This sourcebook of techniques, designed to supplement theory or practicum books, explores the place and the usefulness of techniques, as well as their abuse. The authors hope to stimulate creativity in the readers approach to group work and to encourage group leaders to develop their own therapeutic styles. They there-fore offer this book as an outline for leaders to build upon in adapting techniques for their own situations, not as a cookbook of recipes to be rigidly followed. The goal is not to catalog techniques for every conceivable situation, but to teach leaders how to adapt the techniques presented and to develop others sensitively, crea-tively, and appropriately..The authors primarily assume that techniques are means, not ends, and that they are fundamentally at the service of the client, not the therapist. The book is especially strong on the leaders executive functions in the group: maneuvering and facilitating the group to optimize its effectiveness and relying on the members themselves to do the majority of the therapy. In addition, the authors hope to stimulate interest in the philosophical and ethical dimensions of group work, and they make reference to the Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW) ethical guidelines when relevant.

The practical ideas Kathie Erwin imparts in this second edition help mental health professionals working with elderly populations to create an interactive, multi-modal program that addresses the issues and needs elders have, divided into holistic contexts of mind, body, society, and spirituality.

"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 for use in a variety of contexts, the text demonstrates how group leaders can choose group techniques purposefully based on the type of group, the group's developmental stage, and applicable best practice guidelines. 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." -- Publisher's description

Rosemarie Smead presents strategies for selecting children for participation in group guidance and counseling, shows how to conduct sessions, and identifies successful techniques for group counseling.

Basic techniques for achieving group success are described in the latest edition of this popular handbook for group facilitators, which clearly details when, how and why to use each technique. Concrete examples are provided for each technique, and its application to a wide range of topics is discussed. These include contract negotiation, mediation, confrontation, gatekeeping, focusing, responding to feelings, rewarding effort and achievement, information management and summarizing. Completely revised and updated, this edition includes improved practice exercises, an expanded discussion on the nature of group success, and a new section which relates leadership techniques to group-specific cases.