Open Group Communication: Discussing Feelings and Life Experiences - Essay Sample

Introduction

The group where I attend it was an open group where there were around 25 people. The participants of the group were mostly males; only four females were there counting myself. The environment was a little loud due that it was located near to the train roads

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Describe the purpose of the group.

The group sought to communicate with other group members how they were feeling. They also mentioned about the things that bother them at the moment. It was also mentioned how their lives had been changed since starting their recovery process.

How were introductions handled?

There was turn-taking in the introduction, and everyone was allowed to introduce themselves to the audience quickly. In the introduction process, group members were also allowed to state their problems briefly and the progress made so far.

Were ground rules/discussed or referred to?

The group had spelled out rules that needed to be referred to. Nobody was allowed to talk whenever someone else was talking. Also, there was a need to respond to the member's question. Each person was accorded respect and given freedom of speech without many interjections.

Describe the facilitator's style.

The facilitator was very liberal and allowed for icebreakers. His greatest approach was majorly action-plan oriented, whereby everyone, they had to follow up on the challenge with an appropriate action plan. He briefly made a few comments before proceeding to the next speaker.

What was the diversity makeup of the group?

The group was very diverse. Save for the different gender, and everyone had a unique type of addictions that they were battling with. Others also had different challenges, such as some wanting to give up and go back to drug abuse; others had religious problems whereby they felt that they had lost their faith while some even contemplated suicide. The group was unique and diverse, making it very helpful.

Was group work an appropriate model for supporting the clients?

Group work was by far the best way of supporting the clients. Not to mention that a problem shared is a problem solved by allowing everyone to open up and talk about their challenges with drug addiction; this was the best therapy session that made a difference in their lives. The group members Sharing their addiction and recovery stories was not only beneficial to them, but listening to other's struggles, challenges, and recovery journeys is a huge part of the recovery process. The more the group members recollect how awful they felt and the terrible things that happened as a result of their addiction, the more certain they are to remain focused around getting solid and permanent recuperation.

Describe some significant verbal/non-verbal interactions or displays.

There was an amalgamation of verbal and non-verbal interaction techniques during the group conversation. The non-verbal cues incorporated facial expression, eye changes, movements, voice, and tonal variations, nodding of the head or gesturing, the pitch of the voice, and by and large physical appearance. The facilitator permitted the individuals from the group to communicate their contemplations and sentiments openly, in this way, giving a chance to find solace within the group. Other verbal interactions used included slang, which was straightforward, posing questions and giving of feedback. Any humor was acknowledged with laugher on certain occasions.

Is there a co-leader? If so, how do they carry out their roles?

The group had a co-leader who did not feature quite prominently during the discussion process. The co-leader majorly helped the facilitator by taking questions from members. He was also tasked with timekeeping so that one group member does not take up so much time, thereby robbing other group members of their valuable time to give feedback as well.

Apply Maslow to what you see happening in the group.

Maslow's model of human needs applied in group interaction. According to Maslow's model, humans need love and belonging and self-actualization after they receive physical needs and safety needs. The group members have all embarked on the process of self-actualization and that they want to show love and acceptance by society, even after losing their way in drugs and other ways. They desire to recover their self-esteem, and some even desire to be transcendent by seeking to find religious help.

Describe how another model, e.g., Tuckman, might apply.

The five stages of the Tuckman model of team formation are very relevant to this group interaction. The initial stages of the group saw members oriented and acquainted with the group rules and regulations. The second stage was storming, and whereby members' personalities emerged with some being intolerant, others understood while some were emotional, just as elaborated in the Tuck man's storming stage. As envisioned by Tuckman's model, the norming stage saw members cooperate and opening up on their conditions and worked as a team through the performing stage where they shared their experiences and the desired outcome.

What role do participants appear to have in the group?

The participants in the group held active roles. They were expected to attend the session in time and to share their stories openly and candidly. They were also required to show respect t to the facilitator and co-leader and to ensure that they observed decorum during the sessions.

Were activities, video clips, etc. used in the group? If so, describe how effective they were.

The additional materials used during the group sessions were videos, charts, and other pictorials to help in enhancing the story of past victims. The videos both in the hard discs and the ones streamed online were so encouraging to the members that they were right on track with their recoveries.

Anything you would have done differently as a group facilitator?

As a facilitator, I would have introduced icebreakers in between the session to ensure that the members enjoyed making their contributions without too much seriousness and tensions that were eminent in some cases where participants got emotional. I would introduce short games and songs in between to ensure that everyone remained attentive and engaged.

Overall comments about social work values, knowledge, and skills?

Proper social work values call for respect for the worth and dignity of all individuals. The history of the person in question should not measure the dignity of humanity. The social work values also observe integrity and social competence that relates to the focus on the overall human relations and cooperation. The knowledge and skills of running social groups must, therefore, observe the rights of every participant in a fair and just manner. Everyone had a right to be heard and appreciated.