Description
Many of the skills necessary for termination of individual client relationships are also necessary for terminating social work groups. Group leaders must be aware of their own timeline for the group, communicate that timeline to group members, and know when to initiate the termination stage. Very often groups will have a set number of sessions, so the conclusion of the group process can be anticipated. This, however, does not necessarily make the process of termination any easier on group members.
Participants often become reliant on the group for support and advice and they can be fearful at the reality of that support being removed. Once termination has been introduced, members may pull back, or disengage themselves slightly from the process to protect themselves from the emotions surrounding termination.
In this Assignment, you analyze strategies for overcoming challenges in effective group termination.
To prepare: Using the text or Library, identify termination strategies that are effective for groups.
Submit a 3- to 4-page paper in which you:
- Describe a group that you are a part of, have led, would like to lead, or have read about in a case study.
- Describe issues that you have encountered or might encounter that would create challenges for termination of this group.
- Explain how you can apply the strategies you have researched to creatively or constructively terminate the group you described.
Explanation & Answer
View attached explanation and answer. Let me know if you have any questions.
Overcoming Termination Challenges- Outline
I. Introduction
A. One of the most challenging things that individuals are dealing with is the loss of
their loved ones.
B. A grief support group provides individuals an opportunity to meet other people
sharing the same experiences and thus understand what they are going through.
C. As a social worker, I would like to lead a grief support group and help individuals
dealing with loss through the grief process.
II. Description of the group
A. Talking with other people who are experiencing the same kind of loss can help
people navigate their grief.
B. As a leader, I should be able to understand what every individual is going through
and help them create effective coping strategies that will help them through the
grief process.
C. A grief support group is a judgment-free zone that focuses on helping people who
are going through or have gone through loss interact with other people who have
gone through the same experience.
D. In a supportive and calm environment, this group helps people understand the
grief process and help them learn ways of managing grief and find the strength to
heal.
E. In the interactive group sessions, specific issues and topics are discussed and
significant activities are conducted including yoga, writing, and emotional
empowerment.
III. Challenges for termination of the group
A. There are several issues I might encounter that would create significant challenges
for the termination of the grief support group.
B. Group members are likely to look for ways that will help them avoid the reality of
the group ending and when this fails, it may lead to disorganization.
C. Denial is also a major issue that can bring significant challenges during the
termination of the grief support group.
D. Another issue that may arise is regression.
E. There is also the issue of flight which is an aggressive and destructive behavior
directed towards the social worker, activity, equipment, or each other.
F. The longer the group the more pronounced and visible in their distress and anger
of group rumination.
IV. How to...
