Group Techniques: How to Use Them More Purposefully

Group Techniques offers a practical new approach to understanding and implementing a broad range of group techniques. Through the Purposeful Group Techniques Model (PGTM), a generic, flexible conceptual model that can be adapted for use in a variety of contexts, the text demonstrates how group leaders can choose counseling techniques purposefully based on the type of group, the group’s developmental stage, and applicable best practice guidelines. Talking through and comparing choices of techniques, along with each person's rationale will provide the very richest of learning experiences.  As one result, students will not only learn about how to select and use group techniques but will learn a lot about themselves as people and group leaders. With the help of the model and concrete case-based descriptions of how to lead groups, the text examines counseling, psychoeducation, psychotherapy, and task groups.

PART I            Background for Considering and Using Group Techniques More Purposefully

Chapter 1        Setting the Stage for Using Techniques in Counseling and Psychoeducation Groups

Chapter 2        A Framework for Using Techniques: The Purposeful Group Techniques Model (PGTM)

Chapter 3        How to Select and Use Techniques in Counseling and Psychoeducation Groups

PART II           Techniques in Planning Counseling and Psychoeducation Groups

Chapter 4        Planning Techniques: Designing What Is to Be Done

PART III          Techniques in Performing Counseling and Psychoeducation Groups

Chapter 5        Performance Techniques at the Beginning Stage of Group Development: Getting Established and Transitioning

Chapter 6        Performance Techniques at the Middle Stage of Group Development: Connecting and Producing

Chapter 7        Performance Techniques at the Ending Stage of Group Development: Consolidating and Forecasting

PART IV          Techniques in Processing Counseling and Psychoeducation Groups

Chapter 8        Processing Techniques to Use Within Group Sessions or Meetings

Chapter 9        Processing Techniques to Use Between Group Sessions or Meetings

PART V           Techniques for Additional Types of Groups

Chapter 10       Group Techniques in Task and Psychotherapy Groups

PART VI           Closure

Chapter 11       Summarizing Group Techniques

Appendix: Toolbox of Techniques

Subject Index

Author Index