1. Group Facilitation
Bethany Weinstein, LMSW
PRN Social Worker

2. Objectives:
 To define the purpose of a support group.
 To list the different phases of group interactions.
 To describe different personality types in group
members.
 To identify different problems that might occur in a
group setting.
 To discuss different methods for group cohesion.

3. What is a support group?
 A group of individuals, all sharing
a certain problem or concern, who
meet on a regular basis to
exchange mutual support and
discuss how they are dealing with
their problems.
 It is the affective sharing of one’s
inner world and then the
acceptance by others that is of
paramount importance.

4. What can a support group offer?
 Emotional support
 Decrease in isolation
 Practical advice
 Friendship
 Hope
 Problem solve
 Licensure information
 Sense of belonging
 Identity
 Self esteem
 Stress reduction
 Checks and balances
 Expand awareness
 Networking

5. Stages of Group Development
1. Forming
2. Storming
3. Norming
4. Performing
5. Adjourning
***All stages of group development are
necessary, and inevitable in order for members to
cohesively grow***

6. The Forming Stage
 In this stage, the group comes together and
get to initially know one another and form as
a group.
 The group learns about the opportunities and
challenges that can be gained.
 Goals are agreed upon and standards are
set.

7. The Forming Stage -
Characteristics
 Good behavior
 Eagerness
 Anxiety
 Dependence

8. The Storming Stage
 In this stage, the group addresses issues
such as what problems they want to focus
on, how they will function independently and
together.
 Group members will begin to open up and
confront each other’s ideas and
perspectives.

9. The Storming Stage - Characteristics
 Confrontation
 Acting out
 Avoidance
 Immaturity
 Fear
 Conflict

10. The Storming Stage – Problems
 Location of meetings
 Attendance drops
 Meeting topics
 New members
 Personality types
 Silent member
 Monopolizer
 Boring member
 Help rejecter
 Harmful member

11. The Storming Stage – Problems
 Location of meetings
 People complain that
meeting locations are too far
to drive to monthly.
 Solutions:
 Have the group vote on a
mutually acceptable place
for the majority of the group.
 Different members host the
meeting at their place.

12. The Storming Stage – Problems
 Attendance drops
 Tardiness and poor attendance is a
sign of resistance to opening up to the
group. It’s also bad for group moral
because it can become contagious.
 Solutions:
 Try to search out the source of the
resistance (individual or the entire
group) and address it.
 Gain pressure from the group.

13. The Storming Stage – Problems
 Meeting topics
 Creating a topic monthly can be
challenging and should NOT be the
sole responsibility of the coordinator.
 Solutions:
 Have the group members rotate on
who will provide the topic that month.
 Pick topics from the Big Book, the
Steps, and tools from treatment
centers.

14. The Storming Stage – Problems
 New members
 Resistant new members
can negatively affect the
group.
 Solutions:
 Make an effort to reach
out to new members.
 Allow new members
time to integrate, but, if
the group becomes
affected, have the
group address their
behavior.

15. The Storming Stage – Problems
 The “Silent Member”
 This member generally sits in group
and doesn’t participate in meetings.
 Solutions:
 Checking in with each member at the
start of the meeting can alleviate
shyness.
 Encourage other members to share
their perceptions of the silent patient.

16. The Storming Stage – Problems
 The “Monopolist”
 This member tends to be the center
of attention, chatters incessantly,
and rushes to fill the silence.
 Solutions:
 Ask the group why they allow
one member to carry the entire
meeting.
 Work with the monopolistic
member to identify when they’re
monopolizing the conversation.

17. The Storming Stage – Problems
 The “Boring Member”
 This member tends to inhibited, socially
awkward, predictable, and never has
anything to say.
 Solutions:
 Ask the group What makes the person
boring and how can I find the exciting
person hiding within.
 Attempt to identify their creative and
active side.

18. The Storming Stage – Problems
 The “Help-Rejecter”
 This member Implicitly or explicitly
requests help from group (presents
complaint or problems), but rejects all
suggestions the group makes.
 Solutions:
 Stop giving advice.
 Express that you “not only
understand, but you share the
feelings of hopelessness.”

19. The Storming Stage – Problems
 The “Harmful Member”
 This member disregards groups norms and
is disruptive at meetings. This person may
show up to meetings impaired, breaks
confidentiality, or is hostile to group
members.
 Solutions:
 Let PRN staff know of this disruption.
 Privately, this person must be asked to
not attend the group in the future.

20. The Norming Stage
o In this stage, members are now resolving
differences and clarifying the purpose of the
group.
o Members have learned more about each
other and feel less threatened.
o Rules have been established and trust in the
group has occurred.

21. The Norming Stage -
Characteristics
o Cohesion
o Problem-solving
o Responsibility
o Mutual respect
o Trust

22. The Performing Stage
 In this stage, members are able to support
each other as a solid unit without
inappropriate conflict.
 Individual members have become self-
assuring, and the need for group approval is
past.
 The main task of the group becomes genuine
problem-solving, leading toward optimal
solutions, and optimum group development.

23. The Performing Stage - Characteristics
 Teamwork
 Interdependence
 Self-assurance
 Unity
 Loyalty
 Group
assessment

24. The Adjourning Stage
 In this stage, members may “graduate” the
program or choose to leave for other
reasons.
 Group members who graduate from the
program are always welcome to continue to
attend regional meetings.

25. The Adjourning Stage - Characteristics
 Happiness
 Sense of loss
 Recognition
 Apprehension

26. What group stage are you in?
 Determine what stage your group is in.
 Discuss the different challenges you’ve
confronted in your group, and how they were
resolved.

27. Objectives:
 To define the purpose of a support group.
 To list the different phases of group interactions.
 To describe different personality types in group
members.
 To identify different problems that might occur in a
group setting.
 To discuss different methods for group cohesion.

28. The End!!!
Have a nice evening.
Enjoy the seminar.