A group is a “collection of two or more individuals that meet face to face or virtually in an interactive, interdependent way, with the awareness that each belong to a group and for the purpose of achieving mutually agreed upon goals” (Gladding, pg. 83). There are many reasons why groups are formed; they may be formed to complete tasks, address a shortfall in a community or solve problems. All groups, regardless of what their goals are; will go through developmental stages” (Gladding, pg. 83). One such group, a psychoeducation group may “focus on helping people identify and correct deficits in their life-coping responses and learn new appropriate behaviors” (Gladding, pg. 13). Well discuss the stages of this type of group and what problems may rise when the group is closed too soon and how to avoid the negative effects of premature closure. Group Counseling …show more content…
It is a group formed for a specific purpose and has a time limit. The closing of a group can give group members the “opportunity to clarify the meaning of their experiences, consolidate the gains they have made and make decisions about the new behaviors they will take with them when the group ends” (Gladding, pg. 146). The leader can be a “crucial part of whether the end of a group is a positive or negative” (Gladding, pg. 146). Premature group’s endings have the “biggest impact on psychoeducational, counseling and psychotherapy groups” (Gladding, pg. 149). There are three different premature endings of a group that must “be dealt with, which include termination of the entire group, the successful ending of a group and the unsuccessful ending of a group” (Gladding, pg. 149). There are several steps that can be taken to prevent premature closing:
• A group should start and end on time
• Members should commit to attend a number of sessions
• Members should be treated in a personal and professional