Chapter Closing a Group Prepared by: Nathaniel N Ivers, Wake Forest University Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Roadmap How to prepare and close a group The effects on individuals of ending a group The Premature Closing of a Group Specific ways of closing a group Problems in the closing a group Follow-up Sessions Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 7-2 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Preparing to Close a Group Proper preparation for ending a group begins at the planning stage To ensure proper group procedures from start to end, leaders must establish appropriate boundaries Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 7-3 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Preparing to Close a Group Closing occurs on two levels in a group: At the end of each session At the end of a certain number of group sessions At orientation, the subject of closing is raised In closing a group session, a leader should inform members that the group is ending about to 30 minutes before its conclusion In ending a total group experience, the orientation to closing involves a planned number of sessions that are devoted to the topic of termination Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 7-4 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Effects on Individuals of Ending a Group Ending a group has an impact on individuals “If handled appropriately, the process of termination can be an important role in helping individuals develop new behaviors” (Hansen et al., 1980, p 539) The range of feelings among individual group members can be very wide Some engage in farewell-party syndrome to avoid the pain of closure (Shulman, 2012) Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 7-5 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Effects on Individuals of Ending a Group Options for people who need more help after termination: Individual counseling Referral to another group or organization Recycling through a similar group experience Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 7-6 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Premature Closing of a Group Premature termination can occur for the following reasons: Individuals quit the group abruptly A group experience ends suddenly because of actions by the group leader ASGW (2007) has provided guidelines to follow in premature ending situations Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 7-7 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Premature Closing of the Group as a Whole Leaders must one of the following: Have at least one group session to say good-bye to the group as a whole Contact group members directly Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 7-8 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Premature Closing Initiated by Group Members Some reasons for which group members prematurely terminate group sessions: External factors Group deviancy Problems of intimacy Fear of emotional contagion Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 7-9 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Reasons for Premature Ending (Cont.) Inability to share the doctor (group leader) Complications of concurrent individual and group therapy Early provocateurs Inadequate orientation to therapy Complications arising from subgrouping Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 7-10 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Preventing Premature Closing Steps to reduce the potential for premature ending: Start and end groups on time Help members make commitments to attend a number of sessions Treat members in a personal and professional way Communicate clearly and concisely about individual and group issues Send members reminders if there are long intervals between group sessions (Young, 2013) Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 7-11 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Closing of Group Sessions Member Summarization Leader Summarization Rounds Dyads Scaling Activities Written Reactions Rating Sheets Homework Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 7-12 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Capping Skills in Closings Reviewing and summarizing the group experience Assessing members’ growth, change (or achievement) Finishing business Applying change to everyday life (implementing decisions) Providing feedback Handling good-byes Planning for continued problem resolution (Jacobs et al., 2012, p 382) Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 7-13 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Problems in Closing of Groups Denial Transference Countertransference Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 7-14 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Follow-Up Sessions Procedure of reconnecting with group members after they have had enough time to process what they experienced in the group and work on their goals or objectives Beneficial to members and to leaders in evaluating the experience they had in the group and reflecting on what they learned Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 7-15 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved ... experience, the orientation to closing involves a planned number of sessions that are devoted to the topic of termination Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 7-4 © 2016 Pearson Education,... therapy Early provocateurs Inadequate orientation to therapy Complications arising from subgrouping Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 7-10 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights... which group members prematurely terminate group sessions: External factors Group deviancy Problems of intimacy Fear of emotional contagion Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding