900: • Functional and pragmatic groups (e.g., daily living skills) • Often moralistic in nature • Jane Addams and Mary Richmond--community groups to make systemic change • Turn of century: • Vocational and moral guidance in schools • Dr. Henry Pratt: Physician--groups with tuberculosis patients • Started with a lecture • Then had patients tell personal stories about their illness

5. History of Group Work(Early History) • Around 1900: Psychoanalytic principles explained groups behavior • Primal urges, instincts, parental influences • Herb instincts • Mob instincts • Recapitulation of family issues • 1914: Moreno started “psychodrama” and coined the phrase “group psychotherapy”

6. History of Group Work(Early History) • 1920s and 1930s: • Adler’s influence: birth order and social connectedness • First non psychoanalytically oriented groups • More group guidance in the schools • Emergence of Modern-Day Groups • 1947, Kurt Lewin and others: NTL • 1940s: Rogers worked with returning GIs from WWII– led to first encounter groups

7. History of Group Work (Popularity of Groups Surges) • 1960s: Groups reflect freedom and love • Esalen, Michael Murphy, and encounter Groups emerge • Encounter Group Leaders: Rogers, Maslow, Perls, Schutz • Read quote, bottom of p. 230 • Soon, other groups arise: marathon groups, confrontational groups, gestalt groups. • APA publishes “Guidelines for Psychologists Conducting Growth Groups” (1973) • 1960s and 1970s: books on group counseling flourish • 1973: ASGW

8. History of Group Work(Recent Trends) • Groups become alternative to individual counseling • Decline of more “outrageous” groups • Common-theme, task groups, and time-limited (brief groups) become popular • Rise in self-help groups • ASGW: • Best Practice Guidelines • Professional Standards for the Training of Group Workers • CACREP requires group work • Almost all programs now include group work

9. Defining Modern-Day Groups • Five Categories of Groups: • 1. Self-help groups • 2. Task groups • 3. Psychoeducational groups • 4. Counseling groups • 5. Psychotherapy groups • Group dynamics and group process occur in all groups • Group dynamics: internal dynamics • Group process: how group unravels over time

10. Defining Modern-Day Groups(Self-Help Groups) • Around for more than 50 years • Particularly popular for last 30 years • Purpose: education, affirmation, and enhancement of strengths • No paid leader, usually • Sometimes, no leader • Leader is not trained in group process, usually • Leader does help “organize” group • Nominal fee • Focus on specific issues, usually (AA, eating disorders) • See Box 7.1, p. 233

11. Defining Modern-Day Groups(Task Groups) • Focus on conscious behaviors and group dynamics • National Training Laboratory (NTL) first group to do this • Task group specialists usually enter a system and help to analyze and diagnose problems • Task group leaders help facilitate changes in system • Often focuses on differences among people in a system and how to help people get a long • See Box 7.2, p. 234

12. Defining Modern-Day Groups(Psychoeducational Groups) • Formerly: “Guidance Groups” • Focus: Disseminate mental health education to promote personal group and empowerment • Found in many settings • Designated, well-trained group leader • Focuses on preventive education • Often begins with didactic presentation and then leaders to discussion that may included limited self-disclosure • See Box 7.3, p. 235

13. Defining Modern-Day Groups(Counseling Groups) • Usually, focused on prevention and wellness, self-enhancement, increased insight, self-actualization • Focus more on conscious than unconscious • Usually, not dealing with severe pathology • Often, focuses on issues related tonormal human development • Usually, 4-12 members • Well trained leader • See Box 7.3, p. 235

14. Modern-Day Groups(Group Therapy) • Focus on deep-seated, long-term issues • Focus on remediation of severe pathology and personality reconstruction • Well-trained leader • Usually 4-12 members • Usually, meets for a minimum of 8 sessions • Usually, meet at least once a week for 1-3 hours • Leader facilitates deep expression of feelings and helps clients work on change • See Box 7.4

15. Modern-Day Groups • See Figure 7.1, p. 237 Comparison of Psychoeducational, Counseling, and Therapy Groups

16. Use of Theory in Group Work • Theory in reference to group work allows one to • Can show efficacy • Have a comprehensive approach • Help us understand client • Help us decide on techniques • Help us predict course of treatment • Is researchable—we can see its efficacy

17. Use of Theory in Group Work (Cont’d) • Most theories can be applied to group work. Use their basic tenets along with a systems framework • Theories that have been successfully applied include: • Psychoanalytic • Cognitive-Behavioral • Person-Centered • Solution Focused • Other

18. Preparing for the Group • Getting Members • Group Composition • Closed or Open Group • Size Of Group • Duration Of Meetings • Frequency Of Meetings • Securing Appropriate Space • Group Leadership Style

19. Stages of Group Development • Pregroup Stage (Forming a Group) • Pregroup meeting? • Interview with potential member? • Identifying expectations • Challenge myths • Screen out (or in) members

20. Stages of Group Development • Initial Stage (Forming) • Members anxious, apprehensive, and want to get started • Focus on others, not self • There and then conversation, not “here and now” • Resistance exhibited • Leader task: define ground rules and build trust • Structure, empathy, and positive regard important • Leaders: genuine and only slightly self-disclosing • Leaders: watch for scapegoating

21. Stages of Group Development • Transition Stage (Storming than Norming) • Beginning to feel comfortable with technical issues and ground rules– but still some anxiety initially • Members positioning themselves in groups • May project onto leader and have transference to leader • As stage continues, attacking and scapegoating may occur • Leader must deal with attacks and scapegoating • Slowly, trust builds and resistance diminishes • Ownership of feelings occurs • Here and now focus begins • Identification of problems and goals happens • Systemically: Goal is to build a highly functioning system

22. Stages of Group Development • Work Stage (Performing) • Trust occurs, conflict lessens, cohesion occurs • Can give and hear feedback • Work on identified behavioral change • Gain in self-esteem from positive feedback and sense of accomplishment • Use of advanced counseling skills by leader • Systemically: A system has been developed– but make sure the system continues to encourage change and forward movement

23. Stages of Group Development • Closure (Adjourning) • Increased sense of accomplishment • Saying good-bye • Share what has been learned • Express feelings about one another • Summarize with use of empathy • Consider who might want follow-up in counseling • Evaluation of group?

24. Multicultural/Social Justice Focus • Principles for Diversity-Competent Group Workers (ASGW) • Social Justice in Group Work: • Can help “privileged” clients see their privilege • Prejudice and the Group as Microcosm of Society • Groups can mimic what happens in society • Cultural Differences between a Group Member and the Group Leader • If group leader of different culture than members, members may project feelings about leader’s culture onto the leader • Offers leader opportunity to have client’s understand their biases

25. Ethical, Professional, and Legal Issues • Ethical Issues • Ethical code of ACA and Best Practices Statement of ASGW • Informed Consent and Confidentiality (see p. 249) • Can you ensure confidentiality? • Professional Associations: A number exist. ASGW is division of ACA • Group vs. Individual Counseling (see top of p. 251) • Legal Issues • Confidentiality and the Third Party Rule

26. The Counselor in Process • Allowing Groups to Unfold Naturally • “Push a group to open up to quickly, and it will push back” • Thus, your ability at facilitating growth in a group is the key mark to allowing the group process to occur