+ Group Dynamics in Recreational Therapy Created by: Heather R. Porter, PhD, CTRS

+ Defining Terms Group A number of individuals assembled together or having some common identity or shared purpose Group Dynamics The meaningful interactions within a small human group. Content What is the focus in a group Process All that happens in a group

+ Groups in RT Shared experiences (e.g., sport, hobby, interest, support groups) Functional Skills & Developmental groups (e.g., team building groups, hospital therapy groups) Psychoeducational groups (e.g., learning and discussion groups, growth and counseling groups))

+ Common Problems with RT Groups Working within an evolving group Shortened lengths of stay “Revolving door syndrome” Observing multiple stages of change Leader imbalances New clients interacting with established group members Inconsistencies with leader Difficult personalities

+ Stages of Group Development Model (Tuckman & Jensen) Forming Storming Norming Performing Adjourning

+ Group “Forming” Acceptance of Task Dependency on Facilitator Social Exploration Forming Relationships Forming Expectations

+ Group “Storming” Identification of Interpersonal issues Group conflicts and leadership struggles Task promotes possible resistance to roles & responsibilities Group conflict (polarization) around issues Personal agendas revealed Group power & anxiety surfaces

+ Group “Norming” New social rules (hope) Increased compliance with group tasks Team identity Group purpose comes into focus “We” instead of “me” Mutually accepted operating principles

+ Group “Performing” Tasks are competently accomplished Group focus on task Group cohesion Commitment to the group Roles less rigid (respect for strengths & weaknesses of others)

+ Group “Adjourning” Adjournment anxiety Establishing group support after the completion of treatment Transfer (preparation) of skills to “real world”

+ Leadership Styles 1. Autocratic- facilitator makes decisions 2. Democratic- shared responsibilities 3. Abdicratic- decisions responsibilities are given to the group, facilitator remains closely involved

+ Modifying Leadership Roles in Therapeutic Groups Forming Examining goals & expectations Explore individual differences _______________leadership Storming Clarify purpose of group Clarify appropriate behavior Purposeful rules _______________ leadership Norming Diagnose problem areas Clarify & confront _______________leadership Performing Clarify progress Transfer of learning ______________ leadership Adjourning Clarify therapeutic gains Resource support _______________ leadership

+ Group Influences Individual needs Variation in skills and abilities Group expectations/dynamics Unique personality of members

+ Working with Challenging Behaviors in group settings Passive un-involvement Turning away from group; not participating, paying attention, or bringing work/materials; saying little; no enthusiasm Active Un-involvement Talking about everything but work, leaving the group, attempting to sabotage the group by giving wrong answers or destroying the group’s product, refusing to do work, refusing to work with another group member

+ Challenging Behaviors: Group Member Involvement Jigsaw materials so that each group member has info the others need. If the passive and uninvolved member does not voluntarily contribute info, the other members will actively involve the person Divide up roles and assign to the passive, uninvolved member a role that is essential to the group’s success Reward the group on the basis of its average performance, which will encourage other group members to derive strategies for increasing the problem member’s involvement

+ Challenging Behaviors: Group Member Involvement Give a reward that this member or group finds especially attractive and structure the task so that all members must work steadily and contribute in order for the group to succeed and attain the reward Assign the member a specific role to fulfill Make the member a group observer with high accountability to collect data about group functioning Confronting the member

+ Challenging Behaviors: Group Member Involvement Independence Working alone and ignoring the group discussion Limit the resources of the group. If there is only one answer sheet or pencil, the member will be unable to work independently Jigsaw the materials so that the member cannot do the work without the other member’s information

+ Challenging Behaviors: Group Member Involvement Taking charge Member is doing all the work, refusing to let others participate, ordering members around, bullying others, making decisions for the group without checking to see if the others agreeJigsaw resources Assign roles so that other group members have the most powerful and dominant roles Reward the group on the basis of the lowest two performances by group members. This will place pressure on the person taking charge to encourage and help other members learn the material and complete the task.