Chapter 13 - Groups in Counselling Flashcards
Kurt Lewin
field theory concepts in the 1930’s & 1940’s became the vasis of tavistock small groups in GB and T-Group movement in US
Who introduced term Group psychotherapy?
Jacob Moreno in the 1920’s
Fritz Perls
Gestalt approach to groups attracted new interest in the field by stressing the importance of awareness and obtaining congruence within oneself
Edwards Deming
conceptualized and implemented the idea of quality work groups to improve the processes and products people produce and to build morale among workers
William Schutz & Jack Gibb
humanistic approach to T-groups that focused on personal growth as a legitimate goal
Carl Rogers
devised the basic encounter group in the 1960’s that became the model for growth oriented group models.
John Salvendy
started the Canadian Group Psychotherapy Association
Psychodrama
Jacob Moreno, a viennese psychiatrist is credited as the originator of pscyhodrama.
Used for decades in washington DC
Used originally in Vienna, Austria
members enact unrehearsed role-plays with group leaders serving as the director. Group members are actors in the protagonists play, giving feedback to the protagnoist as members of the audience (or both).
Popular with behaviourists, gestaltists, affective oriented group leaders
T-Groups
T(Training) started in National Training Laboratories NTL in Maine, in 1946. Before group counselling had evolved. May be considered beginning of group work.
Evolved from a focus on task accomplishment to a primary emphasis on interpersonal relationships.
- Learn how ones behaviour in a group influences other’s behaviour and vice versa.
Encounter Groups
Emerged from TGroups
Focus on growth of individual group members rather than group itself
Normally function people who wanted to grow, change and develop.
Takes many forms (Carl rogers, open ended william Schutz)
Individual expression and recognition of affect
Group Marathons
an extended, one-session group experience that breaks down defensive barriers that individuals may otherwise use. Lasts for a min of 24 hours.
Fredrick stoller & George Back pioneered concept in 1960s.
Successful with substance abuse and well-functioning individuals in other group settings.
labour and peace negotiations are held in a group marathon setting to achieve breakthroughts
Self help/support groups
Self-help groups and mutual help groups are synonymous.
2 types:
1) spontaneously originate and stress their autonomy and internal group resources
2) Organized by established professional helping organization
either short or long term, work to help members gain greater control in their lives. Over 10 mil. people involved in groups in the US
Some charge fees, some do not. Ex. AA WW LLL
Misperceptions (myths) about groups
- They are artificial and unreal
- They are second-rate structures for dealing with problems
- They force people to lose their identity by tearing down psychological defenses
*They require people to become emotional and spill their guts
*They are touchy-feel, confrontational, hostile and brainwashing
Advantages of Groups
- instil hope (treatment will work)
- universality (i’m not alone)
- Imparting of info (instruction/how to deal with life)
- Altruism (sharing with others, common good)
- Corrective recapitulation of the primary family group (reliving early family conflicts and resolving them)
*Development of socializing techniques (Learning social skills) - Imitative behaviour (modeling positive actions of other group members)
*Interpersonal learning (gaining insight) - Group cohesiveness (bonding)
- Catharsis (Experiencing and expressing feelings )
Drawbacks of groups
- Some client concerns and personalities are not suited for groups
- some may not be dealt with in enough depth in groups
- group pressure may force a client to take action such as self-disclosure before being ready
- may lapse into group-think mentality
- may not be transferable to real life in some cases
- may become regressive and nonproductive, even destructive such as scapegoating and projection
group think mentality
stereotypical, defensive and stale thought processes become the norm, and creativity and problem solving are squelched
psychoeducational groups
Preventive and instructional
Teach participants how to deal with a potential threat, developmental event, or immediate life crisis
Found in schools, hospitals, mental health centres, social services agencies, universities
e.g. student groups on campus address anger, relationships, study skills.
Counselling Groups
interpersonal problem solving groups.
help group participants resolve the usual, difficult problems of living through interpersonal support and problem solving.
More direct that psychoeducational groups. Stresses affective involvement rather than just cognitive understanding.
Small size compared to P.E. groups, which can be room sized.
Psychotherapy groups
personality reconstruction groups
help individual group members remediate in-depth psychological problems
often in inpatient facilities such as psych hospital, in order to keep close control of people involved.
Task Work Groups
assist groups such as task forces, committees, planning groups, community organizations, discussion groups, study circles learning groups etc
i.e. team
Theoretical approaches in groups
approaches in group counselling vary as much as individual counselling.
Tuckman (1965)
designed a stage process for group counselling.
1) Forming
2) Storming
3) Norming
4) Performing
Later concept was expanded to include adjourning/mourning
Forming
initial caution in group members, avoid being rejected
members are superficial and tend to focus conversation around past or future events that don’t affect the group
Task: Deal with apprehension, review goals & contracts, reiterate group rules, set limits, promote positive interactions among members
Storming
a time of conflict and anxiety in the group, attempt to balance between too much and too little tension
Group members tend to be more anxious in their interactions, concern for power is prevelant
task: Concentrate on direct objectives , a healthy pause may occur. Scapegoating
procedure: levelling, feedback, informal and formal feedback
Norming
Group generates enthusiasm and cohesion. a feeling of “we-ness”, belonging and cooperation.
cooperate, collaborate, cohesion
Task: members must agree on establishment of norms from which to operate. importance of commitment is stressed
procedures: supporting, empathizing, facilitating, self-disclosure
Performing/Working
Focus on the achievement of the individual and group goals and the movement of the group
genuine concern on a deep personal level, greater willingness to self-disclose on the part of members. increased awareness of each other.
Task: emphasis on productivity, whether the results are tangible or not. Relationships tended to with balance and productivity
Procedure: modelling, exercises, group observing group, brainstorming, nominal group technique, teaching skills
Mourning /Adjourning (Termination)
participants coming to know themselves on a deeper level , evaluate what was learned, engage in cognitive decision making
peer: feelings of empathy, compassion, care, relate deep and emotive , feelings of warmth and sorrow occur simultaneously
Task: promoting successful end to the group, consolidation of gains, making decisions for new ways of behaving
procedures: summarization, rounds, dyads, written reactions, rating sheets, homework, capping skills, modelling.
pre-group interview
members should be selected whose needs and goals are compatible with the established goals of the group. These are members who will not impede the group process, and whose well-being will not be jeopardized by the group experience
pre-group training
members learn more about a group and what is expected of them, provides important information for participants and gives them a chance to lower their anxiety.
group process
how group member interactions influence the development of the group
it is the process of the group (ie homogeneous,heterogeneous) not the content, focus or purpose that will eventually determine if a group succeeds. Successful groups process is balanced with content.
homogeneous groups
members are more alike than unalike - usually less conflict and risk taking, more cohesion and support, better attendance
heterogeneous groups
members are more unalike than alike. more conflict initially, great risk taking, but support and cohesion may lag and members may drop out
open ended groups
admit new members after they have started
close-ended groups
do not admit members after they have started
confidentiality
what has been said within the group setting will not be revealed outside the group
co-leaders
can be beneficial to the group and the leaders especially if the group is large. One can work with the group, while the other monitors the group process.
self-disclosure
here and now feelings, attitudes and beliefs. The process of self-disclosure is dependent on the trust the group members have for each other.
Feedback
multidimensional process that consists of group members responding to verbal messages and noverbal behaviours of one another. When feedback is given honestly and with care, group members can gauge the impact of their actions on others and attempt new behaviours.
Criteria for helpful feedback
*should be beneficial to the receiver and not serve the needs of the giver
*more effective when it is based on describable behaviour
*in early stages, positive feedback is more beneficial and readily accepted than negative feedback
*most effective when it immediately follows a stimulus behaviour and is validated by others
*of greater benefit when the receiver is open and trusts the giver
Qualities of effective Group Leaders
1) Caring - the more the better
2) Meaning attribution - includes clarifying, explaining, providing a cognitive framework for change
3) emotional stimulation - involves activity, risk taking, self disclosure
4)Executive function - entails developing norms, structuring and suggesting procedures.
