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Group PsychotherapyStages and IssuesYalom 11, 12 and Corey 4, 5

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Formative Stages of the Group

Every group is unique

Undergoes singular development

Course is often complex andunpredictable

BUT

Group dynamic forces operate Possible to have schema of

developmental stages

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The Five Stage Model

Forming: tasks of member engagementand affiliation

Storming: focus on control, power, status,

competition and individual differences

Norming : identify and set standards, testroles, negotiation and compromise

Performing: working, intimacy, genuinecohesion, constructive interactions

Adjourning: termination issues

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Group Developmental Phasesare CONSTRUCTS

They exist for the purpose of conceptualization

They are not clearly demarcated

They are not necessarily linear

Phases may repeat

Focus perhaps should be on the Developmental

tasks of the group which may have to be dealtwith repeatedly from different perspectives anddepths

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Typical Early Concerns: In orOut?

Orientation

Identifying primary task

Social relationship (acceptance and approval)

Hesitant Participation

Search for Meaning

Dependency

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Content and CommunicationStyles

The cocktail party dynamic

Superficiality

Restriction of content in favour oftranquility

Search for similarities

Advice sharing

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Second Stage Processes: Topor Bottom

Conflict

Among members and between members and leaders

oughts and shoulds in a peer court

Dominance Struggle for control and status

Overt or covert, various roles

Rebellion

Hostility towards therapist

Dependency and Counter dependency

The Primal Horde / Freud

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Therapist Issues

Comfort with Leadership

Comfort with Conflict and Hostility

Understanding transference distortion

Unhealthy self protection

Therapist countertransference

Over-benevolence

Aloof / distance

Inhibits group development and leads eg todisplaced aggression and scapegoating

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Paradigm of Group Change

The intrinsic process of change also leadsto conflict:

Unfreezing: Rigid attitudinal andbehavioural patterns are challenged

Change: Individuals must deal with thediscomfort of letting go of the familiar

Refreezing: Maintaining a new way ofbeing

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Stage Three: Cohesiveness near or far

This stage is characterized as having:

In-group consciousness

Group integration and mutuality Common goal and group spirit

Intimacy and trust of peers

The interpersonal world of the group is oneof balance, safety, trust and self disclosure

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Stage Three concerns

Coping with intimacy

How much to reveal

Maintenance of cohesion may inhibit negative

affect

Tension is not about dominance but aboutinternal resistances

Only when all affects can be expressed andconstructively worked through is the group reallymature

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Benefits and Costs of a DevelopmentalPerspective of Groups

Advantages

Maintaining objectivity

Charting a course

Identifying the progress or lack thereof

Disadvantages

Misuse as template

False expectations

Less genuine engagement

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