Groups Process & Practice: Ch 2 Already Graded A

Groups Process & Practice: Ch 2 Already Graded A Personal characteristics of the effective Group Leader Courage, willingness to model, presence, goodwill, genuineness, caring, belief in group process, openness, non-defensiveness in coping with criticism, becoming aware of subtle culture issues, being able to identify, with a client's pain, personal power, stamina, commitment to self-care, self awareness, sense of humor, inventiveness, personal dedication and commitment. Courage is demonstrated through your willingness (a)to be vulnerable at times, admitting mistakes and imperfections and taking the same risks you expect group members to take (b) to confront others but to stay present with them as you work out conflicts (c) to act on your beliefs and hunches (d) to be emotionally affected by others and to draw on your experiences to identify with them (e) to examine your life and (f) to be direct and honest with members in a caring and respectful way. Willingness to Model One of the best ways to teach desired behaviors. Through your behaviors and the attitudes conveyed by them, you can create such group norms as openness, seriousness of purpose, acceptance of others, respect for a diversity of values, and the desirability of taking risks. Presence the ability to be present with group members is extremely important. Presence involves being affected by others' pain, struggles, and joys. However, it also involves not becoming overwhelmed by a member's pain. Presence implies not being distracted ,but being fully attentive to what is going on in the moment. Goodwill, genuineness and caring A sincere interest in the welfare of others is essential in a group leader. Your main job in the group is to help members get what they are coming for, not to get in their way. Caring involves respecting, trusting, and valuing people. Belief in Group Process You need to believe in what you are doing and trust the therapeutic process in a group. We are convinced that our enthusiasm and convictions are powerful both in attracting a clientele and in providing an incentive to work. Openness means that you reveal enough of yourself to give the participants a sense of who you are as a person. It does not mean that you reveal every aspect of your personal life. Non-defensiveness in Coping with Criticism Dealing frankly with criticism is related to openness. Manu of the challenges you may be subjected to by group members require the clinician to develop a thick skin. Members may sometimes accuse you of not caring enough, of being selective in your caring, of structuring the sessions too much, or of not providing enough direction. Becoming aware of subtle culture issues Most of us think of ourselves as open-minded and nonjudgmental. However, it is nearly impossible to be raised in a society filled with cultural discrimination and not to hold some degree of prejudices or misinformation about people who differ from us. Self-Awareness A central characteristic for any therapeutic person is an awareness of self, including one's identity, cultural perspective, power, and privilege, goals, motivations, needs, limitations, strengthens, values, feelings, and problems. Sense of Humor Using spontaneous wit makes us more real to the members of our groups and results in their being less intimidated by the power differential. However, everything we do and say had the power to either to heal or harm. Inventiveness The capacity to be spontaneous and to approach each group with fresh ideas is a most important characteristic. Freshness may not be way to maintain, particularly if you lead groups frequently.