1. STARTING A GROUP

2. 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

3. SCREENING PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS

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

5. OTHER SCREENING METHODS
PRESCREENING GROUP SESSION
QUESTIONNAIRES
REFERRAL SOURCES

6. PLANNING THE GROUP SESSION

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

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

9. 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

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

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

12. 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

13. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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