Group Facilitation Skills MH 31 Professor Billies Spring 2015 from Toseland and Rivas

Free Write How do you typically behave o in your family? o in your sports team, religious group, college club, dance troupe, band, etc. o in class? o in a project group for class? What do you notice about what roles you fall into? Are they the same or different in each setting?

Living Human Systems System theories (e.g., family systems) recognize that when groups of people come together for a purpose, roles develop to help that group achieve that purpose. Sometimes these roles are explicit - they are openly known. Sometimes these roles are implicit – they develop subconsciously.

Definition: Groupwork Goal-directed activity with small treatment and task groups aimed at meeting socioemotional needs and accomplishing tasks. This activity is directed to individual members of a group and to the group as a whole within a system of service delivery.

Types of Groups Types of social work groups:

Stages of Group Development

Qualities of Skilled Group Facilitators

Skills: Facilitating Group Process Involve group members Pay attention to group-as-a-whole Reach for silent members Describe process to the group as it happens Clarify content of discussion Guide group interactions Intervene with challenging behavior

Skills: Gathering data and assessment Identify and describe thoughts, feelings, and behaviors Ask questions Summarize themes of group discussion Reflect feelings and meaning

Skills: Action Support Reframe ideas Link group members' ideas Be a role model Confront Resolve conflicts