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Group Work
A Humanistic and Skills Building Approach

Second Edition


December 2008 | 328 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
This book presents groupwork under the framework of a humanistic approach, which lends itself particularly well to working in groups. The underlying concept behind the humanistic approach is rooted in humanism and democratic principles, thus that people within a democracy are responsible to themselves and to their society. As applied to the therapeutic group environment, the author applies humanistic values of the individuals responsibility for others, caring, mutual aid, respect for others and differences, and inclusiveness to the group and fosters an environment of trust, beloging, acceptance and support.
List of Practice Illustrations

 
Preface

 
Acknowledgments

 
Introduction

 
 
PART I. DIMENSIONS OF THE HUMANISTIC APPROACH
 
1. Humanistic Values and Democratic Norms: Equal Rights
Historical Overview of Democratic Principles Values of the Humanistic Group

 
Democratic Norms as Values in Action

 
Humanistic Values 1-4

 
Humanistic Value 1: People Have Inherent Worth and Equal Right to Oportunity

 
Humanistic Value 2: People Are Responsible for and to One Another

 
Humanistic Value 3: People Have the Right to Belong to and Be Included in Supportive Systems

 
Humanistic Value 4: People Have the Right to Take Part and to Be Heard

 
Summary

 
 
2. Further Humanistic Values and Democratic Norms: Freedoms
Humanistic Values 5-8

 
Humanistic Value 5: People Have the Right to Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Expression

 
Humanistic Value 6: People Who Are Different Enrich One Another

 
Humanistic Value 7: People Have the Right to Freedom of Choice

 
Humanistic Value 8: People Have the Right to Question and Challenge Professionals in Authority Roles

 
Summary

 
 
3. Stage Themes of Group Development
Overview of Stage Theory

 
The T-Group Model and the Boston Model

 
Beginning, Middle, and Ending Phases

 
Group Process and Group Purpose

 
Stage Theory and Member Differences

 
Stage Themes and Practitioner Reactions to Members

 
Stage Themes: Humanism and Democracy

 
Stage Themes of group development

 
Stage Theme 1: "We're Not in Charge"

 
Stage Theme 2: "We Are in Charge"

 
Stage Theme 3: "We're Taking You On"

 
Stage Theme 4: Sanctuary

 
Stage Theme 5: "This Isn't Good Anymore"

 
Stage Theme 6: "We're Okay and Able"

 
Stage Theme 7: "Just a Little Longer"

 
Summary

 
 
PART II. OBJECTIVES AND TECHNIQUES OF HUMANISTIC GROUP WORK
 
4. Dual Objectives: Developing the Democratic Mutual Aid System and Actualizing Purpose
The Dual Objectives: Developing the Democratic Mutual Aid System and Actualizing Purpose

 
Developing the Democratic Mutual Aid System

 
Actualizing Group Purpose

 
Accomplishing the Dual Objectives

 
Dual Objectives and the Change Process

 
Interactions of the Dual Objectives

 
Forms of Interaction that Foster the Democratic Mutual Aid System

 
Forms of Interaction that Foster the Actualization of Group Purpose

 
Summary

 
 
5. Techniques for Developing the Democratic Mutual Aid System
Use of Technique

 
Categorizing Techniques

 
Techniques for Developing the Democratic Mutual aid System

 
Facilitating Collective Participation

 
Scanning

 
Engaging the Group as a Whole

 
Modulating the Expression of Feeling

 
Facilitating Decision-Making Processes

 
Processing the Here and Now

 
Expressing Feelings About the Practitioner Role

 
Goal Setting

 
Good and Welfare

 
Summary

 
 
6. Techniques for Actualizing Group Purpose
Techniques for Actualizing Group Purpose

 
Role Rehearsal

 
Programming

 
Group Reflective Consideration

 
Interpretation

 
Feedback

 
Summary

 
 
7. Further Techniques for Actualizing Group Purpose
Further Techniques for Actualizing Group Purpose

 
Conflict Resolution

 
Group Mending

 
Confrontation

 
Data and Facts

 
Self-Disclosure

 
Dealing With the Unknown

 
Taking Stock

 
Summary

 
 
8. Techniques for Developing the Democratic Mutual Aid System and Actualizing Group Purpose
Techniques for Developing the Democratic Mutual Aid System and Actualizing Group Purpose

 
Demand for Work

 
Directing

 
Lending a Vision

 
Staying With Feelings

 
Silence

 
Support

 
Exploration

 
Identification

 
Summary

 
 
PART III. DIFFERENTIAL APPLICATION OF THE HUMANISTIC APPROACH
 
9. Assessing the Member in the Group
Assessment Activities and the Group Member

 
Assessing the Member in the Group

 
Psychosocial Criteria for Assessment

 
Capacity Toward Mutual Aid and Purpose

 
Ego Abilities and Sense of Self

 
Social Institutional Environment

 
Stereotypes and Self-Fulfilling Prophesies

 
Symbolic Representations of the Practitioner and Group

 
Summary

 
 
10. Fields of Practice and Humanistic Group Work
Mental Health Groups

 
Health Care Groups

 
Substance and Alcohol Addictions Groups

 
Summary

 
PART IV. PRACTICE VARIATIONS AND CONTINGENCIES

 
 
11. Short-Term, Single-Session, Open-Ended, and Structured Groups
Short-Term Groups

 
Single-Session Groups

 
Open-Ended Groups

 
Structured Groups

 
Summary

 
 
12. Contingencies
Setting Up the Group Meeting

 
Preparing for the Initial Meeting

 
Informal Between-Session Contacts With Practitioner

 
Formal Between-Session Contacts With Practitioner

 
Postgroup Responsibilities

 
Copractice

 
Summary

 
References

 
Index

 
About the Author

 

"Group Work: A Humanistic and Skills Building Approach delivers as promised: a book solidly informed by humanistic values and principles: a book willing to teach clinical skills through a combination of theory and detailed case examples: a book equally of use and at ease in the classroom as in the field."

Shantih E. Clemans
Yeshiva University

This book, with its 12 well-written, easy to read chapters, is highly recommended to those interested in studying group work. Social work students and supervisors will find this book useful because it presents many illustrations of group meetings that help readers to understand values, norms and practitioners’ roles.

Masoomeh Maarefvand
University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Theran
Social Work Education

To enhance knowledge of working with groups

Miss nicola lord
department of health, preston collage
February 19, 2016

Useful reading for me in terms of preparing my powerpoint presentation; interesting reading for students who want to investigate further.

Ms Sue Olney
Family & Community Studies, Anglia Ruskin University
March 20, 2012

This second edition offers much in the way of how group work and Humanistic theory and practice integrate. The illustrations are particularly useful in integrating theory to contextual examples of group work and challenges readers to understand the process in application.

Mr Mike Bancroft
Counselling, Alton College
September 2, 2011

Certain chapters of this book are most relevant to this module and student group. It is intended to be a reference book for students and it will also support them in reading around subject areas for topics within lecture/small groupwork series and also their assignments.

Ms Mairead Barry
Dept of Excercise, Waterford Institute of Technology
December 3, 2009

For instructors

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