STARTING A GROUP

WHAT TO CONSIDER IN FORMING A GROUP PURPOSE FOR GROUP WHO WILL FACILITATE SIZE OF GROUP OPEN VS CLOSED GROUP LENGTH OF EACH GROUP SESSION WHERE IT WILL MEET MEMBERSHIP(HETEROGENOUS VS HOMOGENOUS) MAKING THE GROUP KNOWN TO OTHERS

SCREENING PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS

PERSONAL INTERVIEW ASSESS APPROPRIATENESS FOR THE GROUP MAKE INDIVIDUAL CONTACT A CHANCE TO INFORM PROSPECTIVE MEMBER ABOUT THE GROUP. ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM PROSPECTIVE MEMBER

OTHER SCREENING METHODS PRESCREENING GROUP SESSION QUESTIONNAIRES REFERRAL SOURCES

PLANNING THE GROUP SESSION

CONSIDERATIONS: NEED FOR SOME PLANNING COFACILITATION GROUP TYPES (EDUCATIONAL, DISCUSSION, TASK, GROWTH/SUPPORT) STAGE OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT NUMBER OF SESSIONS

CONSIDERATIONS FORMAT (LEADER LED VERUS GROUP LED) THE USE OF EXERCISES AND ACTIVITIES

THERAPEUTIC FORCES THAT SHAPE GROUP (YALOM) CLARITY OF PURPOSE RELEVANCY TO MEMBERS SIZE LENGTH OF SESSIONS FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS ADEQUACY OF SETTING TIME OF DAY

THERAPEUTIC FORCES LEADER’S ATTITUDE CLOSED VS OPEN GROUP VOLUNTARY VS INVOLUNTARY MEMBERS’ LEVEL OF GOODWILL MEMBERS’ LEVEL OF COMMITMENT LEVEL OF TRUST

THERAPEUTIC FORCES MEMBERS’ ATTITUDE TOWARDS LEADER LEADER’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS MEMBERS LEADER’S EXPERIENCE AND READINESS TO DEAL WITH GROUPS

HETEROGENOUS AND HOMOGENOUS GROUPS HETEROGENOUS ADVANTAGES * COMES CLOSE TO REAL WORLD (MICROCOSM OF SOCIETY) HETEROGENOUS DISADVANTAGES * POSSIBLE TRUST ISSUES, MORE CONFLICT, LESS IMMEDIATE RELIEF OF SYMPTOMS

HETEROGENOUS AND HOMOGENOUS GROUPS HOMOGENOUS ADVANTAGES * JELL MORE QUICKLY, BECOME COHESIVE MORE QUICKLY, OFFER MORE IMMEDIATE SUPPORT, BETTER ATTENDED, LESS CONFLICT, MORE IMMEDIATE RELIEF HOMOGENOUS DISADVANTAGES * MORE SUPERFICIAL

OPEN AND CLOSED GROUPS ADVANTAGES OF CLOSED GROUPS: * CONSTANT POPULATION * GREATER TRUST * MORE OPENNESS DISADVANTAGES OF CLOSED GROUPS * PREMATURE TERMINATION * STAGNATION

OPEN AND CLOSED GROUPS ADVANTAGES OF OPEN GROUPS * NEW BLOOD/SYNERGY * DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS DISADVANTAGES OF OPEN GROUPS * CONSTANT CHANGE CAN LESSEN TRUST

EXCLUDE (HETEROGENEOUS GROUP) BRAIN DAMAGE PARANOIA HYPOCHONDRIA ACTIVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE HIGHLY RESISTIVE PSYCHOTIC SOCIOPATHIC

EXLUDE SITUATIONAL CRISIS DEEPLY DEPRESSED/SUICIDAL THOSE WHO WON’T OR CAN’T ATTEND REGULARLY THOSE WITHOUT DEPENDABLE TRANSPORTATION SCHIZOID PERSONALITIES

INCLUDE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN EXCLUDED MOTIVATED INTERPERSONAL DIFFICULTIES THOSE WHO LACK SOME DEGREE OF INTROSPECTIVNESS OVERLY INTELLECTUALIZED PERSON

INCLUDE THOSE WITH EXISTENTIAL ISSUES MILD ANXIETY MILD DEPRESSION THOSE WITH IDENTITY ISSUES THOSE WITH LOW SELF-ESTEEM SELF-SABOTAGING INDIVIDUALS