The Breakfast Club Priya Kirpalani, PsyD, CGP University Psychologist & Group Therapy Coordinator

Objectives Review group dynamics Outline the stages of group therapy Discuss group roles Review of group therapeutic factors

Stages of Group Development Forming Storming Norming Performing Adjourning

Group Dynamics Purpose Structure Time

Group Dynamics Purpose: To not grow up to be their parents Structure: Working Group Time: Eight-hour Saturday detention

Stages of Group Development Forming Storming Norming Performing Adjourning

Group Development (Garland et al., 1973; Tuckman, 1965) Forming/Preaffiliation: “Dependency and inclusion” Storming/Power and Control: “Power and control” Norming/Intimacy: “Trust and structure” Performing/Differentiation: “Work” Adjourning/Separation Variety of models: 3 to 5 stages

Forming Group members Leader Experience anxiety Seek guidance from the group leader on appropriate behaviors Engage in tentative self-disclosures and sharing Leader Clarifies the group’s purpose and the therapist’s role Offers guidelines for the operation of the group and member participation Invites trust Assists the members to identify personal goals Identifies commonalities between the members The leader’s stance is primarily educative.

Storming Group members Leader Challenge the leader’s authority and safety of the group Engage in conflict and express negative feelings of hostility and anger Leader Reaffirms group’s purpose and the member’s common goals Reinforces rules and expectations Encourages group cohesion and interpersonal learning Elicits the expression of negative affect Assists members to identify and resolve conflict https://prezi.com/70aibeiyxdh-/the-5-stages-of-group-development-illustrated-by-the-breakfast-club/ Anger/hostility first usually directed towards the leader (safety). i.e. my late attendance to group; group member’s lack of disclosure and sharing

Norming Group members Leader Show an increase in trust, commitment, and willingness to cooperate Engage in freer communication and feedback, greater cohesion, and openness Leader Assumes a less active role Aim interventions to maintain a balance between support and confrontation Facilitates the working process regarding feedback, promote insight, and encourage problem-solving https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6182k46RXo https://prezi.com/alkaz96vmmxt/the-breakfast-club-and-the-four-stages-of-group-development/

Performing Group members Leader Demonstrate open expression and acceptance of similarities and differences between members Leader Focuses on letting the group run itself

Adjourning Group members Leader Experience an increase in feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger, and appreciation Experience the ending of therapy as a profound loss Experience a resurgence of presenting problems or symptoms Use defensive efforts Demonstrate a future orientation Leader Assists in the expression of feelings and attention to unfinished business Facilitates a review of the group process Facilitates involvement in the process of saying goodbye

Group Roles Brian Alison Bender Claire Andy

Group Roles Brian: Gatekeeper Alison: Defensive Bender: Scapegoat, deviant Claire: Quiet Andy: Gatekeeper

Group Therapeutic Factors (Yalom & Leszez, 2005) Definition Universality Members recognize that other members share similar feelings, thoughts, and problems Altruism Members gain a boost to self concept through extending help to other group members Instillation of hope Member recognizes that other members’ success can be helpful and they develop optimism for their own improvement Imparting information Education or advice provided by the therapist or group members Corrective recapitulation of primary family experience Opportunity to reenact critical family dynamics with group members in a corrective manner Development of socializing techniques The group provides members with an environment that fosters adaptive and effective communication Therapeutic change: A complex process that occurs through an intricate interplay of human experiences It is not possible to predict an absolute hierarchy of therapeutic factors because these factors are influenced by Type of group therapy Stage of group therapy Extragroup factors Individual differences

Group Therapeutic Factors (Yalom & Leszez, 2005) Definition Imitative behavior Members expand their personal knowledge and skills through the observation of group members’ self-exploration, working through, and personal development Cohesiveness Feelings of trust, belonging, and togetherness experienced by the group members Existential factors Members accept responsibility for life decisions Catharsis Members release of strong feelings about past or present experiences Interpersonal learning—input Members gain personal insight about their interpersonal impact through feedback provided from other members Interpersonal learning—output Members provide an environment that allows members to interact in a more adaptive manner Self-understanding Members gain insight into psychological motivation underlying behavior and emotional reactions

Cohesion (Corey & Corey, 1997) Developing cohesion through group members disclosing their feelings concerning their issues on trust. Clearly defined goals. Encouraging participation by all group members. Creating a here-and-now approach to group therapy. Effectively dealing with conflict. The level of appeal of the group for the individual members. Honesty and openness about one’s thoughts and feelings. Cohesion is necessary for other group therapeutic factors to work.

Cohesion (MacKenzie, 1990) Regular and punctual attendance. Few premature terminations. No regrets about joining and wanting to remain. Attraction and warmth between the members. High level of active participation. High levels of self-disclosure and trust. High-frequency use of the pronoun we. Low levels of defensiveness and tension. Risk taking regarding new behaviors. A shared belief system about the goals and norms. An investment in the work of the group. An ability to focus the work around a common theme.