Stages of Groups

1. Copyright
©
2012
Brooks/Cole,
a
division
of
Cengage
Learning,
Inc.
Stages of Groups, Group
Process, andTherapeutic
Forces
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Learning.
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2. Copyright
©
2012
Brooks/Cole,
a
division
of
Cengage
Learning,
Inc.
Stages of
Groups
 All groups go through three stages:
 The Beginning Stage
 TheWorking Stage
 The Closing Stage
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3. Copyright
©
2012
Brooks/Cole,
a
division
of
Cengage
Learning,
Inc.
Other
Models of
Sequenti
alStages
 Corey: formation, orientation, transition, working,
consolidation, and follow-up.
 Tuckman: forming, storming, norming, performing,
and adjourning.
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4. Copyright
©
2012
Brooks/Cole,
a
division
of
Cengage
Learning,
Inc.
Group
Process
 Group process: interaction and energy exchange
among members and leaders.
 Dynamics of Interaction Patterns
 Who talks to whom and how often do
members speak?
 Is the interaction member to member or
member to leader?
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5. Copyright
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2012
Brooks/Cole,
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division
of
Cengage
Learning,
Inc.
Group
Dynamics
of
Different
Kinds of
Groups
 A discussion of group dynamics
must take into consideration the
kind of group and the leadership
style
 Education Groups
 Members have different abilities to learn
 Members at different comfort levels with the
material
 Discussion Groups
 Leader needs to be aware of member trying to
dominate
 Leader should try to get everyone to participate
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6. Copyright
©
2012
Brooks/Cole,
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division
of
Cengage
Learning,
Inc.
Group
Dynamics
of
Different
Kinds of
Groups
continued
 Task Groups
 Members may need conflict-resolution
 Be aware of power plays
 Growth & Experiential Groups
 Most important is how members feel about each
other since they will be sharing personally
 Wide variety of needs among members
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7. Copyright
©
2012
Brooks/Cole,
a
division
of
Cengage
Learning,
Inc.
Group
Dynamics
of
Different
Kinds of
Groups
continued
 Support Groups
 Level of trust, commitment, and caring is essential
 Need for commonality
 Counseling &TherapyGroups
 Members at different levels of mental health
 Members have wide variety of needs
 Self-Help Groups
 No identified leader
 Dynamics vary depending on membership
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8. Copyright
©
2012
Brooks/Cole,
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division
of
Cengage
Learning,
Inc.
Yalom’s
Curative
Factors
 Instillation of hope
 Universality
 Imparting of information
 Altruism
 Corrective recapitulation of the primary family
group
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9. Copyright
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2012
Brooks/Cole,
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division
of
Cengage
Learning,
Inc.
Yalom’s
Curative
Factors
continued
 Development of socialization
techniques
 Imitative behavior
 Interpersonal learning Group
cohesiveness
 Catharsis
 Existential factors
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10. Copyright
©
2012
Brooks/Cole,
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division
of
Cengage
Learning,
Inc.
Therapeutic
Forces
A skilled leader is always paying attention to the
therapeutic forces in a group.
 Clarity of Purpose
 Leader needs to be clear
 Members need to be clear
 Relevance of Purpose
 Must fit the purpose of the group
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11. Copyright
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2012
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Therapeutic
Forces
continued
 Group Size
 Depends on the kind of group
 5-8 members usually best
 Educational groups can be larger
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12. Copyright
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Therapeutic
Forces
continued
 Length of Each Session
 Depends on kind of group
 Varies with members
 Discussion, Education, 1-2 hours
 School groups—20-40 minutes
 Support, Counseling,Therapy groups 11/2-2 hours
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13. Copyright
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2012
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division
of
Cengage
Learning,
Inc.
Therapeutic
Forces
continued
 Frequency of meetings
 Depends on setting and purpose
Daily – residential
setting,
counseling/therapy
Weekly- residential or
community setting,
counseling/therapy,
support
Bi-weekly-community,
support,
psychoeducational
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14. Copyright
©
2012
Brooks/Cole,
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division
of
Cengage
Learning,
Inc.
Therapeutic
Forces
continued
 Adequacy of the Setting
 Be prepared for inadequate places
to conduct groups
 Ideally, a private space with the
same size chairs
 Time of Day
 Convenient for leaders and
members
 After lunch is often difficult—
members are sleepy
 The Leader’s Attitude
 Member’s definite pick up the
positive or negative attitude of the
leader
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15. Copyright
©
2012
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division
of
Cengage
Learning,
Inc.
Therapeutic
Forces
continued
 Closed or Open Groups
 Open groups are more difficult
 New members come
 Members leave
 Members can’t get as close
 Voluntary or Nonvoluntary Membership
 It is usually an anti-therapeutic force at the beginning with
nonvoluntary members
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16. Copyright
©
2012
Brooks/Cole,
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division
of
Cengage
Learning,
Inc.
Therapeutic
Forces
continued
 Member’s Level of Commitment
 Level ofTrust
 The leader is crucial in the development of trust in a
group
 Member’s AttitudesToward the Leader
 The Leader’s Experience in leading Groups
 Coleadership Harmony
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17. Copyright
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2012
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division
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Learning,
Inc.
ProcessAnd
Content
 Balance process vs. content. A common mistake is
to focus too much on one or the other.
 Process here refers to the group dynamics, and
therapeutic forces
 Content refers to the purpose or task of the group
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Learning.
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rights
reserved.