This book was written to address the total field of group work, including how to set up and conduct the four basic types of groups — therapy, counseling, guidance, and work/task. It is a complete package on groups including the history of group work, dynamics of groups, leadership in groups, ethical issues in groups, multicultural aspects of groups, stages of group development, groups across the life span, and the theoretical basis for working with groups (10 theories covered). This text is filled with current and classic references and is packed with illustration. The author set out to write the most comprehensive and complete book on groups. Groups: A Counseling Specialty is readable and enjoyable. Readers are challenged frequently to reflect on how they would deal with specific aspects of a group and to reflect on their own experiences with groups.

Table of Contents:
PART ONE-History and Other Aspects of Group Development   CHAPTER 1-History and Trends of Group Works and Current Trends    Uses of Groups Before 1900     Growth of Group Work: 1900 to the Present     1900 to 1909     1910 to 1919     1920 to 1929     1930 to 1939     1940 to 1949    1950 to 1959  1960 to 1969    1970 to 1979    1980 to 1989    1990 to 1999    Current Trends in Group Work     Training/Education in Group Work    Technology and Group Work    Studies on Group Effectiveness   Brief Group Work: Solution-Focused Counseling Groups    The Future of Group Work   Summary and Conclusion    Classroom Exercises       CHAPTER 2-Types of Group Work     Models of Specialty Groups    Psychoeducational Groups    An Example of Psychoeducational Group Work: Life-Skills Development Groups    Counseling Groups   An Example of a Counseling Group: A Counseling Group for Counselors  Psychotherapy Groups     An Example of Group Psychotherapy: Group Work With Abusers and the Abused     Task/Work Groups    An Example of Task/Work Groups: Teams    Mixed Groups and a Proposed Regrouping of Categories    An Example of a Mixed Group: A Consumer-Oriented Group     Summary and Conclusion     Classroom Exercises     CHAPTER 3-Group Dynamics     Group Content and Group Process    Group Content    Group Process    Balance Between Content and Process    The Group as a System: A Way of Explaining Group Dynamics  Influencing Group Dynamics    Preplanning    Group Structure   Group Exercises    Group Interaction    Members’ Roles   The Effect of Positive and Negative Variables on Group Dynamics   Learning Group Dynamics     Group, Individual, and Family Dynamics     Persons     Processing    Consequences    Summary and Conclusion  Classroom Exercises       CHAPTER 4-Effective Group Leadership   Leadership: A Concept in Search of a Definition     Group Leadership Styles    Leadership Styles for Different Groups    Personal Qualities of Effective Group Leaders   The Trait Approach     Personality and Specific Groups     Theory and Effective Group Leaders     Skills of Effective Group Leaders     Core Group Skills    Specific Group Skills     Group Leadership Functions   Main Functions of Group Leaders     Leaders and Group Conflict    Co-leaders in Groups    Advantages    Limitations     Group Leadership Training    Group Supervision    Summary and Conclusion  Classroom Exercises     CHAPTER 5-Beginning a Group  Steps in the Forming Stage    Step 1: Developing a Rationale for the Group    Step 2: Deciding on a Theoretical Format   Step 3: Weighing Practical Considerations     Step 4: Publicizing the Group     Step 5: Pretraining and Selecting Members and a Leader    Tasks of the Beginning Group  Dealing With Apprehension     Reviewing Goals and Contracts   Specifying Group Rules     Setting Limits   Promoting a Positive Interchange Among Members     Resolving Potential Group Problems in Forming    People Problems    Group Procedural Problems    Useful Procedures for the Beginning Stage of a Group    Joining   Linking     Cutting Off   Drawing Out     Clarifying the Purpose    Summary and Conclusion    Classroom Exercises       CHAPTER 6-The Transition Period in a Group: Norming and Storming     Storming     Peer Relationships in Storming   Resistance During Storming    Task Processing in Storming     Working Through Storming    Results of Working Through Storming     Norms and Norming    Peer Relations During Norming     Task Processing During Norming     Examining Aspects of Norming     Promoting Norming    Results of Norming     Summary and Conclusion  Classroom Exercises      CHAPTER 7-The Working Stage in a Group: Performing    Peer Relationships     Task Processes During the Working Stage     Teamwork and Team Building During the Working Stage  Problems in the Working Stage of Groups     Racial and Gender Issues    Group Collusion     The Working Stage of the Group and Groups That Work    Strategies for Assisting Groups in the Working Stage    Modeling by the Leader     Exercises   Group Observing Group     Brainstorming     Nominal-Group Technique    Synectics     Written Projections    Group Processing    Teaching of Skills    Outcomes of the Working Stage    Summary and Conclusion     Classroom Exercises       CHAPTER 8-Termination of a Group    Preparing for Termination     Effects of Termination on Individuals    Premature Termination   Premature Termination of the Group as a Whole     Premature Termination Initiated by Group Members     Preventing Premature Termination     Termination of Group Sessions     Member Summarization   Leader Summarization   Rounds     Dyads    Written Reactions   Rating Sheets     Homework    Termination of a Group    Capping Skills in Terminations     Problems in Terminations   Denial     Transference    Countertransference     Handling Termination Correctly    Follow-Up Sessions     Summary and Conclusion     Classroom Exercises       CHAPTER 9-Group Work With Culturally Diverse Populations A Historical Overview of Cultural Diversity in Groups    Challenges of Culturally Diverse Groups    Myths About Multicultural Groups    Goals of Multicultural Groups     Assessing Cultural Diversity in a Group     Leadership in Culturally Diverse Groups    Working With Different Cultural Populations in Groups    African Americans    Hispanic/Latino Americans    Asian and Asian Pacific Americans     Native Americans     European Americans     Groups for Gays, Lesbians, and Bisexuals     Summary and Conclusion     Classroom Exercises     CHAPTER 10-Ethical and Legal Aspects of Group Work     The Nature of Ethics and Ethical Codes    Major Ethical Issues in Group Work    Training of Group Leaders    Screening of Potential Group Members    Rights of Group Members   Confidentiality   Personal Relationships Between Group Members and Leaders    Dual Relationships    Personal Relationships Among Group Members    Uses of Group Techniques     Leaders’ Values     Referrals     Records    Termination and Follow-Up    Making Ethical Decisions     Promoting Ethical Principles in Group Work  Training Group Leaders   Continuing Education and Peer Supervision    Responding to Alleged Unethical Complaints   Legal Issues in Group Work    Community, State, and National Standards     Legal Action    Summary and Conclusion   Classroom Exercises      PART TWO-Groups throughout the Life Span   CHAPTER 11-Groups for Children    Types of Groups for Children    Group Guidance for Elementary/Middle School Children     Group Counseling Within the Schools   Group Guidance and Counseling in Community Settings    Setting up Groups for Children   Nonverbal Versus Verbal Communication    Group Structure and Materials    Recruiting Members and Screening    Group Session Length and Number in Group     Gender and Age Issues     Role of the Leader in Children’s Groups   Studies on the Outcome of Children’s Groups   Strengths and Limitations of Using Groups With Children     Summary and Conclusion   Classroom Exercises      CHAPTER 12-Groups for Adolescents     Types of Groups for Adolescents    Developmental Psychoeducational Groups     Nondevelopmental Counseling/Psychotherapy Groups     Setting up Groups for Adolescents    Nonverbal Versus Verbal Communication     Group Structure and Materials     Recruiting Members and Screening    Group Session Length and Number in Group     Gender and Age Issues    Role of the Leader in Adolescents’ Groups    Problems in Adolescents’ Groups   Outright Disruptiveness     Hesitancy to Engage With Others     Polarization     Monopolizing     Inappropriate Risk Taking   Overactivity or Giddiness     Studies on the Outcome of Groups for Adolescents     Strengths and Limitations of Using Groups With Adolescents     Strengths    Limitations     Summary and Conclusion    Classroom Exercises       CHAPTER 13-Groups for Adults    Types of Groups for Adults    Setting up Groups for Adults    Role of the Leader in Groups for Adults     Studies on the Outcomes of Groups for Adults   Groups for College Students    Groups for Adults in Midlife     Groups for Men and Women    Groups for Couples, Families, the Divorced, and the Widowed     Groups for Adult Offenders and Persons With Life-Threatening Illnesses    Strengths and Limitations of Using Groups With Adults    Strengths     Limitations     Summary and Conclusion    Classroom Exercises       CHAPTER 14-Groups for the Older Adults    Types of Groups for the Older Adults   Psychoeducational and Task/Work Groups    Counseling and Psychotherapy Groups    Setting up Groups for the Older Adults   Role of the Leader in Groups for the Older Adults    Studies on the Outcomes of Groups for the Older Adults    Groups for Caretakers of the Older Adults   Strengths and Limitations of Groups for the Older Adults    Strengths   Limitations     Summary and Conclusion    Classroom Exercises      PART THREE-Leading Groups from a Theoretical Perspective   CHAPTER 15-Psychoanalytic, Transactional Analysis, and Reality Therapy Groups    Psychoanalytic Groups     Premises of Psychoanalytically Oriented Groups     Practice of Psychoanalytic Theory in a Group    Role of the Psychoanalytically Oriented Group Leader     Desired Outcome of Psychoanalytically Oriented Groups     Evaluation of Psychoanalytically Oriented Groups    Learning More     Transactional Analysis Groups    Premises of Transactional Analysis Groups     Practice of Transactional Analysis in a Group    Role of the Transactional Analysis Group Leader     Desired Outcome of Transactional Analysis Groups    Evaluation of Transactional Analysis Groups    Learning More    Reality Therapy Groups     Premises of Reality Therapy Groups     Practice of Reality Therapy in a Group     Role of the Reality Therapy Group Leader     Desired Outcome of Reality Therapy Groups     Evaluation of Reality Therapy Groups     Learning More    Summary and Conclusion    Classroom Exercises        CHAPTER 16-Adlerian, Person-Centered, and Existential Groups    Adlerian Groups     Premises of Adlerian Groups    Practice of Adlerian Theory in a Group     Role of the Adlerian Group Leader     Desired Outcome of Adlerian Groups     Evaluation of Adlerian Groups     Learning More     Person-Centered Groups     Premises of Person-Centered Groups     Practice of Person-Centered Theory in a Group    Role of the Person-Centered Group Leader     Desired Outcome of Person-Centered Groups Evaluation of Person-Centered Groups    Learning More     Existential Groups     Premises of Existential Groups     Practice of Existential Theory in a Group    Role of the Existential Group Leader    Desired Outcome of Existential Groups     Evaluation of Existential Groups   Learning More     Summary and Conclusion    Classroom Exercises          CHAPTER 17-Gestalt and Psychodrama Groups    Gestalt Groups    Premises of Gestalt Groups     Practice of Gestalt Theory in a Group     Role of the Gestalt Group Leader     Desired Outcome of Gestalt Groups     Evaluation of Gestalt Groups    Learning More     Psychodrama Groups     Premises of Group Psychodrama     Practice of Psychodrama in a Group     Role of the Psychodrama Group Leader     Desired Outcome of Psychodrama Groups    Evaluation of Psychodrama Groups    Learning More     Summary and Conclusion    Classroom Exercises       CHAPTER 18-Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy and Behavioral Therapy Groups     Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy Groups     Premises of Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy Groups     Practice of Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy in a Group     Role of the Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy Group Leader     Desired Outcome of Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy Groups     Evaluation of Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy Groups    Learning More     Behavioral Therapy Groups     Premises of Behavioral Therapy Groups     Practice of Behavioral Therapy in a Group     Role of the Behavioral Therapy Group Leader     Desired Outcome of Behavioral Therapy Groups     Evaluation of Behavioral Therapy Groups     Learning More     Summary and Conclusion     Classroom Exercises       APPENDIX A-Association for Specialists in Group Work: Best Practice Guidelines       APPENDIX B-Association for Specialists in Group Work: Principles for Diversity-Competent Group Workers       APPENDIX C-Association for Specialists in Group Work: Professional Standards for the Training of Group Workers       GLOSSARY  REFERENCES    NAME INDEX     SUBJECT INDEX