Ch 7 Flashcards
closing a group
primary activities of group members in closing are to
reflect on their past experiences
process memories
evaluate what was learned
acknowledge ambivalent feelings
engage in cognitive decision making
closing provides group members….
an opportunity to clarify the meaning of their expereinces
consolidate the gains they have made
express their joys as well as regrets
measure their growth
make decisions about the new behaviors they want to carry and apply to their lives
emotional ambivalence
issue and processes in ending a group
feelings of loss, sadness, pain and separation mixed with hope, joy, anticipation, etc.
preparing for closing a group
begins in the planning stage (the amount of sessions, etc.)
establish appropriate boundaries
certain amount of meetings dedicated to closing/explaining it (two-four)
boundaries
physical and psychological parameters under which a group operates, such as beginning and ending on time or sitting in a certain configuration, such as a circle
two levels of closing
at the end of each session
end of a certain number of group sessions
four steps of closing
orientation
summarization
discussion of goals
follow-up
in open-ended therapy groups (psychiatric patients)…
endings are highly individualized
ideally, group members review…
what was completed
assess output versus objectives
assess the groups ability to meet the evolution of those who use or view group output
and prepare group output for final disposition
factors that determine how ending a group impacts individuals
whether group was open or close ended
whether members were prepared in advance for the ending
whether the speed and intensity of work within sessions was at an appropriate level to allow participants to properly identify and resolve concerns or problems
farewell-party syndrome
when group members emphasize only the positive aspects of what has occurred in the group instead of what they learned
tends to avoid the pain of closure
options to better help group members struggling with closing
- individual counseling, in which unique concerns can be given greater attention
- referral to another group or organization, in which more specific or specialized assistance can be rendered
- recycling, in which the individual can go through a similar group experience again and learn lessons missed the first time
premature termination
individuals quit a group abruptly
the group experience ends suddenly because of actions by the leader
three types of premature endings that must be dealt with
the termination of the group as a whole
the successful ending of a group of an individual member
the unsuccessful ending of a group for a member
how to handle premature closing properly
leaders need to have at least one group session to say good bye to group as a whole or contact them directly
reasons individuals leave groups prematurely
external factors
group deviancy
problems of intimacy
fear of emotional contagion
inability to share the doctor
complications of concurrent individual and group therapy
early provacatuers
inadequate orientation to therapy
complications arising from subgrouping
immature members
preventing premature closing
groups should start and end on time
members should commit to attend a number of sessions
members should be treated in a personal and professional way
clarity and conciseness should be used in taking about individual and group issues
reminders should be sent to members if there are long intervals between group sessions
most effective formats for closing a session are…
having the members summarize,
having leader summarize
using a round
using dyads
scaling activities
getting written reactions
member summarization
one or more members of the group summarize what has occurred during the session, describing what has happened to them individually, and how they have gained from the particular session
leader summarization
they give a personal reaction to what they perceive to have occurred in the group
comments on cohesion of the group, the degree to which members freely brought up topics, the willingness of members to take risks and talk about unsafe topics, the degree they interacted with each other
go-rounds
exercise of rounds
a variation on member summarization, except in this procedure every group member comments briefly about highlights of the group session
dyads
groups of two members
group leaders make sure all members are involved in the closing, and at the same time, group is energized
scaling activities
a way of finding out the level of satisfaction group members have in a quick and efficient fashion
can be done end of a group session or end of group itself
writing reactions
write during the session
write in journals or logs end of session
journal letters
group members and the leaders write about their experiences and give their letters to each other
ways to terminate a group
setting a time limit (amount of sessions)
capping (easing out of emotional interaction and into cognitive reflection)
use appropriate closing skills and call the groups attention to what needs to be done to terminate
summarizing reflections
used in task and psychoeducational groups
capping skills for final closing of the group
- reviewing and summarizing the group experience
- assessing members growth, change, or achievement
- finishing business
- applying change to everyday life
5.providing feedback - handling good-byes
- planning for continued problem resolution
assessing members growth and change
an emphasis is on individuals memories of themselves at the beginning of the group and now
finishing business…
is a crucial task at the end of a group
unfinished business
when someone hurts another, or is hurt by someones, and fails to resolve the problems with the relevant person
clear communication, congruence, and direct confrontation helps
rehearsal
the process of applying change to everyday life
roleplay, homework
sharing homework
a transitional exercise that often follows rehearsal and role playing in which group members actually practice in public what they have done experientially in the group
homework
- a continuous technique that may be employed in many different types of group sessions
- should always be processed
expressing farewells/saying good by
members encouraged to own their feelings and express their thoughts at this time, specifically to how group meant to them
structured capping exercises
awarding of certificiates
pat on the back (outline of their hand and type on back; people write on it)
final step to closing a group
developing a specific plan for continuing each members progress after the group ends
projecting the future
in which group members are asked to imaging the changes they would like to make in the short or long term
problems in closing of groups
detail
transference issues with leader or other members
group leaders countertransference in relation to one or more members
closure and transition may or may not be handled correctly
denial
acting as if an experience will never end
transference
the displacement of effect from one person to another
deal with it by becoming aware of them and recognize them for what they are initially in the group
group stories fabric technique
group stories fabric technique (GSFT)
group members recount personal stories and give as well as receive feedback to these stories by other group members (metastories; stories within the stories reflects transference issues)
countertransference
usually thought of as the leaders emotional responses to members that are a result of the leaders own needs or unresolved issues with significant others
can occur between members of unequal status
deal with it by recognizing how it is being manifested
countertransference is being exhibited when leaders are….
overly solicitous, distant, protective, on confrontational, competitive, resistant, overly identified with, or romantically or socially attracted to group members
direct supervision
follow-up
the procedure of reconnecting with group members after they have had enough time to process what they experienced in the group and work on their goals or objectives
it is planned
ways to follow up
arrange a private interview with each group members
members hold a reunion of the group as a whole
evaluation questionnaire
writing a journal
evaluation questionnaire should cover
- the leadership of the group
- the facilities in which the group was held
- the groups effectiveness in achieving its objectives
