Chapter Forming a Group Prepared by: Nathaniel N Ivers, Wake Forest University Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Roadmap Characteristics of the Forming Stage of a Group Steps in the Forming Stage of a Group Tasks and Problems in the Forming Stage of a Group Useful Procedures for the Forming Stage of a Group Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 4-2 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Forming Stage of a Group Orientation stage of a group A time of initial caution associated with any new experience Personal relations are characterized by dependence Group members attempt to be accepted and safe by trying to keep things simple and free of controversy to avoid rejection by others Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 4-3 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Steps in the Forming Stage Step 1: Group Step 2: Step 3: Step 4: Step 5: Step 6: Step 7: Developing a Rationale for the Deciding on a Theoretical Format Weighing Practical Considerations Publicizing the Group Screening and Pretraining Selecting Group Members Selecting a Group Leader Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 4-4 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Step 1: Developing a Rationale for the Group Every successful group has a clear rationale The rationale is the purpose of or reasons for conducting a group Group leaders who are unclear about their purpose will end up being nonproductive at best and possibly harmful Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 4-5 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Step 2: Deciding on a Theoretical Format Should function intrapersonal, interpersonal, and extrapersonal matters, but in varying degrees Should match the needs of participants and the group as a whole The level of functioning in a group (I/We/It; Waldo, 1985) that the group leader emphasizes may influence his or her theoretical format Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 4-6 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Step 3: Weighing Practical Considerations After a clear, convincing rationale and theoretical format have been determined, group proposals should stress specific, concrete, and practical objectives and procedures, such as the following: Meeting time Setting Frequency of meetings (Jacobs et al., 2016) Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 4-7 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Step 4: Publicizing the Group How a group is announced influences the way the group will be received by potential members and the kind of people who will join (Corey et al., 2014) Some effective ways of publicizing a group: Word of mouth with professional colleagues Personal contact with potential members Written announcements to a targeted audience Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 4-8 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Step 5: Screening and Pretraining Potential group members should be screened Interviewed before the group to determine suitability for the group Individually conducted pregroup screening procedure Group-conducted pregroup screening process Potential group members should be carefully chosen whenever possible (Riva & Lange, 2014) Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 4-9 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Pregroup Screening Interview Steps Identify needs, expectations, and commitment Challenge myths and misconceptions Convey Information Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 4-10 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Pretraining Orienting group members on what to expect of the group before it ever meets “Such investment should enhance the functioning of the group, speed its work, reduce dropouts, and increase positive outcomes” (Zimpfer, 1991, p 264) Can occur on a group or individual basis Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 4-11 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Step 6: Selecting Group Members A two-way process in that potential group members and leaders are mutually involved in the selection process People invited to join the group should be individuals who are likely to benefit from the experience Individual characteristics that are contraindicated for group work: extreme hostile, self-centered, unmotivated, crisis oriented, mentally unbalanced, unable or unwilling to self-disclose or tolerate anxiety (Corey, 2012; Riva et al., 2000) Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 4-12 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Step 7: Selecting a Group Leader The following are important factors that potential group members should consider regarding the leader of the group: Group leader’s qualifications Group leader’s style and personality Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 4-13 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Tasks of Beginning the Group Dealing with apprehension Reviewing Goals and Contracts Specifying Group Rules Setting Limits Promoting a Positive Interchange Among Members Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 4-14 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Resolving Potential Group Problems in Forming People Problems Group Procedural Problems Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 4-15 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved People Problems Manipulators Resisters Monopolizers Silent members Users of sarcasm Diagnostic analyzers Focusers on others Subgroups Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 4-16 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Group Procedural Problems Opening the Group Structure Involvement Group Cohesion Hope and Risk Taking Closing (Terminating) of the Session Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 4-17 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Useful Procedures for the Forming Stage Joining Linking Cutting Off Drawing Out Clarifying the Purpose Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 4-18 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved ... of a Group Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 4-2 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Forming Stage of a Group Orientation stage of a group A time of initial... initial caution associated with any new experience Personal relations are characterized by dependence Group members attempt to be accepted and safe by trying to keep things simple and free of controversy... interpersonal, and extrapersonal matters, but in varying degrees Should match the needs of participants and the group as a whole The level of functioning in a group (I/We/It; Waldo, 1985) that