PART1
This was a part of the first group therapy session of a group of individuals. The group had both men and women of different backgrounds and personalities. The observation parameters that govern this sort of therapy session include confidentiality, inclusivity, and suitability. The members have to be chosen based on their potential to benefit from this type of interaction. Beneficiaries include people who have been in individual outpatient therapy before. Those willing to recognize the issues of others and relate them to themselves are the best candidates. Preparation of ghetto candidates is also essential so that they know what to expect from the group (Sundquist et al., 2015).
The facilitator tried to create a strong group foundation during this first session by getting back feedback from the participants. These included three different types of feedback know. The first was getting the participants to discuss their judgment or first impression about the other participants. This information was useful in determining how comfortable each member was. Comfort levels encourage or discourage participation, so they are essential in group therapy. The second way the facilitator builds a foundation was by asking what the participants thought of the therapy itself. This was to encourage the participants to take ownership of their sessions by directing the setting up of the group. The third was determining whether each member felt included. The facilitator and his colleague did this by drawing out the more silent members of the group. When all the members had a chance to speak, the foundation was set for a consensus (Moon, 2016).
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The facilitator used empathy and patience to accommodate the participants. Questions asked were follow up questions based on the answers that had been given before. This enabled the patients to feel that they were part of the team. Those who were reluctant to participate were allowed to say what the problem was. They were not coerced into participation although they were encouraged to voice their concerns. The facilitator encouraged transparency by asking for examples to support each participant's claims or observations. The suggestions on what should have been done differently helped in the establishment of a code of conduct for group engagement (Chen & Rybak, 2017).
One of the most significant pillars of group therapy is the recognition of diversity. The facilitators were able to respect and identify the diverse personalities that were assembled. This created a sense of autonomy for the participants because they were able to guide the direction of rhetor discussion. The co-facilitator was essential in clarifying or amplifying points that the facilitator was having difficulty relaying. The two played a supportive role to each other, and they were able to appeal to different members of this group. The co-facilitator was essential in drawing out the passive group members (Moon, 2016).
PART 2
The observation parameters in this session were monitoring change, progress, and revision of the program. Amendment was to be noted in the way each member behaved. The most prominent change was in the increase in participation from some previously docile members. The group members were now all able to interact with each other in varying intensity. The parameter of progress could be measured by the extent people went to, in being candid with each other. The final parameter that measured revision was measured by the changes that were included to make all comfortable (Brownlee et al., 2017).
The facilitator allowed enough honesty for the participants to express their discomfort at being recorded. This allowed the views of the worried minority to be addressed conclusively. The majority who did not have a significant objection to it was also able to express themselves on what they thought was important. The issue of confidentiality was well addressed by the facilitators, and they were able to restore some confidence from the participants. The facilitator used their contracts and explanations from best practices of other therapists to ease the participants (Brownlee et al., 2017).
The group members were also able to outline what they thought was the criteria for a successful meeting. The expressions of fear of judgment from the other group members were a concern. There was also an attempt by the facilitator to have those deemed as judgmental explaining their point of view. This analysis helped the members to see themselves as they were seen. The session was important in aligning expectations with outcomes. Each member was able to clarify their position, and the facilitator tried to explain the perceptions (Chen & Rybak, 2017).
The facilitators had to address a concern across the board of participants. There was some disquiet about the role that the leaders or facilitators were playing. This was because most of the activity in the group had been handed over to the members while the facilitators merely observed. They handled the participants well by remaining calm and not being defensive. They also redirected the conversation by pointing out that the fears envisioned were probably a reflection of the internal issues that each member was facing. By establishing that the leaders were more of facilitators than they were authorities, the members of the group were able to place authority on themselves. The session became more productive from here because it enabled the members to become more aware of each other's issues (Sundquist et al., 2015). The facilitators were able to control and guide the sessions well. They did not favor or hinder anyone's participation. All the issues raised were addressed accordingly, and the meetings were productive. Their overall strengths were in keeping calm and being objective.
References
Brownlee, N., Curran, D., " Tsang, S. M. (2017). Client Engagement with a Manualized Group Therapy Program. Journal of Groups in Addiction " Recovery , 12 (1), 45-61.
Chen, M. W., " Rybak, C. (2017). Group leadership skills: Interpersonal process in group counseling and therapy . SAGE Publications.
Moon, B. L. (2016). Art-based group therapy: Theory and practice . Charles C Thomas Publisher.
Sundquist, J., Lilja, Å., Palmér, K., Memon, A. A., Wang, X., Johansson, L. M., " Sundquist, K. (2015). Mindfulness group therapy in primary care patients with depression, anxiety and stress and adjustment disorders: randomised controlled trial. The British Journal of Psychiatry , 206 (2), 128-135.
