Group Process Stages of Development PDF

GROUP PROCESS STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT  STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3 Formation of the Group INITIAL STAGE TRANSITION STAGE STAGE 5 STAGE 4 ENDING OF THE GROUP...

GROUP PROCESS STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT  STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3 Formation of the Group INITIAL STAGE TRANSITION STAGE STAGE 5 STAGE 4 ENDING OF THE GROUP WORKING STAGE STAGE 1: Forming a Group The preparatory period of group process Common Concerns When working with an agency or organization: Proposal for group work – approved by agency Agency – convinced of the need for the group work Agency asks: How will the agency be covered legally in the event of a lawsuit? Will the program be voluntary? In case of minor participants, will written consent be given? What steps are to be taken if the group proves to be psychologically disruptive for some members? What steps are undertaken to face possible confrontations from parents and other community members? Developing a Group Proposal Basis of a sound and practical proposal: Rationale: clear and convincing Objectives: what you want to attain and how will you go about attaining them; specific, measurable and attainable objectives within a specified time Practical considerations: membership, reasonable meeting times, frequency of meetings and duration of group. Procedures: selected procedures and techniques; appropriate and realistic procedures for population Evaluation: how well objectives are met; objective, practical and relevant evaluation methods Defending the Proposal What type of group? Long-term or Why the need for the group How members are prepared; short-term group? ground rules For whom is the group intended? Assumptions underlying the Group structure; techniques; are Specific population – knowledge project techniques appropriate for on the developmental needs of culturally diverse population? the. population Cultural mix and implications of Qualifications of the group leader How are risks handled? Esp for such for forming the group minors? Voluntary /involuntary members? Screening and selection Evaluation procedures? Special considerations that must procedures to be used. Rationale Follow-up procedures? be addressed? behind? Goals and purpose of group? Number of members? Venue? Topics? What will the members gain? Number of sessions? Duration of each session? Open or closed group? Membership in a Group If proposal is approved: start to find ways to announce the group to prospective participants Professional approach over commercialized approach! TIP: Make personal contact with potential members  Professional approach Prospective members should have access to: (ASGW Best Practice Guidelines): Professional disclosure statement Implications for out-of-group contact and involvement among members Goals and purposes of group Procedures for consultation between leader(s) and member(s) Policies re: entering and exiting the group Techniques and procedures that may be used Expectations from participants (voluntary and Education, training and qualifications of the group involuntary) leader Policies and procedures re: mandated groups Fees and time parameters (where relevant) Rights of responsibilities of leader and member Statement of what services can and cannot be provided Documentation procedures; disclosure of Personal risks involved information to others  Sourcing participants: Presentations: ex: room to room presentations; community presentations (barangay halls) Posters: signs on well-attended areas. (familiarize self with existing guidelines re posters, etc) Announcements: social media, TV, news articles Contacts and Peer Referrals Screening and Selection Procedures Preliminary Screening Sessions Assessing and Choosing Members Screening and “Group workers screen prospective group members if appropriate to the type of group being Selecting offered. When selection go group member is appropriate, Group workers identify group members whose needs and goals are compatible Members with the goals of the group.” (ASGW Best Practice Guidelines)  Take into account balance and diversity. Take into account individual characteristics of Take Note! potential group members. Individuals who share common experiences but diverse in other ways  Private session between leader and prospective participant Look for evidences that the group will be beneficial to the prospective participant Preliminary (motivation for joining, free will to join, right choice of group?) Screening Give the prospective participant the chance to ask the group leader questions – confidence towards leader can be developed Sessions Group session with all prospective participants Introduce the reasons for the creation of the group and the topics that could be explored Meeting of potential members and explore the potential of the group. Assessing Subjective rather than objective process Best way to get together the best members of and the group Opportunity to provide information and orient choosing the prospective members about the group Opportunity for possible members to explore members appropriateness of the group to their needs. Practical Considerations in Forming a Group 1. Group Composition Homogenous group vs heterogenous groups similarity among members leads to a great degree of cohesion, which allows for an open and intense exploration of life issues - homogenous groups. Ex: alcoholic anonymous members can experiment with new behaviors and develop interpersonal skills thru feedback from a group of people representing everyday life – heterogenous groups. Ex: personal growth groups 2. Group Size Factors of group size: Children: 3 – 4 members 1. Age of clients Adolescents: 6 – 8 members 2. Experience of leader Adults (weekly basis): 8 members 3. Type of group 4. Problems to be explored Big enough to provide ample opportunity for interaction, small enough for everyone to be involved and feel a sense of the group 3. Frequency and Duration of Meeting Children and Adolescents: In-patient group of lower functioning Meet more frequently and for a shorter members period of time – attention span Daily for 45 minutes College students and adults: In-patient group of highly functioning 2-hour weekly session– allows members intensive work without getting fatigued. Several times a week for 90 minutes 4. Length of a group Termination date – announced at the start Ideal is 15 to 16 weeks for teens and so members will have a clear idea of the college-age individuals: time limits under which they are working Long enough for trust to develop and Advantage – members have the idea that for behavioral changes to take place they do not have forever to attain their Not too long for the group to be personal goals dragging on 5. Place for Group Meetings Privacy – must be ensured Circular seating arrangement preferred – participants see each other; enough Productive group work will not occur if freedom of movement there are too many distractions Coleaders should sit across each other – No clutters! non-verbal behavior of members can be Comfortable seating observed by coleaders; we-vs-them atmosphere is avoided. 6. Open vs. Closed Groups Open groups – characterized by changing Closed groups – with time limitations, memberships. groups meet for a predetermined number of sessions. As members leave the group, new ones are admitted and group continues Members are expected to remain until termination New members are not added 6. Open vs Closed Groups Open Groups Advantages: Increased opportunity for members to interact with a greater variety of people Open Groups Disadvantages: Rapid changing of members results to lack of cohesion. The Pre-group Meeting What is a pregroup meeting? Meeting of prospective group members conducted before the start of the actual group sessions Preliminary or Pregroup Individual Interviews Orientation Interviews Meeting What to do in a pregroup meeting 1. Explore members’ expectations 2. Clarify objectives and goals of the group 3. Discuss procedural details – provide group structure 4. Impart some information about group process 5. Answer questions of members Must be done in interactive way Clarify Leader and Member Expectations Ask members about their expectations from the group Allows leaders to have a frame of reference on how to approach the group Share to the group the expectations of the leaders Share why group was designed, what is hoped to be accomplished, and what are the expectations from leaders and members Share your responsibilities as a leader and the rights and responsibilities of the members What services can be expected Setting up Ground Rules Establish procedures that will facilitate the group process What approach to use – depends on the leader (directive or non-directive) Define confidentiality (to make members feel they are protected) Keep in mind: Leader should assure members of confidentiality on her end; but confidentiality cannot be 100% guaranteed because of other forces. Discuss limitations of confidentiality/privileged communication Attendance and punctuality Advantages of Group Work Participants learn more effective social skills Group setting offers support for new behaviors and encourages experimentation Members interact with a different personalities in a group of people and feedback received is diverse and rich Members experience several factors that foster personal growth Provides members with an arena to observe how they affect other people and consequently learn from these interactions Misconceptions about Groups 1. Groups are for everyone. 2. Working out my problems in the group will automatically solve my problems at home. 3. The goal of a group is that members will leave it feeling close and loving toward everyone in the group 4. Groups are places where people are attacked and defenses are torn down. 5. Groups tell people how to be. 6. Group pressure forces people to lose a sense of identity. 7. Groups are artificial and unreal.  7 groups 10 minutes You will be assigned to discuss Break out an identified misconception about groups. Explain why it is a Rooms misconception. What is the truth behind the statement. Task for October 17 Continuation of Skills Lab presentation Presentation of Theories of Group Work Existential Person-Centered Behavioral Rational Emotive Reality Discuss the key concepts, roles and functions of the group leader and techniques.