1. Prepared by: Nathaniel N. Ivers, Wake Forest University
Chapter 7
Closing a Group
Prepared by: Nathaniel N. Ivers, Wake Forest University

2. Roadmap How to prepare and close a group
The effects on individuals of ending a group
The Premature Closing of a Group
Specific ways of closing a group
Problems in the closing a group
Follow-up Sessions

3. Preparing to Close a Group
Proper preparation for ending a group begins at the planning stage.
To ensure proper group procedures from start to end, leaders must establish appropriate boundaries.

4. Preparing to Close a Group
Closing occurs on two levels in a group:
At the end of each session
At the end of a certain number of group sessions
At orientation, the subject of closing is raised
In closing a group session, a leader should inform members that the group is ending about 5 to 30 minutes before its conclusion.
In ending a total group experience, the orientation to closing involves a planned number of sessions that are devoted to the topic of termination.

5. Effects on Individuals of Ending a Group
Ending a group has an impact on individuals.
“If handled appropriately, the process of termination can be an important role in helping individuals develop new behaviors” (Hansen et al., 1980, p. 539).
The range of feelings among individual group members can be very wide.
Some engage in farewell-party syndrome to avoid the pain of closure (Shulman, 2012).

6. Effects on Individuals of Ending a Group
Options for people who need more help after termination:
Individual counseling
Referral to another group or organization
Recycling through a similar group experience

7. Premature Closing of a Group
Premature termination can occur for the following reasons:
Individuals quit the group abruptly.
A group experience ends suddenly because of actions by the group leader
ASGW (2007) has provided guidelines to follow in premature ending situations.

8. Premature Closing of the Group as a Whole
Leaders must do one of the following:
Have at least one group session to say good-bye to the group as a whole
Contact group members directly

9. Premature Closing Initiated by Group Members
Some reasons for which group members prematurely terminate group sessions:
External factors
Group deviancy
Problems of intimacy
Fear of emotional contagion

10. Reasons for Premature Ending (Cont.)
Inability to share the doctor (group leader)
Complications of concurrent individual and group therapy
Early provocateurs
Inadequate orientation to therapy
Complications arising from subgrouping

11. Preventing Premature Closing
Steps to reduce the potential for premature ending:
Start and end groups on time.
Help members make commitments to attend a number of sessions.
Treat members in a personal and professional way.
Communicate clearly and concisely about individual and group issues
Send members reminders if there are long intervals between group sessions (Young, 2013).

12. Closing of Group Sessions
Member Summarization
Leader Summarization
Rounds
Dyads
Scaling Activities
Written Reactions
Rating Sheets
Homework

13. Capping Skills in Closings
Reviewing and summarizing the group experience
Assessing members’ growth, change (or achievement)
Finishing business
Applying change to everyday life (implementing decisions)
Providing feedback
Handling good-byes
Planning for continued problem resolution
(Jacobs et al., 2012, p. 382)

14. Problems in Closing of Groups
Denial
Transference
Countertransference

15. Follow-Up Sessions
Procedure of reconnecting with group members after they have had enough time to process what they experienced in the group and work on their goals or objectives
Beneficial to members and to leaders in evaluating the experience they had in the group and reflecting on what they learned.