Group formation is an important process in the therapeutic process of psychotherapy. The group will include six military veterans living in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. They are all suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Military veterans are highly likely to experience the disorder following encounters that are shocking, dangerous, or scary. In this regard, the experience of such war veterans is a feeling of distraught with the environmental stimuli triggering a flashback of the traumatizing events. Through the formation of the group, the members are provided a platform that allows them to air their struggles and problems associated with the disorder. Each one of them is given the opportunity to articulate the presenting issue and identify the possible measures of coping with the disorder. The following research looks into the description of the group, the functions of the members and its leader, the stage in formation, and its benefits to the members.
Group Description
The gathering and formation of a group by the military veterans is for the sole purpose of enabling members to cope with the problem of PTSD in their lives. The members of the group identify the significant sacrifice that each one of them has undertaken by joining the military. The formation of the group is intended to provide assistance for the psychological and emotional state of the members (Hepworth, Rooney, Dewberry, & Strom-Gottfried, 2017). It is evident that through the task of fighting in the war, they encountered traumatic events probably the loss of a close friend, personal injury, or even failure of a mission that may cause them to have sleepless nights or undertake daily tasks. In this regard, the group that is formed is a treatment group as its primary focus on helping the individuals to make changes in their lives by enhancing their socio-emotional well-being (Hepworth et al., 2017). This practice leads to the formation of a therapy group which helps members change their behaviors and cope with personal problems after social trauma.
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The therapy group is one of the major subtypes of treatment group. It demonstrates significant similarities with support and growth groups, other subtypes of the same. In the therapy group, support is an integral part of the formation. Hereby, members are provided with the help of coping with the life stresses by revitalizing their skills on the same (Sloan, Unger, & Beck, 2016). Another important factor of therapy groups is growth where members can effectively achieve self-improvement in their capabilities and self-awareness by making personal changes. The group is formed by the composition of military veterans all of whom have been diagnosed with PTSD. The primary measure for this group is to improve the individual capability of coping with the traumatic event (Sloan, Unger, & Beck, 2016). Therefore, the group has only a single leader usually a counselor, therapist, or social worker who has the required training to provide assistance to the members. The norms of the group include open communication, active participation, and demonstrating openness to attempt interventions provided.
Group/Individual Patterns and Group Leader
The group through its formation is likely to experience significant dysfunctional and functional patterns at the individual and group levels. It is evident that military veterans are usually subjected to a clear structure in terms of leadership and superiority in a group (Sloan, Unger, & Beck, 2016). However, in this case where there is little leadership and more of an equality layout the members are likely to struggle at the beginning of the group’s formation. Though the presence of a social worker helps identify a clear authority figure in the group, there is information that when disclosed to the public may be considered treason. Members of the military are at times obligated to perform tasks that are highly classified and should only be known to the superiors (Hepworth et al., 2017). In this case, it may be difficult discussing in detail the activities that led to the development of PTSD. However, some of the functional patterns in the group may involve attendance, language, and care for space. The military veterans particularly if they have experienced similar events are more likely to solidify in the formation of the group through the mentioned activities.
The members of the group expect that by joining the group they will not be subjected to activities or practices that are contrary to their beliefs. The importance of confidentiality is critical to the long-term survival of the group. In this regard, inappropriate recording by video or audio technologies will lead to the potential dismantling of the group. Members are more likely to experience negative feelings for individuals who fail to adhere to such practices and may even opt out of the treatment (Hepworth et al., 2017). The group leader has a burden of establishing clear and strict rules on the practices and behaviors of members such that they feel comfortable. It is also within the objectives of the group leader to establish a set of goals that will be used in the assessment of the individual’s progress. Each military veteran will describe experiences both current and of the past with honesty and refrain from exaggerating or omitting information (Westwood, McLean, Cave, Borgen, & Slakov, 2010). This practice is integral to the effectiveness of the group and reinforcing the social cohesion among members.
Group Stage
The group of veterans is currently in its second stage of power and control. The members of the group have demonstrated the behavior of approach/avoidance which is common for the forming stage (Sloan, Unger, & Beck, 2016). Members of the group have shown some reluctance in answering questions posed in the group while others have exhibited their uneasiness with other members of the group. These are some of the common occurrences during the development of a group. The members are likely to clash as they seek to understand the nature of the group (Westwood et al., 2010). At this time, members are also likely to demonstrate significant silence or suspicion against other members of the group. The team members probably out of the instincts of being a troop will be concerned that sharing information with strangers makes them vulnerable to the rest of the rest. The power and control phase which is the storming stage. In this regard, members are aware that the experience that they draw from the group is safe and rewarding hence they should make emotional investment.
The occurrence of this realization among the group members will help in the transition into the second stage where seek to identify concerns about autonomy, control, and power. Members of the group significantly understand that they belong in the group, but are now concerned about where they “rank” (Sloan, Unger, & Beck, 2016). This stage is critical to the survival of the group as members may create subgroups of like-minded members as they seek to set up a hierarchy of status in the group. Such an occurrence is likely to cause confusion in the group as some members begin to attack the authority of a leader. In this case, one the members begin to ask questions about the social worker particularly whether they have ever been to war. If the answer is “no” this is likely to cause a stir in the group as other members feel that the individual who should be helping them cannot relate to their experiences (Westwood et al., 2010). This is likely to cause others to remain on the fence on whether they should trust the capabilities of the leader.
Group Benefit and Therapeutic Factors
The formation of the therapy group for the military veterans of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania is of significant importance and benefits their continued struggle with the PTSD. While it is evident that the psychological disorder is a burden to the individuals it affects, the formation of the group provides them with hope. It is essential that the members of the group have hope that their participation will help eradicate the problem they are currently experiencing. The group also helps bring about a sense of togetherness. Members are aware that in one way or another, engagement in war brought about the development of PTSD. In this case, the group only shows that they are not the only ones who are suffering hence giving each other motivation to push on and cope with the realities of the problem. The therapy group is established as a significant means of ensuring that each participant plays an active role. This practice is beneficial as members have a platform to discuss their struggles and how they experienced trauma.
There are multiple therapeutic factors associated with the therapy group. First and foremost is the instillation of hope where a high expectation of help from therapy is likely to provide members with a positive outcome at its conclusion (Yalom, 1995). In this case, it is evident that group members have hope in the group as they identify that they have so much in common such that their participation could result in significant benefits and rewards. The forming stage is a clear indicator if this therapeutic factor. The group allows for catharsis where members are freely allowed to convey their feelings and experiences without hurting other members of the group (Yalom, 1995). This practice is integral to the healing process as seen where each veteran is required to discuss experiences when they reconvene for the next meeting. Group cohesiveness is another important therapeutic factor that is evident among individuals seeking to become accepted in the group (Yalom, 1995). Each member is noted to have significant responsibility over another by checking up on them when away from the rest of the group. In this case, it is evident that the formation of the groups seems to form a family that the members may lack.
References
Hepworth, D. H., Rooney, R. H., Dewberry, G., & Strom-Gottfried, K. (2017) Direct Social Work Practice: Theory and Skills, 10th Ed . Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Sloan, D. M., Unger, W., & Beck, J. G. (2016). Cognitive-behavioral group treatment for veterans diagnosed with PTSD: Design of a hybrid efficacy-effectiveness clinical trial. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 47 , 123-130.
Westwood, M. J., McLean, H., Cave, D., Borgen, W., & Slakov, P. (2010). Coming home: A group-based approach for assisting military veterans in transition. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 35 (1), 44-68.
Yalom, I. D. (1995) The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, 4th Ed . New York: Basic Books.
