In 1986, Daley, Gaza, and Pistole defined groups as psychologically interdependent and interactive individuals joined in a common goal.

Groups may come together for remedy, prevention or enrichment through guidance, therapy or psychotherapy

gestalt, brief therapy groups, supportive-expressive, cognitive-behavioral, psychoanalytic, psychoeducational, dynamic-

interactional, psychodrama--

most important underlying assumption in is that interpersonal interaction is crucial in group therapy

therapy group first provides an arena for patients to interact freely with others, then helps them to identify and understand what goes wrong in their interactions, and ultimately

enables them to change those maladaptive patterns

1. Instillation of hope 2. Universality 3. Imparting information 4. Altruism 5. The corrective recapitulation of the primary

family group 6. Development of socializing techniques 7. Imitative behavior 8. Interpersonal learning 9. Group cohesiveness 10. Catharsis 11. Existential factors.

The basic posture of the therapist to a patient must be one of concern, acceptance, genuineness, empathy

there will be times when the therapist challenges the patient, shows irritation and frustration, even suggests that if the patient is not going to work, he or she should consider leaving the group

1. creation and maintenance of the group

2. culture building 3. activation and illumination of the

here-and-now.

solely responsible for creating and convening the group

the therapist attends to gatekeeping, especially the prevention of member attrition

serves as a transitional object. recognize and deter any forces that

threaten group cohesiveness

therapists must direct their energy toward shaping it into a therapeutic social system

Development of norms Norms of a group are constructed both

from expectations of the members for their group and from the explicit and implicit directions of the leader and more influential members

1. Communication patterns – Attending to verbal and nonverbal communication helps the therapist to effectively move the group toward

its goals. 2. Cohesiveness – Irvin Yalom argues that group cohesiveness is

a major factor in successful outcome. The members' strong affinity for each other and toward the group as a whole makes an open, supportive and accepting group. 3. Social control – This includes norms, roles, expectations and

status that let a group function effectively, if not always smoothly. 4. Norms – Rules of behavior may be tacit or explicit, informal or

formal, veiled or overt. The therapist tries to head off automatic conforming responses. .

5. Role expectations – Individual group members perform different

functions including task and maintenance roles (helping to keep the group

on track) and individual roles (often selfishly at odds with group goals). 6. Status – Status outside the group, combined with behavior

within the group, contributes in-group ranking of members. Willingness to

conform to group norms is effected by this status. 7. Group culture – Arising from beliefs, customs and values of

its members and the environment in which a group is set, group culture influences objectives, tasks, interaction and methods. Additionally, as Yalom observed, the group is a therapeutic social system in microcosm,

making the group an agent of change.

The Technical Expert The Model-Setting Participant

consists of two symbiotic tiers experiencing one: the members live in

the here-and-now; they develop strong feelings toward the other group members, the therapist, and the group

It facilitates feedback, catharsis, meaningful self disclosure, and acquisition of socializing techniques

the second tier- the illumination of process

If the powerful therapeutic factor of interpersonal learning is to be set in motion, the group must recognize, examine, and understand process

the effective use of the here-and-now requires two steps:

the group lives in the here-and-now, and it also doubles back on itself;

it performs a self reflective loop and examines the here-and-now behavior that has just occurred.

PERSONALITY AND CHARACTER Presence Personal Power Courage Willingness to Confront Oneself Sincerity and Authenticity Sense of Identity Belief in the Group Process and Enthusiasm Inventiveness and Creativity

INITIAL ANXIETY SELF-DISCLOSURE-Appropriate and

Facilitative Self-Disclosure THE CHALLENGES OF DEALING WITH A

SYSTEM

Active Listening Restating Summarizing Questioning Confronting Reflecting Feelings Supporting

Empathizing Facilitating Initiating Setting Goals Evaluating Giving Feedback Suggesting

Protecting Disclosing Oneself Modeling Linking Blocking Terminating

Cultural competence refers to the knowledge and skills required to work effectively in any cross-cultural encounter (Comas-Diaz, 2011)

General understanding of cultures Beliefs and Attitudes Knowledge Skills and Intervention Strategies

Recognize Your Limitations

Facilitators – Those who like to make others feel at ease

Gatekeepers or expediters – Those who like things to stay on track

Conciliators – Those who smooth out conflicts Compromisers or neutralizers – Those who offer

thinking solutions Observers – Those who like to comment on and

sum up what is happening Followers – Those who help things along by their

agreement although they may be unsure of themselves

Cohesiveness is provided by factors that propel a person to remain in group therapy. Conditions for cohesion include warmth, comfort, sense of belonging, value placed upon the group and the feeling of being unconditionally accepted.