Underlying Principles of Group Leadership

1. Underlying Principles of Group Leadership • Recognize primacy of the client • Put aside prejudices and assumptions • Adapt your techniques to needs of culturally diverse clients • Be aware of values • Realize importance of preparation • Emphasize confidentiality • Use techniques as means, not ends • Cultivate the soil

2. Underlying Principles of Group Leadership (cont.) • Use tentative language • Use simple language • Be aware of nonverbal communication • Present the problem to the group • Don’t fight the river • Be willing to experiment • Be willing to seek consultation • Realize that therapy is necessary for yourself • Link the work of clients

3. Underlying Principles of Group Leadership (cont.) • Use props • Use the client’s metaphors • Create techniques to fit the context • Use humor • Go with the obvious • Think about theory • Recognize the limits of responsibility • Don’t attempt to change people directly • Attempt to integrate thinking / feeling / doing

4. Underlying Principles of Group Leadership (cont.) • Encourage verbalization • Explore polarities • Work with the past, present, and future • Be aware of the ethical context • Provide opportunities to consolidate learning and to practice new behavior • Learn to dance with clients

5. Leader Guidelines for Members • Learn to establish trust • Express persistent feelings • Beware of misusing jargon • Decide for yourself how much to disclose • Be an active participant, not an observer • Expect some disruption of your life • Realize that you don’t have to be sick to benefit from a group

6. Leader Guidelines for Members (cont.) • Expect to discover positive aspects of yourself • Listen closely and discriminatingly • Pay attention to consistent feedback • Don’t categorize yourself

7. Leader Guidelines for Members (cont.) • Other suggestions for group members • Be willing to do work both before and after a group • Develop self-evaluation skills to assess your progress in the group • Spend time in clarifying your own goals by reviewing specific issues you want to explore • Focus on making personal and direct statements to others in group; not giving advise, making interpretations, asking impersonal questions • Realize real work consists of what you do outside group