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Chapter 7

Chapter 7. Closing a Group Prepared by: Nathaniel N. Ivers, Wake Forest University. Roadmap. How to prepare and close a group The effects on individuals of ending a group The Premature Closing of a Group Specific ways of closing a group Problems in the closing a group Follow-up Sessions.

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Chapter 7

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  1. Chapter 7 Closing a Group Prepared by: Nathaniel N. Ivers, Wake Forest University

  2. Roadmap • How to prepare and close a group • The effects on individuals of ending a group • The Premature Closing of a Group • Specific ways of closing a group • Problems in the closing a group • Follow-up Sessions

  3. Preparing to Close a Group • Proper preparation for ending a group begins at the planning stage. • To ensure proper group procedures from start to end, leaders must establish appropriate boundaries.

  4. Preparing to Close a Group • Closing occurs on two levels in a group: • At the end of each session • At the end of a certain number of group sessions • At orientation, the subject of closing is raised • In closing a group session, a leader should inform members that the group is ending about 5 to 30 minutes before its conclusion. • In ending a total group experience, the orientation to closing involves a planned number of sessions that are devoted to the topic of termination.

  5. Effects on Individuals of Ending a Group • Ending a group has an impact on individuals. • “If handled appropriately, the process of termination can be an important role in helping individuals develop new behaviors” (Hansen et al., 1980, p. 539). • The range of feelings among individual group members can be very wide. • Some engage in farewell-party syndrome to avoid the pain of closure (Shulman, 2012).

  6. Effects on Individuals of Ending a Group • Options for people who need more help after termination: • Individual counseling • Referral to another group or organization • Recycling through a similar group experience

  7. Premature Closing of a Group • Premature termination can occur for the following reasons: • Individuals quit the group abruptly. • A group experience ends suddenly because of actions by the group leader • ASGW (2007) has provided guidelines to follow in premature ending situations.

  8. Premature Closing of the Group as a Whole • Leaders must do one of the following: • Have at least one group session to say good-bye to the group as a whole • Contact group members directly

  9. Premature Closing Initiated by Group Members • Some reasons for which group members prematurely terminate group sessions: • External factors • Group deviancy • Problems of intimacy • Fear of emotional contagion

  10. Reasons for Premature Ending (Cont.) • Inability to share the doctor (group leader) • Complications of concurrent individual and group therapy • Early provocateurs • Inadequate orientation to therapy • Complications arising from subgrouping

  11. Preventing Premature Closing • Steps to reduce the potential for premature ending: • Start and end groups on time. • Help members make commitments to attend a number of sessions. • Treat members in a personal and professional way. • Communicate clearly and concisely about individual and group issues • Send members reminders if there are long intervals between group sessions (Young, 2013).

  12. Closing of Group Sessions • Member Summarization • Leader Summarization • Rounds • Dyads • Scaling Activities • Written Reactions • Rating Sheets • Homework

  13. Capping Skills in Closings • Reviewing and summarizing the group experience • Assessing members’ growth, change (or achievement) • Finishing business • Applying change to everyday life (implementing decisions) • Providing feedback • Handling good-byes • Planning for continued problem resolution (Jacobs et al., 2012, p. 382)

  14. Problems in Closing of Groups • Denial • Transference • Countertransference

  15. Follow-Up Sessions • Procedure of reconnecting with group members after they have had enough time to process what they experienced in the group and work on their goals or objectives • Beneficial to members and to leaders in evaluating the experience they had in the group and reflecting on what they learned.

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