Learning Group Leadership : An Experiential Approach

by Jeffrey A. Kottler

• ISBN13: 9781412953702
• ISBN10: 1412953707
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-02-19
• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc

Summary

'œThe writing is both highly personable and also very specific about techniques and attitudes students may take on as they experiment with membership leadership. I think my students will like it and will use it to engage even more fully with the experiential group. It most certainly fills a niche that needed filling.' -Adam L. Hill, Sonoma State University Now Accompanied by a DVD! Focusing on how to conduct and lead groups in a variety of therapeutic settings, Learning Group Leadership: An Experiential Approach, Second Edition covers theory, process, leadership, techniques, ethics, special populations, and challenges as they relate to group work. The Second Edition introduces important conceptual and practical information and then uses exercises, field study assignments, and personal application questions to help students apply concepts to their work and lives. The Second Edition now includes 'œstudent voices' throughout each chapter to provide descriptions of actual experiences. Key Features : Takes an experiential approach, helping readers understand how the concepts they learn in class can be applied to their own work in conducting groups Offers a conversational, practical, and realistic writing style Includes relevant examples drawn from the authors' more than 25 years of teaching and leading experience Is accompanied by a new DVD, bound in the back of the book, which contains scripted sessions corresponding with every chapterThe password-protected instructor's site is available with test questions at http://www.sagepub.com/kottler2einstr/main.htm . Learning Group Leadership: An Experiential Approach, Second Edition is ideal for use in introductory courses in Group Therapy or Group Work in the disciplines of counseling, human services, psychology and social work.

Table of Contents

Introduction

What This Book Will Do and What It Will Not Do

Taking an Experiential Journey

Some Legitimate Concerns

A Structure That Goes Beyond Basics

Meet Your Authors

What You Can Expect

Some Final Advice

Foundations of Group Work

The World of Groups

The Challenge of Leading Groups

The Joys of Leading Groups

The World of Groups

Kinds of Groups

Universal Therapeutic Factors in Groups

Do Groups Work?

Review of What You Learned

Your Behavior in Groups

A Lifetime of Group Skills: The Good News

More Good News: Group Leadership Training and Personal Growth

Now the Bad News

Practicing What You Preach

The Personal Qualities of Group Leaders

Guidelines for Group Membership and Participation

Review of What You Learned

Understanding Group Dynamics and Systems

Linear and Circular Causality

Systems Theory

Family of Origin and Interpersonal Issues

Interaction Patterns

What to Look For

Member Roles

For Review: High- and Low-Functioning Groups

Review of What You Learned

Stages of Group Development

What You Should Know About Developmental Theory and Groups

So Many Group Stages

Stages of Group Evolution

Group Stages in Action

What to Look for Over Time

Review of What You Learned

Multicultural Dimensions of Group Work

Helping Those Who Need It the Most

What Is a Multiculturally Competent Group Leader?

Building Strong Multicultural Alliances

Until You Have Walked in My Shoes: Exploring Discrimination in Group Settings

Start With Yourself

Common Themes to Consider in Multicultural Group Work

Self-Disclosure

Review of What You Learned

Theories of Group Intervention

Theories and Group Leadership

Why Bother With Theories?

The Psychoanalytic Approach

The Person-Centered Approach

The Existential Approach

The Gestalt Approach

The Cognitive Behavioral Approach

The Reality Therapy Approach

Relational-Cultural Theory

The Narrative Approach

Brief Group Structures

Other Theories We Did Not Get Around To

An Integrative Model

Review of What You Learned

Skills of the Group Leader

Assessment and Group Diagnostics

Knowing Where to Hit the Pipe

What Is Assessment and Diagnosis in Groups?

An Example of Diagnosis in Action

Models of Assessment and Diagnosis

Alternative Diagnostic Models

Review of What You Learned

Specialized Leadership Skills

Helping Skills in Groups

Soliciting Honest Feedback

Skills Adapted for Groups

Group Skills

Review of What You Learned

When to Intervene in Groups

It Is Not Always What You Do, but When and How You Do It

Differences of Opinion

When You Must Do Something

The Power of Language and What to Say: Group Leaders as Language Coaches

Words to Avoid in Therapeutic Groups

Review of What You Learned

Group Techniques and Structures

Ways to Prepare a Group

Ways to Begin a Group

Ways to Build Cohesion and Intimacy

Ways to Promote Risk Taking

Ways to Solve Problems

Ways to Facilitate Task Completion

Ways to Rehearse New Behaviors

Ways to Work Briefly

Ways to End a Group

Review of What You Learned

Applications and Significant Issues

Coleadership and Supervision

Power of the Coleadership Model

Some Dangers and Limitations

Basics to Keep in Mind

How to Debrief a Coleader and Get the Most From These Sessions

Review of What You Learned

Critical Incidents and Difficult Group Members: Challenges and Obstacles

Common Critical Incidents

Interpersonal Conflict

Strategies for Handling Critical Incidents

Review of What You Learned

Ethical Issues Unique to Group Work

Special Challenges

Major Ethical Issues in Group Leadership

Slightly Unethical Behaviors That Create Deception and Moral Conundrums

Little White Lies

Making Sound Ethical Decisions

Becoming an Ethical Group Leader

Review of What You Learned

Advanced Group Structures

Advanced Group Leadership: Creative Interventions and Difficult Members

The Role of Techniques for More Experienced Leaders

Personal and Physical Considerations

Using Metaphors in Group Settings

Difficult Group Members

Why People Create Difficulties and What Can Be Done

Review of What You Learned

Adjunct Structures to Group Work

Therapeutic Writing

Homework

Questionnaires and Logs

Using Videos and Films

Bibliotherapy and Printed Handouts

Field Trips

Review of What You Learned

Group Leadership Applied to Social Justice and Social Action

Empowered to Make a Difference

Social Justice in Group Leadership

A Point and Counterpoint

The Role of Altruism

Expand Your Vision: Social Justice on the Global Stae

Shoot for Bigger Goals

The End of Our Journey: Where to Go Next?

Review of What You Learned

References

Index

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