An Experiential Approach to Group Work is not your typical group work text Using dozens of exercises that build practice-tested skills, the authors' approach is in perfect step with CSWE's competence-based education requirements. The book is organized into three sections-the first addresses stages of group practice, the second looks at major types of groups, and the final section looks at examples of group work practice with special populations.
Adventure Group Psychotherapy: An Experiential Approach to Treatment explores what is necessary for an experiential therapy group to function effectively, and the practical skills needed to inspire success. The authors describe how to use activities in a manner that produces the greatest opportunity for clients to reach their goals. Issues such as how to actively assess client functioning in the group, how to select the appropriate activity, how to shape an effective environment, and how to help clients process their experience are a few of the aspects examined to help clients move toward their goals. The practical skills the authors describe enable readers to immediately learn and apply their practice with groups. This book will be an important tool in any group therapy class, in practice settings to train practitioners, and for any clinician trying to expand their group work capabilities.
Focusing on how to conduct and lead groups in a variety of therapeutic settings, Learning Group Leadership: An Experiential Approach, Third Edition covers theory, process, leadership, ethics, special populations, and challenges as they relate to group work in a positive, realistic, and knowledgeable way. Jeffrey A. Kottler and Matt Englar-Carlson introduce important conceptual and practical information and then use activities, exercises, field study assignments, and personal application questions to help students apply concepts to their work and lives. The fully updated Third Edition brings concepts to life through “student voices” in every chapter, examples drawn from the authors’ combined 55-plus years of experience, and demonstration video content that contains sessions corresponding with every chapter. “This is the best book out there for introducing students to the complex world of groups. The text delivers what it promises in the title. It teaches counseling graduate students how to become solid group leaders (or—to be more precise—how to begin their journey in that direction), and it does this in a way that is positive, knowledgeable, and realistic.…The most impressive aspect of the material is the authors’ focus on the experiential approach (training students to be group leaders), combined with an accessible writing style, a lot of knowledge, and an enthusiastic attitude.” —Marilyn MacGregor, Western New Mexico University “It’s clear that the authors have a wealth of experience with counseling groups—information is conversationally presented and realistically discussed." —Marla J. Muxen, South Dakota State University “This book is very readable and clearly explains the points it makes using accessible examples which students can readily understand. Skills discussed can be appreciated and applied to whatever personal experience of facilitating groups the student already has; as such it is a text which ‘grows with the student.’” —Corinne Hutt Greenyer, University of Southampton
“The writing is both highly personable and also very specific about techniques and attitudes students may take on as they experiment with membership leadership. I think my students will like it and will use it to engage even more fully with the experiential group. It most certainly fills a niche that needed filling.” —Adam L. Hill, Sonoma State University Now Accompanied by a DVD! Focusing on how to conduct and lead groups in a variety of therapeutic settings, Learning Group Leadership: An Experiential Approach, Second Edition covers theory, process, leadership, techniques, ethics, special populations, and challenges as they relate to group work. The Second Edition introduces important conceptual and practical information and then uses exercises, field study assignments, and personal application questions to help students apply concepts to their work and lives. The Second Edition now includes “student voices” throughout each chapter to provide descriptions of actual experiences. Key Features: Takes an experiential approach, helping readers understand how the concepts they learn in class can be applied to their own work in conducting groups Offers a conversational, practical, and realistic writing style Includes relevant examples drawn from the authors’ more than 25 years of teaching and leading experience Is accompanied by a new DVD, bound in the back of the book, which contains scripted sessions corresponding with every chapter The password-protected instructor’s site is available with test questions at http://www.sagepub.com/kottler2einstr/main.htm. Learning Group Leadership: An Experiential Approach, Second Edition is ideal for use in introductory courses in Group Therapy or Group Work in the disciplines of counseling, human services, psychology and social work.
This open access book outlines the intersections between social work and the methods of sociometry and psychodrama. Different sections offer essential practice wisdom for both trauma-focused and trauma-informed experiential work for individuals, groups, organizations, and communities. This text enriches the understanding of various action-based approaches and highlights how to enliven social work practice. The chapters include clinical vignettes and examples of structured sociometric prompts with diverse populations, topics, and social work settings to enhance the understanding of group practice, individual practice, and community practice. It provides social workers and other professionals with dynamic tools to improve assessment, intervention, activism, and leadership. Strength-based practical tools are offered to readers, along with guidance for theoretical conceptualizations. This integrative book is an essential read for students, practitioners, leaders, and scholars within the fields of social work, psychodrama, the creative art therapies, group therapy, community organizing, and social activism.
Learning Group Leadership: An Experiential Approach equips readers with the basic information, theory, concepts, research, interventions, and guidelines required to help them develop into effective group leaders within a variety of settings. The book employs an experiential approach, encouraging readers to apply what they learn to common scenarios in their personal and professional lives. In the fourth edition of this popular, student-centered, and practical text students first explore the foundations of group work, studying concepts related to group dynamics, multicultural dimensions, key approaches to group intervention, and more. Part II focuses on the skills a group leader must possess in order to lead effectively. Specific topics include group assessment, specialized leadership skills, intervention, and group techniques and structures. In Part III, readers learn how to handle and address coleadership, critical incidents, and the ethical issues. The final section examines advanced group leadership challenges and techniques, including working with difficult members, employing creative interventions, and the application of group leadership to social justice and social action initiatives. The new edition of Learning Group Leadership features updated references and materials drawn from cross-disciplinary fields on group dynamics, increased focus on social justice and advocacy in group settings, numerous activities and reflection exercises, and emphasis on the student experience of being in a group and the early stages of becoming an effective group leader. This text is a valuable resource for courses in counseling, social work, psychology, human services, health professions, and education, or any course with a focus on effectively leading groups. For a look at the specific features and benefits of Learning Group Leadership, visit cognella.com/learning-group-leadership-features-and-benefits.
"Adventure Group Psychotherapy: An Experiential Approach to Treatment explores what is necessary for an experiential therapy group to function effectively, and the practical skills needed to inspire success. The authors describe how to use activities in a manner that produces the greatest opportunity for clients to reach their goals. Issues such as how to actively assess client functioning in the group, how to select the appropriate activity, how to shape an effective environment, and how to help clients process their experience are a few of the aspects examined to help clients move toward their goals. The practical skills the authors describe enables readers to immediately learn and apply their practice with groups. This book will be an important tool in any group therapy class, in practice settings to train practitioners, and for any clinician trying to expand their group work capabilities"--
"Group Dynamics in Recreation and Leisure: Creating Conscious Groups Through an Experiential Approach builds skills not only in working in group settings but also in creating and facilitating conscious groups - groups that recognize the personal growth of their members as a main objective." "The book introduces group dynamics theory and current research as it applies to recreation and leisure settings and moves beyond the theory to show students that their understanding of group dynamics can be a meaningful and realistic tool. They'll learn to apply the theory to the practical factors and issues involved in leading and working with conscious groups, including goal setting, decision making and problem solving, ethics and morals, positive communication, and the effects of conflict, power, gender, and environment on group functioning."--BOOK JACKET.
Combining more than 30 years of facilitating, training and teaching experience, the authors use field-tested approaches to create a group reflection experience that maximizes engagment, participation and, most importantly, learning.The 5 Question Model takes the essential elements of classic learning cycles debriefing and presents them in such a way that they can be quickly understood, used and taught to a wide variety of skill levels.
