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SWK292 S6 The Group Begins, Stage where members are ambivalent on…
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- Stage where members are ambivalent on suggestions on how to proceed
- Members are struggling to keep their autonomy while trying to get along with others
Primary goal
- Help members feel comfortable
- To work together cooperatively & productively
- To help members feel that their contribution is valued and respected
Treatment Group:
- Problems, concerns & tentative goals stated at the onset of the group needs to be taken note
- Pointing out positive changes as group progress
- To reassure those that are not progressing rapidly
Task group
- Monitoring on the goals of the group
- Worker should keep notes on each member's contribution to the goal formulation
- Start by stating agreement & common ground & how compromise may be needed in order to achieve goal
- Discuss the changes brought in group and how it will affect those around them postively
- To be aware of potential obstacles so that they can plan ahead to overcome them
- Some may be here in the group session due to being forced to attend in lien of other worse punishment
- Assess readiness to change (1) precontemplation, (2) contemplation (3) Preparation (4) action (4) maintenance
Strategies
- To determine where members are in the continuum of the change (asking how they feel about attending group, what will they wish to get out of it)
- Motivate members to engage in group
- Setting expectations while maximising choices & minimising demands
- Worker can point out that members have the choice not to follow the rule, but have to accept punishment that comes with it
Reasons: Members may be reluctant to state their ambivalent feelings about their ability to accomplish the goals
- Mandated members may not be prepared to acknowledge problems others have identified
How to deal with ambivalence & resistance in group
- Pay attention to overt & covert messages (lack of motivation for goal
- Acknowledge members' ambivalence & provide a realistic appraisal of members chances for accomplishing successful change
Expectation about role performance
- Some may fear that they are not contributing enough and may affect their desire to want to participate
- Important for worker to state their expectations
- ROLE CLARIFICATION : for members to understand the dual role worker and member play in the functioning of group
- AUTHENTIC COMMUNICATION ABOUT PURPOSE & GOALS: allowing members to talk about task not related to problem as a way for them to test waters to see if the group is a safe environment to share more emotionally charged problems
Promoting prosocial behaviour
(1)Point & praise out prosocial comments (2) Being a role model by using problem-solving & coping skills (3) identifying and challenging antisocial comment/behaviours
- Motivation is key to successful achievement for goal & is determined by members' expectations about
(1)Worker's role in group
(2)Processes that will occur in group
(3)What can be accomplished through the work of the group
- Refer to mutual agreement that specify expectations, obligation and duties
- Important to be specific about formulating behaviourally specific goals
- Type of contracts
(1) group as a whole & agency
(2)Group as a whole & worker
(3) Worker & group members
(4)Two or more group members
(5) Group as a whole & group members
- To discuss goals & purpose
- Goals will emerge from the interaction from the members, workers & system in which group function
- Worker's formulation of goal reflects what they believe they can accomplish with the support, resources & limitations within the environment
Factors affecting member's goals
- assessment of their own need
- previous attempt to accomplish a goal
- environmental, social and familial demands placed upon them
- their own assessment of their capabilities and capacities
Three types of goals
(1)group centered (2) common group goals focusing on functioning & maintenance of group (3)individual goalsDefining clear goals
- Focus on what they are attempting to achieve in group
- A prerequisite for entering middle stage of group work
In previously formed groups
- worker will clarify unclear goals & help member achieve goals that can be achieved or modify to abandon those that is unrealistic to achieve
- Important to take note of both aspect for goal
- Task group: 2/3 task accomplishment, 1/3 socioemotional aspect
- Treatment group more emphasis on socioemotional than task accomplishment
- Unstructured approaches to group beginnings are often used in group dynamics, training group & other growth groups
Structure in treatment group
- Aim to empower members to make decisions on how group
- Collective energy & wisdom are primary goals
- Places great importance on respect for dignity & individuality
Structure in task group
- Approving minutes of previous meetings
- Calling for new agenda items
- Make announcements
- Work on current buisness
- First objective is to help ambivalent & apprehensive client feel comfortable
- Worker aim to set expectation of respect & for intimate disclosure
Shared interest & how workers can leverage on it
- Pointing out shared interest & common goals among member will help member feel a part of group
- Members who share similar background, complimentary life view & value develop trust faster
Differences & conflicts
- should be acknowledged
- Workers can help them reframe them as opportunities to
Techniques
- Acknowledge and begin to appreciate
- The leader can also use program activities to help member explore differences
- Important for workers to emphasis the need for confidentiality
- Inform members of destructive effects that can result when breach occurs
- Worker can reassure members that group is safe haven
- Remind members of confidentiality throughout session
- Opening statement: brief statement of group purpose & worker's function of group
- Purpose is to be restated every once in a while
- Demonstrate that worker is open & willing to inform members
- Emphasis safety, security & freedom to participate
Helping members define its purpose
- Ensure an environment where members begin to bond with leader & others
- Facilitate member introduction
- Clarifying purpose & function of group
- Discuss and clarify limits of confidentiality within the group
- Set goals
- Facilitate member's motivation and ability to work in the group
Involving members
- Stated purpose/goals need to be broad enough that members can formulate their own goals
- ensure to take in member's input if not motivation and commitment to group will decline
- worker to always provide opportunities for member to express ideas & suggestions about how to operationalise goals & purpose
- Allow members to share mutual concerns, interests with each other to develop trust
- The type of information shared with other members is dependent on the purpose of the group
- Introduction can give member starting point for interaction
- Members will realise that they are not alone in the problems that they are facing
- No work can be done id members do not feel secure for goal
- Members may be hypervigilant of their surroundings
- Worker should display patience & equanimity
- Worker should build security & trust beofre proceeding
- Worker have to recognise and be comfortable with group limitation on what they can accomplish
- Worker to always be listening, encouraging members to share and build member's resilience, skills and strengths to overcome problems