Leadership Discussions
At some time during your career as a clinical social worker, you will be asked to lead a group. Whether it is a support group, task group, or therapy group, developing effective leadership skills is important. Leading a group can be challenging. The first meeting tends to set the stage for the overall experience. One of the first tasks of the group leader is to assist the members in getting to know one another and to initiate discussion. Clinical social workers commonly use many strategies, games, and techniques to create some cohesion among the members; however, not all group strategies are effective with every type of group. Identifying the appropriate strategies for a particular group is critical.
Learning Objectives
• Evaluate leadership skills
• Identify strategies for initiating group conversations
• Analyze the benefits of group work
Discussion A: Group Leadership Skills
Leading a group of individuals who have suffered trauma can be difficult because the shared stories may result in further trauma to some of the members. Assessing the members and deciding how they will introduce themselves at the first meeting can be a difficult task. Helping these members begin the group therapy process is the first step in facilitating the group.
For this Discussion, watch the video of the "Levy" group session.
Post your evaluation of the group's social worker's leadership skills, using at least two items from each of the three categories found in the Toseland & Rivas (2017) piece (facilitation of group processes, data gathering and assessment, and action). Suggest another way the social worker might have initiated the group conversation.
Respond to two colleagues who discussed a different leadership skill. Explain the importance of building these skills and how they relate to facilitating the group process.
Discussion B: Group Intervention
When leading a group, it is the responsibility of the clinical social worker to find a way to enable all members to benefit from the experience. Although some members may not benefit, it is important for the clinical social worker to identify the positive aspects that he/she is witnessing. This strategy may create a feeling of empowerment for the members.
For this Discussion, it may be helpful to review the video of the "Levy" group session again.
Post your description of at least three benefits that are evident in the "Levy" group video. Describe ways this group session has been effective in helping the members of the group.
Respond to a colleague who identified a different benefit in the video. Describe how the social worker's role as leader impacts the effectiveness of group intervention.
The response should include a reference list. Double-space, using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.
Required Readings
Toseland, R. W., & Rivas, R. F. (2017). An introduction to group work practice (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Chapter 4, "Leadership" (pp. 97-134)
Chapter 5, "Leadership and Diversity"
Westwood, M. J., McLean, H., Cave, D., Borgen, W., & Slakov, P. (2010). Coming home: A group-based approach for assisting military veterans in transition. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 35(1), 44-68.
Required Media
Laureate Education. (Producer). (2013d). Levy (Episode 6) [Video file]. In Sessions. Baltimore, MD: Producer.