Group work offers many benefits that cannot be achieved through individual therapy alone. The most obvious benefit is group member validation. The knowledge that you are not alone and are not the only person who has experienced that particular issue can foster a strong sense of hope.
However, groups also present challenges from different personalities and behaviors that disrupt group dynamics and function. As a social worker, you will need to take different roles to manage the challenges in order to create a safer space for clients to engage in their work.
In this assignment, you describe a group you may be interested in facilitating and potential challenges you may experience. With colleagues, you discuss how to apply specific intervention skills to address the challenges.
Write a 400 words minimum paper clearly answering EACH of the following:
- 1. Compare task groups versus educational, support, or skills groups.
- 2. Describe a type of treatment group you would facilitate as a social worker.
- 3. Explain what professional role you may take when facilitating this group.
- 4. Describe what is meant by group norms, and explain how you would help shape these norms based on your role in the group.
- 5. Explain what is meant by group roles. Identify at least one group role, and explain why a group member may take that role.
- 6. Describe a group member role that might be most challenging to you as a group leader, and explain why.
CITE AND REFERENCE THE FOLLOWING MATERIALS ACCURATELY/NO GENERAL CITATIOSN WILL BE ACCEPTED:
- Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, G. H., Jr. (2018). Empowerment series:Understanding generalist practice (8th ed.). CENGAGE Learning.
- Chapter 3, “Practice Skills for Working With Groups” (pp. 102–137)
- International Association for Social Work with Groups. (2015). Standards for social work practice with groups