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Volume 1
Issue 3
September 1998
Iris
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A Survival Guide to Groups -
Part 2
How to Select the Right Group or
Class for You
- Groups are gatherings of more than one person to accomplish something. That is a very broad statement, but when you think of what you want out of a group, it's useful to know the different ways groups function. Then, knowing what you want to gain, you can search for the group type that fits your needs.
If you haven't already read Part I, read it now - Therapy, personal growth classes and groups, what are they good for?
Group
functions
- A group is organized to do something. Each group involves several different functions, but it tends to be focused in one of these areas.
Imparting information
- Classes and groups all impart some information. It is important to educate the mind, otherwise a person won't see any reason for staying around to learn any new skills or awarenesses. Even decisions need information. Some classes or groups focus more on information giving than any of the other group functions.
Developing skills
- Most skills are learned and groups that focus on developing skills will explore and practice various ways of thinking, feeling, and interacting.
Developing awareness
- Developing awareness involves introducing information or techniques that will expand a person's scope of insight. Some of the areas they may include are of learning to notice one's habitual ways of behaving, learning about the experiences of others, values clarification, or studying levels of consciousness.
Making decisions
- Decision making groups tend to include steering committees, boards of directors, trustees, legislators, and student government organizations.
Task performance
- Often people are most familiar with being in task performance groups formed to do something like make a product, put on a show, or raise money for a charity. The success can be measured rather simply by whether the task was completed or not.
Group
orientation
A group can be focused in one of three directions. Towards a presenter or leader, towards the members of the group, or there is a presenter but the focus is on both the presenter and the members. Each type of orientation serves a different need.
Presenter
- The presenter is seen as the expert or the one who has the knowledge and/or wisdom to impart to the group.
- The presenter typically decides on the activities and materials the group will use.
- If the group is oriented on the presenter he or she will spend most of the time talking. Teachers, lecturers, and ministers often use this format.
Members
- The activities are focused on the needs of the members
- The members can influence the activities and focus of the group
- These groups are often leaderless or the leadership shifts. When there is a leader that person is focused on the process of the group and its interactions rather than what the group is discussing or working on.
- Support groups, book clubs, and some kinds of therapy groups
Mutual
- Mutual orientation reflects the group that is involved in a dialogic process. Both the presenter and member oriented formats are included here with neither taking precedence.
- They will often have a leader who serves both as a facilitator and as information provider.
- Many kinds of therapy groups are included in mutually oriented groups.
- Group member cohesion
Cohesion
- The levels that group members share with each other and disclose personal information is called cohesion.
High
- In high cohesion groups the members will share frequently with each other. They may arrange for contact outside of group time. The kind of material discussed will be highly personal and sensitive with significant empathy shown.
Medium
- Medium cohesion groups will share some information, but their intimate contact with each other won't be as extensive as the high cohesion groups. They may enjoy some personal sharing in the context of something that is being presented.
Low
- In low cohesion groups there is little or no contact between the members. These groups are usually lectures, or places where there is information presented by very little interaction. They are typically focused on giving information to a large group of people.
Organization and
facilitator information
- Therapy and personal growth groups are offered in a variety of settings. Each of the settings offers groups and classes that can be valuable, and each has a different set of responsibilities and focal points. Some will be included within plans that address health needs, some will offer the groups out of their mission of social service, some in order to educate. Any of them can be useful as a therapy or personal growth tool. However you may feel more comfortable in one setting than another, you may need to have help paying for the group and need a more regulated setting, or you may have heard of someone you wish to study with and seek out their group in whatever setting is possible.
Highly organized and/or regulated health care
- Hospitals
- Health Maintenance Organizations
- Health clinics
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Nursing homes
- State social service agencies
Learning institution
- Universities
- Community Colleges
- Technical training institutes
Retreat centers
- Private
- Religion affiliated
Seminar organizers not included in above categories
- Private
- national
- local
- Professional groups
- Private and/or individual offerings
- Therapists in private practice
- Health educators
- Churches
- Anyone who wants
Choosing the
group carefully
Screen the topic
- Make sure the topic of the group is something you wish to learn. Sometimes topics can be stated vaguely or in a way you don't understand. You can request more information from the facilitator or organization and ask as many questions as you need in order to make your decision as to whether to participate in the group. Some groups will either have private meetings before the group starts or will allow you to change your mind after the first session. Either of these allow you an opportunity to ask your questions and get a feel of the presenter.
Screen the presenter
- Sometimes the qualifications of the person leading
the group, if it is led by anyone, are listed in the
information of the group. If that is missing from the
information you have about the group or if you have more
questions or want to get a sense of the facilitator or
teacher it is not unreasonable to call and discuss your
questions on the phone or request a meeting in person. If
it is a lecture or class that is offered where there are
lots of attendees or students this approach is not
usually possible. However, in those sessions leaving the
class or meeting is usually easily done and most learning
institutions have a withdrawal policy that gives
guidelines on how to get out of a class.
- It is worth putting thought into what you want to get out of a group before you join. Also, it's worth knowing what to expect in a group, so you don't have expectations that won't be met in any group in which you are participating.
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