Types of Groups and Group Work

Group

A collection of two or more individuals, who meet face-to-face or virtually in an interactive, interdependent way, with the awareness that each belongs to the group and for the purpose of achieving mutually agreed-on goals

Group Work

A broad professional practice involving the application of knowledge and skill in group facilitation to assist an interdependent collection of people to reach their mutual goals, which may be intrapersonal, interpersonal, or work related. The goals of the group may include the accomplishment of tasks related to work, education,m personal development, personal and interpersonal problem solving, or remediation of mental and emotional disorders.

Contact-Focused Group Theory

A conceptualization of groups in which the purpose of groups is highlighted; three primary contact groups described in this model are group guidance, group counseling, and group psychotherapy

Specialty/Standards Model

An approach to conceptualizing groups in which they are defined according to their purpose, focus, and needed competencies. The ASGW has defined standards for four types of groups: psychoeducational, counseling, psychotherapy, and task/work

TRAC Model of Groups

A model groups known by the acronym for tasking, relating, acquiring, and contacting. Each letter represents an area in the total picture of group work. Tasking groups are focused on task achievement. Relating groups achieve objectives to increase the options for movement within the life of each person. Acquiring groups are directed toward learning outcomes that members can apply to others. In contrast, contacting groups are focused on the individual growth of members

Task/Work Groups

Groups whose emphasis is on accomplishment and efficiency in completing identified work goals. They are united in their emphasis on achieving a successful performance or a finished product through collaborative efforts. Task/work groups take the form of task forces, committees, planning groups, community organizations, discussion groups, and learning groups

Group Dynamics

A term originally used by Kurt Lewin to describe the interrelations of individuals in groups

Team

A number of persons associated together in work or activity, such as in athletic or artistic competition, in which members of a group act and perform in a coordinated way to achieve a goal. They differ from basic groups in four main ways: (a) They have shared goals, as opposed to individual goals in most groups (b) They stress an interdependency in working more than do groups (c) They require more of a commitment by members to a team effort (d) They are by design accountable to a higher level within the organization than are groups

Psychoeducational Groups

Groups originally developed for use in education settings. They are premised on the idea that education is about changing perceptions as well as acquiring knowledge (AKA Educational Groups; Guidance Groups)

Airtime

The amount of time available for participation in the group

Life-Skills Group

A type of guidance/psychoeducational group, especially designed for those who have a deficit of behavior. Emphasis is on a "how-to" approach to learning new behaviors; may include the use of films, plays, and demonstrations, role-plays, and guest speakers

Life-Skills Training

Focuses on helping persons identify and correct deficits in their life-coping skills and learn new appropriate behaviors

Counseling/Interpersonal Problem-Solving Groups

Groups that focus on each person's behavior and growth or change within the group in regard to a particular problem or concern

Yearbook Feedback

Saying nice but insignificant things about a person, as high school students do when they write in annuals

Open-ended

Groups that admit new members at any time

Closed-ended

Groups that do not admit new members after the first session

Mixed Groups

Groups that defy fitting any category. They encompass multiple ways of working with their members and may change their emphasis frequently. For example, some groups that are instructive are also simultaneously or consequentially therapeutic. The prototype is a self-help group

GAP Matrix for Groups

The "goals and process" model of group types; originated by Waldo and Bauman

Self-Help Groups

Groups that usually do not include professional leaders but are led by paraprofessionals or group members. Examples of such groups are Alcoholics Anonymous and Compassionate Friends (AKA Mutual Help Groups)

Support groups

Types if self-help groups in which members share a common concern and have a professional group leader