About the Book

A book that supports the human spirit and the humanistic visions of those who champion personal and social change through the social work group....

The Second Edition of Group Work: A Humanistic and Skills Building Approach identifies the humanistic values and democratic norms that guide the group practitioner's interventions. The book presents seven stage themes of group development, 29 techniques for group work practice, and more than 60 new illustrations from contemporary group work. The Second Edition remains centered on the role of the social group work practitioner, who employs group work methods to further the personal growth and empowerment of members in community and institutional contexts.

Features of the Second Edition:

? Offers 29 new descriptions of group work practice techniques, which have applicability in clinical, support, and organizational groups

? Provides seven stage themes of group development, describing member reactions and highlighting worker pitfalls, self-awareness issues, and skills for maximizing member growth within each stage

? Presents 60 new illustrations of group meetings, which demonstrate the practitioner role and conclude with discussion and analysis

? Includes an updated Chapter 10, which highlights ethical values in mental health, substance abuse treatment, and health care groups

Intended Audience

This is an ideal core text for advance undergraduate and graduate courses such as Group Work, Foundation Practice, Skills of Counseling, and Group Dynamics in the fields of social work, psychology, and counseling.

Table of Contents:
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