The Helping

Process
Group Work
PRE-GROUP FORMATION
 1. Conceptualizing the Group Service
this will serve as the basic guide for both the agency/worker and the group.

1. rationale/purpose of the group program

2. target client
Proposal
Program

3. need/problem to be addressed
4. membership criteria

5. resource requirements
6. Procedures for setting up the program
7. time frame
2. Announcing the Group Service
& Recruiting Members

the announcement should be brief but CLEAR and

should mention the purpose of the program, who may
apply, where to make inquiries, etc…
 3. Preparing Logistics

includes personnel, facilities, and

materials.
 4. Enlisting Community Support

identification of those sectors in the

community whose support is essential to program
success.
INDIVIDUAL-FOCUSED ASSESSMENT & PLANNING
Assessment
termed as “social study” and “diagnosis”
involves information-gathering and analysis

Pre-group Interviews/Intake
 involve individual interviews necessary for the worker to be able to prepare individual
assessment.
Individual Client Profile
Case Assessment/ Problem Definition
Action Planning
formulating goals
establishing helping plans
GROUP-FOCUSED ASSESSMENT & PLANNING
2 types of Group-Focused Assessment &
Planning
Group Composition
 selection of group members and deciding the size of the group.

Group Formation
 the process of getting a group organized so that it can start to function and
move toward the attainment of its planned goals.
a) Common Group Concern & Problems
b) Norms & Rules
c) Schedules & Venue of Group Session
d) Group Goals
 Formation of Groups
• Worker Goals:
• Include the plans, methods, means, and programming developed and used to help
members accomplish their goals and purposes.
• Responsible for the organization, the treatment process, and termination.
• Clarity of purpose, goal formulations, and purpose are essential in group process.
 Structuring the Group
• The Setting:
• The setting is related to purpose.
• For children with limited self-control, activities in a gymnasium or on a playground
do not provide essential boundaries for group.
• Privacy should be provided.
• The use of a table may represent a psychological barrier to interaction for some
groups.
 Structuring the Group
• Group Size:
• The number of participants ought to be determined by the objectives of each group.
• Seven to nine members are most often thought to be small enough to allow for open
discussion and attention given to individuals.
• The recommended size for educational groups is larger with groups as small as
twelve or as large as thirty.
 Structuring the Group
• Group Rules:
• A group that makes is own rules is more likely to abide by them and to
apply sanctions as needed to reinforce them.
• Individual beliefs and values should be considered in relation to group rules.
• Rules should be few in number and include only those deemed essential to
achieve the purposes of the group.
• Some members may attempt to impose inappropriate rules on the group.
 Structuring the Group
• Open or Closed Groups:
• Designations of “open” and “closed” pertain to the timing of admissions to the
group.
• Closed groups include only those members selected at the group’s formation.
• Open groups are like a slice of life – birth, separation, marriage, and death.
• Open systems tend to simulate reality and provide transferability to real life
situations.
 Structuring the Group

• Short-Term or Long-Term Groups:

• Adults and mature adolescents usually can accept a time limit on the number of
meetings to accomplish their goals.
• Youngsters who have experienced repeated rejections may see time limits negatively
and try to negotiate for more sessions rather than invest themselves in the area of
goal attainment.
 Structuring the Group
• Meeting Days and Time:
• The day and time of meetings will be adapted to the needs and wishes of the
members as part of initial planning.
• Groups usually meet weekly for one to two hours.
• Groups living in institutions may meet more frequently.
• As goals are achieved meetings can be tapered off.
 Structuring the Group
• Leadership:
• Many group workers advocate the development of leadership ability in all
group members.
• Some workers advocate a revolving leadership system, particularly in
activity groups with children and adults.
• Group workers continually must assess the leadership development of their
group as well as the members ability to share leadership functions and
participate as both leaders and followers.
 1. 2.
Member’s Worker’s
Perspective Perspective

3.
Group System
Perspective
a. Exploration
b. Bargaining

3 Perspective in Group Formation

PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
 1.
Interventive
rules of the
worker.

2.
Resources
and services
to be used.

3.
Problems and
Constraints.
WORKER STANCES DURING
THE HELPING PROCESS

1. The Direct Stance

indicated when the group needs a strong guiding force, perhaps because of
its emotional state, social stage, intellectual capacity, and so on.

2. The Facilitating Stance

the worker sees himself as a member of the group, although one with special
expertise and different roles and functions from the group members.
WORKER STANCES DURING
THE HELPING PROCESS

3. The Permissive Stance

indicated for the highly socially competent, strongly motivated group members
who know why they have convened, and are experienced in group participation.

4. The Flexible Stance

the worker will change his stance in the course of assession or over a series of
session, in response to the following: his assessment of the progress of the group
toward its objective; the needs, capacities, and behavior of members; the level of group
functioning; and the problems of content or affect being considered in the group.
EVALUATION
 1.
Regular or
Periodic
Evaluation

2 types of
EVALUATION
2.
Terminal
Evaluation
TERMINATION
 3 parts of Termination (Hartford)
• 1. Pre-termination
the period of preparation for the actual ending which can include the
acknowledgement that the group is about to end.

• 2. Termination
 the last actual session of the group or of the individual whose membership is
being terminated.

• 3. Post-termination
 this consists of the plan for follow-up which can be done on either an individual
or on a group basis.