Group Work: A Humanistic and Skills Building Approach

by Urania E. Glassman

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781483342986
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	10/08/2008
Series:	SAGE Sourcebooks for the Human Services , #13
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	328
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Urania Ernest Glassman, MA, MSW, DSW, LCSW

Dr. Glassman’s role as director of field instruction spans 30 years. Her social work specializations are field education, group work, and clinical practice. She is currently Principal Investigator of a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - HRSA for Wurzweiler School of Social Work Yeshiva University to train 2^nd year students in clinical field placements with high risk adolescents and transitional age youth. Her recent volume with Sage, Group Work: A Humanistic and Skills Building Approach 2^nd Ed., provides underpinning for the training design. Dr. Glassman maintains a long-standing clinical practice with individuals, families, and groups.

 

She has written and presented papers on field education processes and experiential learning, training field educators, group work, and clinical practice. Dr. Glassman served on the Council on Social Work Education Commission on Educational Policy during the time when social work competencies were defined and field education as social work’s signature pedagogy was branded.  She was instrumental in the development of CSWE’s field education symposium – now the field education track, co-founder of NANFED – North American Network of Field Educators and Directors, and of the NYC Red Apple Chapter of the International Association of Social Work with Groups, and has served as chair of these initiatives.

 

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

Editorial Reviews

"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

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.

Social Work Education - Masoomeh Maarefvand

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

Social Work Education