setting up groups in an agency or a community

© 2004, SAVITA ABRAHAMS

SETTING UP GROUPSIN AN AGENCY

OR A COMMUNITY

Savita Abrahams, M.A., LPC-ITexas A&M University-Commerce

START


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].


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


NEEDSASSESSMENTS


GROUPLOGISTICS

CO-LEADERLEADER

START


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


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



• 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



• 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


NEEDSASSESSMENTS


GROUPLOGISTICS

CO-LEADERLEADER

START


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.


NEEDSASSESSMENTS


GROUPLOGISTICS

CO-LEADERLEADER

START


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.


NEEDSASSESSMENTS


GROUPLOGISTICS

CO-LEADERLEADER

START


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.


NEEDSASSESSMENTS


GROUPLOGISTICS

CO-LEADERLEADER

START


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.


NEEDSASSESSMENTS


GROUPLOGISTICS

CO-LEADERLEADER

START


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.


NEEDSASSESSMENTS


GROUPLOGISTICS

CO-LEADERLEADER

START


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


NEEDSASSESSMENTS


GROUPLOGISTICS

CO-LEADERLEADER

START


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


NEEDSASSESSMENTS


GROUPLOGISTICS

CO-LEADERLEADER

START


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


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



• 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.



• 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


NEEDSASSESSMENTS


GROUPLOGISTICS

CO-LEADERLEADER

START


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.


NEEDSASSESSMENTS


GROUPLOGISTICS

CO-LEADERLEADER

START


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


NEEDSASSESSMENTS


GROUPLOGISTICS

CO-LEADERLEADER

START


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.


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.

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