Group Dynamics in Occupational Therapy: The Theoretical Basis & Practice Application of Group Treatment

Group Dynamics in Occupational Therapy: The Theoretical Basis and Practice Application of Group Treatment, Second Edition examines seven frames of reference for group therapy. This book describes the seven-step method in leading a group, and teaches the reader how the traditional body of knowledge in group dynamics applies to occupational therapy.This edition includes information on co-leadership in today's practice, the pros and cons of its use, and how co-leadership can help therapists plan effectively and gain valuable feedback. Section Two, Group Guidelines From Seven Frames of Reference, has been greatly revised to reflect the latest in group dynamics. Marilyn B. Cole has dedicated an entire chapter to Allen's Cognitive Disabilities Groups because of its extensive development over the past decade. Chapter Five, The Behavioral Cognitive Continuum, represents an attempt to organize the many concepts and techniques occupational therapists use in group treatment, which relate to behavioral and cognitive theory. The chapter describing the Model of Human Occupation Approach has been revised to include new theoretical developments and research. The importance of occupational choices, habit maps and habitat, and roles and role scripts in the context of one's social group and culture are discussed.

Marilyn B. (Marli) Cole, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, is a Professor Emeritus of Occupational Therapy at Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut, and an Occupational Therapy Consultant. After 25 years of teaching, she has now become a full-time writer. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Connecticut, a graduate certificate in occupational therapy from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Bridgeport. Also, she is licensed by the state of Connecticut to practice occupational therapy and is certified by the Center for Study of Sensory Integrative Dysfunction to administer the Southern California Sensory Integration Tests. She has more than 24 years of practice experience in mental health, pediatrics, and geriatrics. Places of employment include Eastern Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute in Philadelphia, and Middlesex Memorial Hospital, Lawrence and Memorial Hospitals, and Newington Children’s Hospital, all in Connecticut. While teaching, courses included psychiatric clinical media, group leadership, group dynamics, frames of reference, fieldwork I and II, psychopathology, sensorimotor integration, computer technology lab, evaluation, intervention, problem-based learning, research, and geriatrics. She has also served as a consultant for the West Haven VA Medical Center, the Portland Public Schools, Fairfield Hills Hospital, the Institute of Living, St. Joseph’s Manor, and Baldwin Senior Center, all in Connecticut. In conjunction with Quinnipiac University, she escorted groups of fieldwork students to clinical and community practice sites in England, Costa Rica, and Australia.    

In addition to three prior editions of Group Dynamics (1993, 1998, 2005), she has coauthored two books within the past 3 years: Applied Theories in OT (2008), with coauthor Roseanna Tufano of Quinnipiac University, and Social Participation in Occupational Contexts (2010), with coauthor Mary Donohue, retired professor from NYU. Her chapters for other texts include “A Preference for Activity” (1988), “Client Centered Groups” (2008), “Retirement, Volunteering, and End of Life Issues” in Meriano and Latella (2007) OT Interventions, “Theories of Aging” (2008), and “Occupational Theory Development and Organization” in Jacobs and Sladyk (2010) Occupational Therapy Essentials for Clinical Competence.    

Marli has presented papers and workshops at professional conferences on many different topics. She has delivered professional presentations to Yale psychiatric residents, the Connecticut Occupational Therapy Association, the New York State Occupational Therapy Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), the American Psychology Association (APA), the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA), and the World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT).       

Recently, Marli has edited a special edition of the Occupational Therapy International Journal on OT in the Third Age, focusing on the transition to retirement and productive occupations of older adults worldwide. She and husband Marty are at home in Stratford, Connecticut, and Freeport, Bahamas.