setting up groups in an agency or a community
TRANSCRIPT
© 2004, SAVITA ABRAHAMS
SETTING UP GROUPSIN AN AGENCY
OR A COMMUNITY
Savita Abrahams, M.A., LPC-ITexas A&M University-Commerce
START
© 2004, SAVITA ABRAHAMS
INSTRUCTIONS
• This is designed to be a step-by-step process of how to set up a group in an agency or a community. It begins with an overall flowchart depicting the complete process.
• Please note that the hyperlinks function only in the slide show mode. As you move through it, the current step is highlighted.
• Where you see a hyperlink, simply click on it. You will be taken directly to that site. To move to another page, simply click the hyperlink for that step.
• ONLY USE BUTTONS AND HYPERLINKS TO NAVIGATE THE FLOWCHART. The presentation works best this way. DO NOT USE PAGE UP/DOWN, ARROW KEYS, OR ANY OTHER KEYBOARD COMMANDS.
• The presentation concludes with a reference page for further information.• For questions, contact Savita Abrahams at [email protected].
© 2004, SAVITA ABRAHAMS
TYPES OFGROUPS NEEDED
GROUPLOGISTICS
CO-LEADERLEADER
START
ESTABLISHGROUP NORMS
STARTGROUP
SCREENINGPROCESS
PROMOTEGROUP
STOP
END
NOIS A
GROUPNEEDED?
YES
GROUPFACILITATION
SETTING UP GROUPSIN AN AGENCY OR A COMMUNITY
Click on the step (hyperlink)you are interestedin viewing NEEDS
ASSESSMENTS
© 2004, SAVITA ABRAHAMS
NEEDSASSESSMENTS
TYPES OFGROUPS NEEDED
GROUPLOGISTICS
CO-LEADERLEADER
START
ESTABLISHGROUP NORMS
STARTGROUP
SCREENINGPROCESS
PROMOTEGROUP
STOP
END
NOIS A
GROUPNEEDED?
YES
GROUPFACILITATION
NEEDS ASSESSMENT
• Doing a needs assessment
• Determine– Types of groups needed
• Examples– women’s group– grief/loss group
– Where clients will come from• Sources may include
– your agency– other area agencies– schools– local community
© 2004, SAVITA ABRAHAMS
Doing a needs assessment
• What is a needs assessment?
• Purpose is to determine gaps between what currently exists and what is desired by the potential client population
• Can be viewed as a planning activity
© 2004, SAVITA ABRAHAMS
Doing a needs assessment
• Step 1: Define the problem the group will be designed to address– Example: There are not any groups for women to discuss
relationship and intimacy issues.
• Step 2: Choose a method to assess the need– Examples are surveys, meetings, or requests from area
agencies or schools
© 2004, SAVITA ABRAHAMS
Doing a needs assessment
• Step 3: Define the group’s purpose– Set goals and define the desired outcomes for both the
agency and the clinician– For example, a goal for the women’s group may be to
provide participants with healthy ways of coping with relationship issues
• Step 4: Determine appropriate activities which ensure goal or outcome achievement– For the women’s group, this could include exercises, such as
role-plays, designed to empower the group members
RETURN TO FLOWCHART
© 2004, SAVITA ABRAHAMS
NEEDSASSESSMENTS
TYPES OFGROUPS NEEDED
GROUPLOGISTICS
CO-LEADERLEADER
START
ESTABLISHGROUP NORMS
STARTGROUP
SCREENINGPROCESS
PROMOTEGROUP
STOP
END
NOIS A
GROUPNEEDED?
YES
GROUPFACILITATION
IS A GROUP NEEDED?
• Using the information gathered through the needs assessment, make a decision whether a group is needed.
© 2004, SAVITA ABRAHAMS
NEEDSASSESSMENTS
TYPES OFGROUPS NEEDED
GROUPLOGISTICS
CO-LEADERLEADER
START
ESTABLISHGROUP NORMS
STARTGROUP
SCREENINGPROCESS
PROMOTEGROUP
STOP
END
NOIS A
GROUPNEEDED?
YES
GROUPFACILITATION
DETERMINE TYPES OF GROUPS NEEDED
• After deciding that a group is needed, determine the types of groups which are needed.
• Types of groupscounseling (improving self-esteem)therapy (eating disorder)group guidance (psycho-educational parenting class)organizational (team building)
• If more than one group is needed, prioritize which group needs to be established first.
© 2004, SAVITA ABRAHAMS
NEEDSASSESSMENTS
TYPES OFGROUPS NEEDED
GROUPLOGISTICS
CO-LEADERLEADER
START
ESTABLISHGROUP NORMS
STARTGROUP
SCREENINGPROCESS
PROMOTEGROUP
STOP
END
NOIS A
GROUPNEEDED?
YES
GROUPFACILITATION
GROUP FACILITATION
• After selecting a type of group, determine if the group will be led by a leader or co-leaders.
• In making this decision, consider whether:
– The leader has the necessary and relevant skills training to facilitate the type of group selected
– The leader may not be able to attend all group meetings due to prior commitments or unforeseen absences
– Burnout may be a significant issue for the leader
• Adding a co-leader can help alleviate these issues.
© 2004, SAVITA ABRAHAMS
NEEDSASSESSMENTS
TYPES OFGROUPS NEEDED
GROUPLOGISTICS
CO-LEADERLEADER
START
ESTABLISHGROUP NORMS
STARTGROUP
SCREENINGPROCESS
PROMOTEGROUP
STOP
END
NOIS A
GROUPNEEDED?
YES
GROUPFACILITATION
LEADER
• The leader should have the necessary and relevant skills training to lead the type of group selected.
• Advantage– Not having a co-leader reduces the
amount of coordination required for various components of the group; thereby, possibly being less time consuming.
• Disadvantages– The absence of the group leader
adversely impacts whether group sessions take place.
– By not having someone to share the responsibility of group facilitation with, a leader may become more susceptible to burnout.
© 2004, SAVITA ABRAHAMS
NEEDSASSESSMENTS
TYPES OFGROUPS NEEDED
GROUPLOGISTICS
CO-LEADERLEADER
START
ESTABLISHGROUP NORMS
STARTGROUP
SCREENINGPROCESS
PROMOTEGROUP
STOP
END
NOIS A
GROUPNEEDED?
YES
GROUPFACILITATION
CO-LEADER
• Once the decision is made to have a co-leader, a co-leader needs to be selected.
• Advantages– Together, the co-leaders have the
necessary skill base to run the group.– The complementary styles of the co-
leaders can be beneficial in leading the group and in enhancing the group dynamics.
• Disadvantages– Power struggles can occur between the
co-leaders resulting in less than optimal group facilitation.
– The co-leaders need to collaborate and agree on how the group will be run. This is usually more time consuming and requires a strong working relationship between the co-leaders.
© 2004, SAVITA ABRAHAMS
NEEDSASSESSMENTS
TYPES OFGROUPS NEEDED
GROUPLOGISTICS
CO-LEADERLEADER
START
ESTABLISHGROUP NORMS
STARTGROUP
SCREENINGPROCESS
PROMOTEGROUP
STOP
END
NOIS A
GROUPNEEDED?
YES
GROUPFACILITATION
LOGISTICS OF THE GROUP
• Make these decisions– Open/closed group
– Finite/infinite number of sessions
– Group members who may still have ongoing needs after the group ends
– Fees (insurance/self-pay)
– Group meeting location and time
© 2004, SAVITA ABRAHAMS
NEEDSASSESSMENTS
TYPES OFGROUPS NEEDED
GROUPLOGISTICS
CO-LEADERLEADER
START
ESTABLISHGROUP NORMS
STARTGROUP
SCREENINGPROCESS
PROMOTEGROUP
STOP
END
NOIS A
GROUPNEEDED?
YES
GROUPFACILITATION
PROMOTING THE GROUP
• To recruit potential group members, the group needs to be advertised or announced.
• How will this be done?– Newspaper ads or flyers– Clinicians outside of the agency– Clinicians within the agency– Schools
• Group members need to be informed by the leader of the following:– Type of group– Cost per session– Where the group will be held– When it will start– For how long– Who will lead the group
© 2004, SAVITA ABRAHAMS
NEEDSASSESSMENTS
TYPES OFGROUPS NEEDED
GROUPLOGISTICS
CO-LEADERLEADER
START
ESTABLISHGROUP NORMS
STARTGROUP
SCREENINGPROCESS
PROMOTEGROUP
STOP
END
NOIS A
GROUPNEEDED?
YES
GROUPFACILITATION
SCREENING PROCESS• To have an effective group, it is an
essential and ethical obligation of the leader to screen potential group members.
• The screening process is best done if it includes a face-to-face interview.
• Areas to explore with potential group members are:– History and success of past counseling
experience– Willing to be open and grow– Want to learn new behaviors– Willing to participate in the group process
• Reasons to include or exclude potential group members
© 2004, SAVITA ABRAHAMS
Reasons to include or excludepotential group members
• Include– Seek change in themselves and their behavior– Willing to try out new ways of being– Have necessary skills to communicate– Able to tolerate some discomfort
• Exclude– Unwilling to participate in the group– Unwilling to look at themselves and their behavior– Disruptive behaviors that would impede the group
© 2004, SAVITA ABRAHAMS
Reasons to include or excludepotential group members
• Consider whether the group modality and the particular group being offered is the appropriate intervention for member change.
• It is best to match members to the type of group. Potential group members should also assess whether the group is appropriate to their needs.
© 2004, SAVITA ABRAHAMS
Reasons to include or excludepotential group members
• In forming a group, potential group members and their issues can be evaluated for– Frequency: how often is the member aware of the issue– Duration: how long has the issue been occurring in the
member’s life– Intensity: how severe is the issue in the member’s life
• It is best to have members at various points along the continuum so they may be able to form a team and benefit from each other’s views, skills and experience levels. RETURN TO FLOWCHART
© 2004, SAVITA ABRAHAMS
NEEDSASSESSMENTS
TYPES OFGROUPS NEEDED
GROUPLOGISTICS
CO-LEADERLEADER
START
ESTABLISHGROUP NORMS
STARTGROUP
SCREENINGPROCESS
PROMOTEGROUP
STOP
END
NOIS A
GROUPNEEDED?
YES
GROUPFACILITATION
STARTING THE GROUP
• Once group members have been selected, the group is ready to begin.
© 2004, SAVITA ABRAHAMS
NEEDSASSESSMENTS
TYPES OFGROUPS NEEDED
GROUPLOGISTICS
CO-LEADERLEADER
START
ESTABLISHGROUP NORMS
STARTGROUP
SCREENINGPROCESS
PROMOTEGROUP
STOP
END
NOIS A
GROUPNEEDED?
YES
GROUPFACILITATION
ESTABLISHING GROUP NORMS
• Leader/co-leaders role includes:
• Establish group rules– Confidentiality and its limits in a group– Amount of personal disclosure– Group ownership– Respect other members right to their
own unique perspective – Use of “I” statements
• Advanced group skills – Model reflective listening and effective
communication skills– Facilitate group interchange– Protect a group member from
inappropriate verbal attacks by another group member
© 2004, SAVITA ABRAHAMS
NEEDSASSESSMENTS
TYPES OFGROUPS NEEDED
GROUPLOGISTICS
CO-LEADERLEADER
START
ESTABLISHGROUP NORMS
STARTGROUP
SCREENINGPROCESS
PROMOTEGROUP
STOP
END
NOIS A
GROUPNEEDED?
YES
GROUPFACILITATION
END
• At this point, the group is established and is in the initial stage.
• Further information on group process and group stages can be found in the texts by Corey & Corey and Yalom. These are listed on the reference slide.
© 2004, SAVITA ABRAHAMS
REFERENCES
Corey, M. S. , & Corey, G. (2002). Groups: Process and practice (6th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Wadsworth Group.
Dye, A. (1978, October). Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the International Association for Specialists in Group Work, Munich, Germany.
Lewis, J. A., Dana, R. Q., & Blevins, G. A. (2002). Substance abuse counseling (3rd ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Wadsworth Group.
Yalom, I. D. (1995). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy (4th ed.). New York: Basic Books.