Posted: December 3rd, 2022

Group Processes and Stages of Formation

Group Processes and Stages of Formation

Assignment: Group Processes and Stages of Formation
In your role, you must understand group processes and stages of formation, as this will help you develop groups and determine an individual’s appropriateness for group therapy. Whether you are at the beginning stages of group formation or facilitating a session for a developed group, it is important to consider factors that may influence individual client progress. For this Assignment, as you examine the video Group Therapy: A Live Demonstration in this week’s Learning Resources, consider the group’s processes, stages of formation, and other factors that might impact the effectiveness of group therapy for clients.
Learning Objectives

Students will:
• Analyze group processes and stages of formation
• Analyze curative factors of groups
• Analyze the impact of curative factors on client progress
• Recommend strategies for managing intragroup conflict

To prepare:
• Review this week’s Learning Resources and reflect on the insights they provide on group processes.
• View the media, Group Therapy: A Live Demonstration, and consider the group dynamics.

The Assignment
In a 2- to 3-page paper, address the following:
• Explain the group’s processes and stage of formation.
• Explain curative factors that occurred in the group. Include how these factors might impact client progress.
• Explain intragroup conflict that occurred and recommend strategies for managing the conflict. Support your recommendations with evidence-based literature.

Psychotherapy.net (Producer). (2011a). Group therapy: A live demonstration. [Video file]. Mill Valley, CA: Author.

The approximate length of the video is 202 minutes. In preparation for this week’s Assignment, be sure to watch Parts 1 and 2 of this video.

All references require creditable sources, nothing less than 5 years. References require doi or http. Please add conclusion. APA needs to be 7th Edition.

Group Processes and Stages of Formation
Group Processes and Stages of Formation
Group processes involve the elements that occur from the start to the end of group therapy. The processes include forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning (Mahon & Leszcz, 2017). Forming involves the initial stages of coming together to create a group. Storming involves friction that may occur when human beings interact. Norming comprises developing rules and boundaries of interaction. The performing stage involves focusing on the objectives of creating the group (Mahon & Leszcz, 2017). Once the members achieve the objectives, they will adjourn the group.
In the video, the Group Therapy, A Live Demonstration, the members are performing. The performing stage is a critical part of the group since it can determine the objectives’ achievement. For instance, in the video demonstration, the members are already in the discussion stage. Members share their experiences, such as Bonnie and Gill, while Philip apologizes to Pam for the negative experiences they had in the past (Psychotherapy.net, 2011).
The initial sessions provide an opportunity for reflection, self-disclosure, and feedback. All the members are ready since they are contributing to the discussions by giving their views. The members are making self-disclosure statements that reveal the struggles they are experiencing (Psychotherapy.net, 2011). For instance, Philip discloses his sexual addiction habits to the group while Gill shares about his alcohol problem.
The performing stage experiences some unique events, including conflicts among the members, termination, and subgrouping (Chapman & Kivlighan, 2019). For instance, Pam and Philip experience conflict until Philip apologizes for her sexual misconduct. Pam was already threatening to leave the group, which is a common experience during the performing stage. It is the therapist’s responsibility to ensure that the members will go through all the stages successfully (Chapman & Kivlighan, 2019). The members should understand that the focus is on the objective of sharing, learning, and reflecting on overcoming their problems.
Curative Factors
Therapists are responsible for ensuring a healthy, conducive, supportive, and cohesive culture in group therapy. A conducive environment is healthy for the healing or recovery of the members. One of the curative factors evident in the video group therapy is universality (Barkowski et al., 2020). The concept of universality is essential in ensuring that members know they are not alone fighting specific difficulties. It encourages members to continue encouraging one another until they overcome their challenges. For instance, in the video, Philip and Gill reveal the struggles in their lives (Psychotherapy.net, 2011). Revealing the shameful and private issues individuals have gone through is crucial in giving the other members confidence to share their experiences. The video shows another aspect of universality when Rebecca and Bonnie realize they have some similarities (Psychotherapy.net, 2011). The realizations are crucial in ensuring more people can share their experiences. It helps others take heart that they are not fighting such challenges alone (Barkowski et al., 2020). It helps members to learn the tactics their colleagues used to overcome their problems.
The video presents another curative factor called catharsis. The concept involves revealing suppressed emotions that promote healing by revealing information in the group. For instance, Philip and Gill reveal personal lives that affect the quality of life (Psychotherapy.net, 2011). Another incident is that Philip apologizes for the upsetting experience between him and Pam over a decade ago.
Interpersonal learning is an important curative factor evident in the group. It helps members to adjust their maladaptive behaviors plus beliefs (Barkowski et al., 2020). For example, Philip takes the responsibility of apologizing to Pam for the unwarranted sexual encounters. Philip takes responsibility after being urged by the members. Members develop some skills, including empathy and tolerance, essential in socializing techniques (Barkowski et al., 2020). For instance, Bonnie and Philip develop socializing techniques in the course of their interactions in the group (Psychotherapy.net, 2011). The group psychotherapy thus offers important curative factors that boost healing and transformation.
Intragroup Conflict
Interpersonal conflicts are common in daily human interactions, and they are evident in group therapy. Research shows that staying in a group is an opportunity for friction. Friction may adversely affect a group and undermine the core objective (Mahon & Leszcz, 2017). It is also a learning opportunity for growth and development among the group members once managed effectively. The video shows that there is an apparent conflict between Pam and Philip. The source of their conflict is past sexual encounters. When Pam was 18, Philip was a professor. Their upsetting sexual encounter is unhealthy for the group. It threatens the safety of Pam, who threatens to leave the group (Psychotherapy.net, 2011).
Psychotherapists have a role to play in resolving the problematic issues and conflicts that occur in groups. Therapists should avoid making suggestions that can attract opposition or unhealthy outcomes (Mahon & Leszcz, 2017). It is the role of therapists to focus on the core objective of therapy. Group members who can see the clients’ exchanges, such as Pam and Philip, will give responses that will compel the group to remain focused. The accurate responses will prevent an exaggeration of the conflicts that may undermine the therapy sessions.
Conclusion
Group processes and stages of formation comprises forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. All the stages are crucial in achieving the objective of a group. In the video, the Group Therapy, A Live Demonstration, members experience various curative factors. The curative factors include universality, interpersonal learning, and catharsis. As groups transition from one stage to another, they experience conflict. It is the role of therapists to device strategies of resolving the intragroup conflict.

References
Barkowski, S., Schwartze, D., Strauss, B., Burlingame, G. M., & Rosendahl, J. (2020). Efficacy of group psychotherapy for anxiety disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychotherapy Research, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2020.1729440
Chapman, N., & Kivlighan III, D. M. (2019). Does the cohesion–outcome relationship change over time? A dynamic model of change in group psychotherapy. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 23(2), 91. https://doi.org/10.1037/gdn0000100
Mahon, L., & Leszcz, M. (2017). The interpersonal model of group psychotherapy. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 67(sup1), 121-130. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207284.2016.1218286
Psychotherapy.net (Producer). (2011a). Group therapy: A live demonstration. [Video file]. Mill Valley, CA: Author. https://waldenu.kanopy.com/product/group-therapy-live-demonstration

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