Encountering group work is part of everyone’s life, family, employment, and social settings. As social work students, we are trained in human behavior. Taflinger (1996) describes selfpreservation in humans as essential and multifaceted. Groups are reciprocal; when group members work together it promotes group survival which is essentially personal survival. This paper aspires to address the group process and identify several types of groups. This paper will explain the dynamics of being a group facilitator as well as members of a group, along with an interpersonal reflection of the group experience.
Our family of origin (FoO) is recognized as our first social group we belonged to. Foo and the order of birth influences our values, behaviors and beliefs. The family group teaches us how to communicate, for good or bad. FoO helps to develop a sense of identity and sense of self. The family shapes how we deal with emotions and feelings as we try to get our need met (Taylor, 2008). Ultimately, the birth order and our first social group influences who we have become. I was raised in a single parent home, with my mom as the primary caretaker. I am the oldest, my sister is two years younger. My family was subjected to poverty.
For the first ten years of my life we were supported through the public welfare system, receiving food stamps and a stipend for rent, as well as assistance from local churches and our elementary school. My mom was unemployed until I was ten years old. Our family lived in a suburban area with limited access to amenities. We did not have a family vehicle which left us somewhat paralyzed and connected to the welfare system for a lengthy time. Psychiatrist Alfred Adler 1870 -1937, proposed a theory on this very subject suggesting a connection that can predict profession, relationships and how we entertain ourselves (Walcutt, 2009).
As I perused the literature on birth order, I can identify with many of the characteristics that describe firstborns, such as being a leader, responsible, controlling and cautious. An article by Hartshorne (2010) suggests many factors contribute to our personalities, not just birth order. Household finances, education of the parents, and the comminutes where families live, among other factors that need to be taken into consideration. Another demographic about my family is that my sister was diagnosed with development delays as an infant.
Reflecting upon my youth, I can see that I was protective of my sister not only because of her disability, but because I was the oldest. My family of origin has set the stage for me to be an outspoken leader. Also, I am naturally comfortable when afforded the opportunity to work in small group settings. This year during my field experience at Mazzitti & Sullivan Counseling Services, I had the opportunity to co- facilitate the Duel OutPatience(DOP) group where I assisted individual with mental illness and substance abuse issues.
My role in this position was to provide the psychoeducation component as well as an activity, which aided in facilitating group cohesiveness. Utilizing an activity to build upon the education portion promoted durable relationships, increasing self-esteem, autonomy, and responsibility (Yalom, I. D. & Leszcz, M. 2005). The DOP group had an average of six members. Most of the members were court ordered into treatment because of substance abuse and presented with legal issues that warranted the attendance of a 12-week treatment program. I remember feeling uncomfortable as I took the reins to facilitate the group.
I was excited to teach a specific topic and I was the only one excited. I did all the work, drawing emotions and feelings out of the members. I specifically recollect the co-leader commenting that I was working harder than the group. According to Yalom & Leszcz, 2005, cohesiveness is described as the desirability the individual has for the particular group they are attending and the respective members. There were several noticeable variables in the therapeutic process of groups that were lacking in the DOP group that I co-lead. The lack of participation and self-disclosure was disturbing and painful.
The members were not open to express and explore themselves. I wonder if there was an underlying feeling of a lack of acceptance and understanding amongst the members and facilitators? Considering this was my first ever group that I co-lead, this opportunity is valuable. I learned that I like to facilitate groups, even though this group was challenging. Due to my interest in group therapy, I was able to observe other groups at my agency. The personalities of members, and the groups heterogeneity, served extremely influential, as well as the group facilitators function (Turner, 2011).
In November, I became a member of a support grief and bereavement group. The loss of my dad sparked an overwhelming feeling to be with others who have experienced loss. The grief group was co-facilitated by Wendy who is a nurse facilitator and Barb who is a social worker. The groups are biweekly and are 12 hour in length with about 10-12 actively attending members. Attending this support group was tremendously challenging and sometimes still is. Wendy and Barb were extremely welcoming to new members. At every meeting, each member takes a turn introducing themselves shares who they have lost.
Next, we watch a video series called Understanding Grief, by Bill Webster. The video series discusses a particular topic such as anger, loneliness, guilt and adjustment. which are used to generate group conversation for the remainder of the time. This is the format for each meeting, which is comforting to know the expectations. In the beginning, I quickly noticed that role and attitude of Barb was not in line with what I have been educated on as my duty and responsibility as a prospective social worker. I left my first grief support group upset and concerned if this group was going to be beneficial.
What I received from my first meeting resembled the phenomenon of countertransference and transference as the social worker, Barb spoke and reflected on her experience with loss and her recent struggles with loosing family. Transference is described as having strong emotional feeling about an individual in your life, when those emotions and feelings are placed on others, this is the action of countertransference (Reamer, 2006). In my opinion and according to the NASW Code of Ethics section 2. 09 impairment, 2. 10 incompetence and 2. 11unethical behavior, may have been compromised (NASW, 1996).
Barbs excessive self-disclosure and over involvement in the group raises boundary concerns. At times, I am focused on Barbs own emotional and dependency needs. The last group that I attended was small peer group of four members. All the members are Temple University graduate students participating in the MSW program. The group will meet four times for an hour each time, allowing each member to facilitate the group. I must be honest, I was not happy that our group members were picked for us. I had no personal connections with Kathryn, Melody, and Tiffany.
I assume this was done intentionally to mimic a traditional support group setting. Previously, I have several opportunity’s facilitating and being a member of a group so I felt this small group interaction was going to be uncomfortable and a waste of time, boy was| wrong. At the beginning of each meeting we established who was going to facilitate the group. Collectively the members decided our group would address our common concerns about guilt with relationship while attending graduate school. Similar to the grief support group attend, the members were looking for support and encouragement.
There was a brief discussion about confidentiality, listening and taking turns responding and sharing. During the support meetings, I immediately felt an intimate connection with Melody. Our time together was spent sharing feelings about guilt, responsibilities, and a collective feeling of being emotionally unavailable for our significant others and at times friends and family members. Melody and I shared tears as we conversed. As we switched rolls taking turn being the facilitator there was a visible connection between each member, as individuals nodded their heads in agreement, tears welling in their eyes and sharing similar stories.
Throughout our support meetings, members asked for advice from the group, suggesting trust, cohesion, and group effectiveness. These attributes were visible in the grief support group and the peer support group suggesting the group depicts entitativity. Forsyth (2010) describes entitativity as unrelated and independent people being an entity. From an outsider perspective looking at either the peer group or the grief group a person could notice a common fate, similarities, and immediacy. Unfortunately, the DOP group lacked the unity to be effective. Group work has many benefits which can be personal and/or universal for group members.
Early in this paper I expressed that I wanted to be with others who have experienced what | had. This is a common thread among people, realizing you’re not alone. Group work allows for interpersonal work and the ability to relate to others. Another benefit that group work offers is receiving support and giving support, reducing isolation and aiding members to find their voice. Through the experiences of attending and co-facilitating groups I have grown both on a personal and professional level. Group experiences promote therapeutic growth, provide different perspectives, and build upon interpersonal skills (Turner, 2011).
