Group Process - Research Advice Paper
EssayChat / Jul 29, 2017
Introduction
This research paper provides an overview of the elements involved in the organization, establishment and successful maintenance of an effective small group, devoted to the development of self-awareness and self-empowerment for those significantly impacted by a loved one's excessive use of alcohol and/or other drugs.
One small self-support group, consisting of concerned persons, painfully impacted in all aspects of life, by a loved-one's chemical addiction, was formed at the participants' requests, meeting in a local treatment facility. The original group members elected to accept an earlier offer from one of the treatment facility's staff counselors and designated her as group facilitator, in order to assure congruency and focus. The group then held a series of organizational meetings in which they decided that they would employ an "open group" process, welcoming new members at regular, pre-determined intervals, or when a member recommended an individual's inclusion, due to immediate emotional crisis.
The group's stated purpose was to empower its members to collectively process their individual experiences, thoughts, feelings, actions, reactions and belief systems. Additional purposes included validation of the individual's perception of his/her own reality, a gained, thorough understanding of the nature of the negative physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual aspects of the disease, from which their loved ones were suffering, along with the development and reinforcement of healthy coping mechanisms and rational decision making and conflict resolution skills.
Group expectations, based on reciprocal respect, were agreed-upon, assembled, printed, supplied to each member and implemented. They read as follows:
Regular attendance and confidentiality are important, as group momentum and progress is interrupted when members attend sporadically and/or demonstrate a pattern of tardiness.
Trust and safety are essential to the group. Each member is encouraged to be open to the level necessary for self-discovery and progress, therefore:
The primary group expectations are that each member will arrive and be seated on time for each meeting and that what each group member says in group, stays in group.
Secondarily, we have established that: We will demonstrate respect for self and others in group; We will refrain from "addict bashing," keeping the focus on ourselves; We will each be willing to develop trust in the group and to openly and honestly share our negative and painful thoughts and feelings, as well as our beliefs, experiences, gained insights, strengths and hopes; We will refrain from interrupting, commenting or talking while another is sharing; We will avoid "put downs" of self or others; We will refrain from name calling or threatening gestures or language; We will each be willing to give positive feedback to others in a respectful manner; We will be willing to accept feedback from others without becoming aggressive or defensive; We will remain mindful that we are working together in order to assist each group member.
These group expectations were read at the beginning of each meeting as a reminder of the charter members' agreed-upon expectations and as a set of guidelines of participation for new members.
The group utilized a motivational approach. Group members helped facilitate change in one another through supportive interactions. Members of the group will receive empathy, acceptance and respect for their individual differences, explicitly avoiding confrontation. The counselor facilitated and assisted the group in maintaining focus and in processing through emotionally charged issues, offering prompts to assist members in deciding whether there were any changes that members wanted to make.
While the counselor facilitator possessed the skills to assist members, ultimately the decisions and changes were the responsibility and personal triumph of each member, as well as the communal triumph of the group, since each member played an important role in helping each other as they journeyed through the process together.
Members took turns volunteering to set-up the meeting room; making coffee, arranging chairs in an oval pattern, so that each member could easily see and hear the others, and reading a selection from Melody Beattie's iconic book, Codependent No More, as topic inspiration for each meeting.
As the group became cohesive, members were lost through attrition and new members were absorbed, the members decided that once a member reached his/her six-month anniversary of regular, active participation, the unofficial designation of, "Phase II" member, status would be bestowed. This designation would enhance the group in that Phase IIs would mentor newer members and aid them in making the best personal progress within the group's process.
Phase IIs also lead credibility to the group, by relating where they had been when they had joined, what they had learned from other group members and about themselves, what decisions and changes they had made and where their lives were now, in short, by sharing their experience, strength and hope.
Members also discovered that: regular group participation offered structure in their often chaotic lives; provided accountability to other members, which aided them in following through with their declared goals; provided the verification that they were not alone in their experiences and that they shared with one another a newly discovered sense of hope for each individual's present and future; and empowerment in the realization that they could re-adjust their own ineffective and unhealthy actions and reactions and set boundaries within their relationships with alcoholics/addicts.
Conclusion
This group was established nearly five years ago. It must be noted that it continues to this day and that many charter members remain actively involved, apparently sharing the concept that one should not set-aside what contributes positively to one's life.
Once firmly established, the group decided to allow the counselor facilitator to relinquish her group role and to rotate meeting facilitation among the Phase II membership. Tradition statements were added by the members over the years, that compliment the groups stated expectations.
Fittingly, this essay will conclude with the group's adopted tradition statements:
~ When I ask someone to listen to me, and that person starts to give advice he/she has not done what I asked. That does not happen here.
~ When I ask someone to listen to me and that person begins to tell me why I shouldn't feel that way, he/she is trampling on and dismissing my feelings. That does not happen here.
~ When I ask someone to I listen to me and he/she feels he/she has to do something to solve my problem, he/she has failed me, strange as that may seem. That does not happen here.
~ Listen. All I ask is that you listen, not talk or do - just hear me. That does happen here.
~ Unasked-for advice is a form of criticism -it implies that I am incapable of working through my own issues. And I can do for myself; I'm not helpless. Group feedback is supportive, not directive and is thus, welcomed.
~ When someone does something for me that I am able and need to do for myself, he/she contributes to my fear and weakness. That does not happen here.
~ When you accept, as a simple fact, that I do feel what I feel, no matter how irrational, then I can quit trying to convince you and can get about the business of-understanding what's behind this irrational feeling. And when that's clear, the answers are obvious and I don't need advice. That acceptance is offered here.
Our irrational feelings begin to make sense when we understand what's behind them. Perhaps that's why this group works. Group members don't give advice or try to fix things; they just listen, reflect back to each other what they heard, support each other unconditionally and allow each individual to work it out for him/herself.
So, they continue to listen and just hear each other, then validate each other with supportive feedback on what they heard. Then they wait for their turn. The others attentively listen to every word and do the same for them.
References
Beattie, Melody. Codependent no more: How to stop controlling others and start caring for yourself. Center City, MN: Hazelden Press.
Miller, E.R., Ph. D. & Rollnick, S., Ph. D. Motivational interviewing second edition: Preparing people for change. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
Van Horn, Deborah H. A., Ph. D. Motivational interviewing and the stages of change. Center City, MN: Hazelden Press.
This research paper provides an overview of the elements involved in the organization, establishment and successful maintenance of an effective small group, devoted to the development of self-awareness and self-empowerment for those significantly impacted by a loved one's excessive use of alcohol and/or other drugs.
Group Formation, Dynamics and Process
One small self-support group, consisting of concerned persons, painfully impacted in all aspects of life, by a loved-one's chemical addiction, was formed at the participants' requests, meeting in a local treatment facility. The original group members elected to accept an earlier offer from one of the treatment facility's staff counselors and designated her as group facilitator, in order to assure congruency and focus. The group then held a series of organizational meetings in which they decided that they would employ an "open group" process, welcoming new members at regular, pre-determined intervals, or when a member recommended an individual's inclusion, due to immediate emotional crisis.
The group's stated purpose was to empower its members to collectively process their individual experiences, thoughts, feelings, actions, reactions and belief systems. Additional purposes included validation of the individual's perception of his/her own reality, a gained, thorough understanding of the nature of the negative physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual aspects of the disease, from which their loved ones were suffering, along with the development and reinforcement of healthy coping mechanisms and rational decision making and conflict resolution skills.Group expectations, based on reciprocal respect, were agreed-upon, assembled, printed, supplied to each member and implemented. They read as follows:
Regular attendance and confidentiality are important, as group momentum and progress is interrupted when members attend sporadically and/or demonstrate a pattern of tardiness.
Trust and safety are essential to the group. Each member is encouraged to be open to the level necessary for self-discovery and progress, therefore:
The primary group expectations are that each member will arrive and be seated on time for each meeting and that what each group member says in group, stays in group.
Secondarily, we have established that: We will demonstrate respect for self and others in group; We will refrain from "addict bashing," keeping the focus on ourselves; We will each be willing to develop trust in the group and to openly and honestly share our negative and painful thoughts and feelings, as well as our beliefs, experiences, gained insights, strengths and hopes; We will refrain from interrupting, commenting or talking while another is sharing; We will avoid "put downs" of self or others; We will refrain from name calling or threatening gestures or language; We will each be willing to give positive feedback to others in a respectful manner; We will be willing to accept feedback from others without becoming aggressive or defensive; We will remain mindful that we are working together in order to assist each group member.
These group expectations were read at the beginning of each meeting as a reminder of the charter members' agreed-upon expectations and as a set of guidelines of participation for new members.
Member Roles and Participation Styles
The group utilized a motivational approach. Group members helped facilitate change in one another through supportive interactions. Members of the group will receive empathy, acceptance and respect for their individual differences, explicitly avoiding confrontation. The counselor facilitated and assisted the group in maintaining focus and in processing through emotionally charged issues, offering prompts to assist members in deciding whether there were any changes that members wanted to make.
While the counselor facilitator possessed the skills to assist members, ultimately the decisions and changes were the responsibility and personal triumph of each member, as well as the communal triumph of the group, since each member played an important role in helping each other as they journeyed through the process together.
Members took turns volunteering to set-up the meeting room; making coffee, arranging chairs in an oval pattern, so that each member could easily see and hear the others, and reading a selection from Melody Beattie's iconic book, Codependent No More, as topic inspiration for each meeting.
Stages of Group Development
As the group became cohesive, members were lost through attrition and new members were absorbed, the members decided that once a member reached his/her six-month anniversary of regular, active participation, the unofficial designation of, "Phase II" member, status would be bestowed. This designation would enhance the group in that Phase IIs would mentor newer members and aid them in making the best personal progress within the group's process.
Phase IIs also lead credibility to the group, by relating where they had been when they had joined, what they had learned from other group members and about themselves, what decisions and changes they had made and where their lives were now, in short, by sharing their experience, strength and hope.
Members also discovered that: regular group participation offered structure in their often chaotic lives; provided accountability to other members, which aided them in following through with their declared goals; provided the verification that they were not alone in their experiences and that they shared with one another a newly discovered sense of hope for each individual's present and future; and empowerment in the realization that they could re-adjust their own ineffective and unhealthy actions and reactions and set boundaries within their relationships with alcoholics/addicts.
Conclusion
This group was established nearly five years ago. It must be noted that it continues to this day and that many charter members remain actively involved, apparently sharing the concept that one should not set-aside what contributes positively to one's life.
Once firmly established, the group decided to allow the counselor facilitator to relinquish her group role and to rotate meeting facilitation among the Phase II membership. Tradition statements were added by the members over the years, that compliment the groups stated expectations.
Fittingly, this essay will conclude with the group's adopted tradition statements:
~ When I ask someone to listen to me, and that person starts to give advice he/she has not done what I asked. That does not happen here.
~ When I ask someone to listen to me and that person begins to tell me why I shouldn't feel that way, he/she is trampling on and dismissing my feelings. That does not happen here.
~ When I ask someone to I listen to me and he/she feels he/she has to do something to solve my problem, he/she has failed me, strange as that may seem. That does not happen here.
~ Listen. All I ask is that you listen, not talk or do - just hear me. That does happen here.
~ Unasked-for advice is a form of criticism -it implies that I am incapable of working through my own issues. And I can do for myself; I'm not helpless. Group feedback is supportive, not directive and is thus, welcomed.
~ When someone does something for me that I am able and need to do for myself, he/she contributes to my fear and weakness. That does not happen here.
~ When you accept, as a simple fact, that I do feel what I feel, no matter how irrational, then I can quit trying to convince you and can get about the business of-understanding what's behind this irrational feeling. And when that's clear, the answers are obvious and I don't need advice. That acceptance is offered here.
Our irrational feelings begin to make sense when we understand what's behind them. Perhaps that's why this group works. Group members don't give advice or try to fix things; they just listen, reflect back to each other what they heard, support each other unconditionally and allow each individual to work it out for him/herself.
So, they continue to listen and just hear each other, then validate each other with supportive feedback on what they heard. Then they wait for their turn. The others attentively listen to every word and do the same for them.
References
Beattie, Melody. Codependent no more: How to stop controlling others and start caring for yourself. Center City, MN: Hazelden Press.
Miller, E.R., Ph. D. & Rollnick, S., Ph. D. Motivational interviewing second edition: Preparing people for change. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
Van Horn, Deborah H. A., Ph. D. Motivational interviewing and the stages of change. Center City, MN: Hazelden Press.