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Group Process
Social workers deal with many different types of people in many different situations, but probably the most common interaction is with some type of group. The job of a social worker is to be an advocate for whomever the individual is working with and to find resources that the individual or group did not know existed. This work can either be difficult because the worker in question does not understand the dynamics involved in the work, or it can be made easy by focusing on the objectives of the particular assignment. When working with a group of people it is essential to remember what type of group it is, know the roles the different participants can take, and have the training required to adequately facilitate the group.
Understanding the type of group is the first step. The study guide (Maidment, 2010) lists the different types of groups that a social worker may be asked to facilitate. Many of the groups are structured so that the participants can learn how to function better within a structure that includes more people than themselves (Back, Fisch & Bergander, 1999). Many times people will either try to handle difficult situations by themselves, or they will not have the social skills required to function properly in a group setting. One of the possible outcomes of group interaction is that individuals will learn how to treat people who are different from themselves (Ritner, Nakanishi, Nakennud & Hammons, 1999). This applies not only to cultural diversity, but demographic diversity (Thomas & Ely, 2001). The socialization piece of the different types of groups can be as important as any therapeutic benefit.
Of course besides the social aspect of groups, there...
Group therapy is required often because people may be able to open up better in some situations when they are in a setting in which the other people share something in common with them. A therapy group can be a family affair, it can be a support group, or it can be one of many other types which, in some way, assist the person with a difficult transition (Bianchi & Shelly, 2007). Family group therapy can occur with two or more members of a family who have the need of a facilitator to enhance communication (Petrie, Lindauer, Gooden & Bennett, 2001). Support groups have become very common for many different reasons. People who have experienced the same trauma, or who are trying to fight the same enemy (such as obesity) will often get together to share experiences and discover different ways to cope. Socialization in these groups is an important aspect (there are groups that just focus on socialization (Maidment, 2010)), but the therapeutic intent is just as important to a social worker.
Within any of these different types of groups there are going to be individuals who take different roles. Of course anyone can guess that there is going to be at least one person who wants to be a leader. This person may not threaten the facilitator, but they will have influence within the group. Another individual will try to monopolize the conversation because they believe that the issues that they bring to the group are more important than anyone else's. The opposite side of the spectrum from this person are the members who choose to be silent and not participate actively in the discussion (Bianchi & Shelly, 2007).…
References
Beck, D., Fisch, R. & Bergander, W. (1999). Functional roles in work groups -- An empirical approach to the study of group role diversity. Psychologische Beltrage, 41(3), 288-297.
Bianchi, A., & Shelly, R.K. (2007). Guest editors' introduction: Group process as social microcosm. Sociological Focus, 40(2), 117-119.
Finn, J. (1999). An exploration of the helping processes in an online self-help group focusing on issues of disability. Health and Social Work, 24(3), 220-230.
Gross, B. (2002). Online therapy. Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association, 5(5), 30-31.
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