My Lesson in M-GSL Yau Tat-yu

Some themes evolved in the group  Deepened exploration on ‘helping’.  More self-understanding and applying social work values / practice in personal world.  Being more acceptance towards clients and their world-view.  Be reflective and critical towards taken-for- granted assumptions (on client’s situation).

Some themes evolved in the group  Be more confident on own professional judgment and practice.  Reflections / commitments on social work values (social justice) and connect this to social work field.  Being realistic in social work field and thus having more preparation for it.

Strengthening my beliefs…  Trust in group process, members’ strength and resources.  Though there are difficult times with confusion and boredom, these are also valuable opportunities for growth and better self-understanding.  Always be here and now with a sense of direction.

Group work skills  All these basic group skills are fundamental to most kinds of groups.  The way of organizing these group skills depends on here-and-now context, theoretical framework and nature of group.  I learn much about deepening self- exploration and enriching connectedness among group members in group process.

Sensitivity  Being sensitive to group dynamics and aware of direction for further exploration are pre-requisite for responding.  As accumulating more experience and being familiar with various theoretical approaches, worker should be more flexible and responsive to here-and-now context.

Self Reflections  How to merge different theoretical approaches together.  Beware of progressive self-disclosure process.  Getting in touch with myself as group members disclose their own concerns and struggles.

Feedback on last session  Getting momentum on common concerns and translating these into collective actions, if possible.  Pacing the group to have further feedback to others – enhance self-understanding accordingly.  Connecting self-understanding to daily practice, hence more self-acceptance and preparing for future changes.

Feedback on last session  Issues related termination – feeling of separation is not strong, but wish to maintain mutual support.  With widening perspectives, individual problem-solving can be enhanced through mutual learning.