This was released as Episode 390 of Counselor Toolbox Podcast. You can find specific episodes and CEU courses based on the podcasts at https://allceus.com/counselortoolbox You can also subscribe on your favorite podcast app like Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Castbox.

1. Facilitating
Open-Ended Groups
Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes PhD, LPC-MHSP, LMHC
Executive Director: AllCEUs Counselor Education
Host: Counselor Toolbox Podcast
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2. Objectives
 Define closed, open and single-session groups
 Explore the benefits and challenges for each
 Identify the developmental phases for open
groups
 Discuss necessary skills for managing open-ended
groups
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3. Definitions
 Closed groups are those which begin with a group of
people and do not add anyone else (i.e. a 12 week anxiety
management group)
 Single session groups are stand-alone groups in which
participants are not expected to return (i.e. A 4 hour
grief workshop)
 Open groups are those which do not have a set number of
sessions and participants regularly rotate in and out.
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4. Closed Group
Benefits
 Participants all begin at the
same time and learn the same
material
 When all begin together, the
developmental process occurs
in a predictable way: Forming,
storming, norming and
performing (Tuckman 1965)
 Participants form more
intimate bonds
Drawbacks
 As people leave, there is no
replacement
 There is often a waiting period
for people to get into groups
which is not ideal for emergent
issues.
 When people drop out, they
usually cannot return
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5. Single Session Group
Benefits
 Uses a brief intervention model
during a longer session.
 Available like a “menu”
 Does not require the
participant to return another
day
Drawbacks
 Requires the full development
of the group in one session
 Does not typically help
participants translate
knowledge into practice
 Typically more
psychoeducational in nature
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6. Open Ended Groups
Benefits
 Available on-demand for emergent
concerns
 Meets the guidelines for co-
occurring disorder treatment of
episodic care
 Provides a gentle transition back
into care
Drawbacks
 A certain amount of forming and
norming happens each time a new
member arrives or rejoins
 It is harder to develop a deep level
of trust with client rotations
 Requires clinicians to be highly
structured, able to foster cohesion
between old and new members and
 Facilitators must be able to
develop a clear and specific
purpose
 Facilitators must thoroughly
research expected needs to be
able to facilitate “on the fly”
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7. Forming in an Open Ended Group
 Facilitator Planning
 Divide the topic into stand-alone groups
 Someone who was not there last week should still be able to benefit
this week.
 Consider a cyclic rotation (every 8-16 sessions w/new information )
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1. Depression: Causes and
Consequences
2. Sleep & Nutritional Interventions
3. Chronic Pain
4. Mindfulness
5. Distress Tolerance
6. Making Lemonade
7. Problem Solving
8. Attachment and Boundaries
9. Relationship Synergy
10. Unhelpful Thoughts/Cognitive
Distortions and Cognitive Processing
11. Silencing the Inner Critic
12. Developing Psychological Flexibility
13. Improving Self-Esteem and Efficacy
14. What You See is How You Feel
15. Grief, Trauma & Depression
16. Anxiety, Anger and Depression

8. Forming in an Open Ended Group
 Pre-group orientation
 Explain the expectations and the rules for group
 Attendance and how to withdraw
 Participation
 Reasons for discharge
 Review what will be covered in group (weekly schedule)
 Provide introductory information (handouts, videos)
 Develop personal goals for group
 Before group starts
 Buddy up the new member with an existing member
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9. Forming in An Open Ended Group
 The first (or only) session
 Goals: Create cohesion
 New people introduce themselves and identify what they hope to
get out of group (5-10 minutes)
 Have current members share if they have similar goals
 Tom: I am just so tired of being tired and depressed all the time.
I want to find a way to get some pleasure back.
 Jim Responds: I hear you. When I joined the group life almost
didn’t seem worth living, but each week I learn more about the
reasons I feel this way and small changes that have made a big
difference.
 Go around the group and have members share how they are doing,
one way they dealt with their [issue] since the last group and one
challenge they have experienced (if any) (10 minutes)
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10. Storming in An Open Ended Group
 Existing members typically take a facilitative lead to help
empower new members to take full advantage in the
group
 Facilitators need to ensure one person does not dominate
the group
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11. Norming in An Open Ended Group
 The first (or only) session
 Present the topic for the day and link it to people’s
tools and challenges
Challenges: Anhedonia, hypersomnia, no motivation
Group Topic: Distress Tolerance (10 minutes)
 Review how dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine are
impacted by stress and can impact ability to feel pleasure,
libido, sleep, appetite and motivation (ad lib)
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12. Performing in An Open Ended Group
 The first (or only) session
 Group Topic: Distress Tolerance
 Provide a useful nugget
 Provide handouts on distress tolerance techniques
 Teach each technique using multisensory approaches (20
minutes)
 Have participants discuss (30 minutes)
 How the new technique or information could have helped them
address their challenge from the past week (anhedonia,
motivation, hypersomnia)
 How they can foresee remembering and using it in the upcoming
week
 How it will help them achieve their overall goal for group
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12

13. Other Ways of Organizing Groups
 By Symptoms
 By Book Chapters (usu. self-help books)
 Toxic Parents
 Surviving the Borderline Parent
 Self-Esteem
 Grieving: A Beginners Guide
 By Current Events
 Other…
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14. Sample Grief Group
1. The Impact of Grief and Trauma: What to Expect and How It Makes
Sense (Behavioral, Emotional, Physical, Interpersonal, Cognitive,
Spiritual)
2. Getting Support (LUV) from Others and Yourself: Listening,
Understanding & Validating
3. Highlighting Resilience
4. Making Meaning
5. Transforming Crisis Into Opportunity
6. Managing Emotions: Promoting Feelings of Resolve and Competence
7. Envisioning Possibilities: Creative Coping
8. Taking Action
Based in part on Crisis Intervention: Promoting Resilience and Resolution in Troubled
Times by Lennis Echterling et. Al.
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15. Multisensory Techniques
Visual
 Whiteboard
 Graphs/ Drawings
 Handouts
 Worksheets
 Analogy examples
 Art therapy
 Note taking
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Auditory
 Lecture
 Discussion
 Record and
Replay
Kinesthetic/
Manipulative
 Teaching
 Applying
 Role-playing
 Board Games,
Jeopardy, Jenga
 Ball Toss

16. Other Adult Learning Tips
 Ensure participants see how the group benefits
them
 Make it relevant to their lives
 Use culturally appropriate examples
 Take 2-3 minute thinking breaks every 10-15
minutes
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17. Summary
 Open-ended groups are the norm in most agencies
 The biggest challenges with open ended groups are:
 Structuring sessions so prior knowledge is not necessary
participants have access to all the information.
 Facilitating progression beyond superficial awareness
 Developing cohesion among members
 Tying participants’ current challenges to the planned topic
 The biggest benefits are:
 Episodic flexibility
 Rapid admission
 New perspectives
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