Group Work: A Humanistic and Skills Building Approach

A book that supports the human spirit and the humanistic visions of those who champion personal and social change through the social work group….

The Second Edition of Group Work: A Humanistic and Skills Building Approach identifies the humanistic values and democratic norms that guide the group practitioner′s interventions. The book presents seven stage themes of group development, 29 techniques for group work practice, and more than 60 new illustrations from contemporary group work. The Second Edition remains centered on the role of the social group work practitioner, who employs group work methods to further the personal growth and empowerment of members in community and institutional contexts.

Features of the Second Edition:

· Offers 29 new descriptions of group work practice techniques, which have applicability in clinical, support, and organizational groups

· Provides seven stage themes of group development, describing member reactions and highlighting worker pitfalls, self-awareness issues, and skills for maximizing member growth within each stage

· Presents 60 new illustrations of group meetings, which demonstrate the practitioner role and conclude with discussion and analysis

· Includes an updated Chapter 10, which highlights ethical values in mental health, substance abuse treatment, and health care groups

Intended Audience

This is an ideal core text for advance undergraduate and graduate courses such as Group Work, Foundation Practice, Skills of Counseling, and Group Dynamics in the fields of social work, psychology, and counseling.

Urania Ernest Glassman, MA, MSW, DSW, LCSW

Dr. Glassman’s role as director of field instruction spans 30 years. Her social work specializations are field education, group work, and clinical practice. She is currently Principal Investigator of a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - HRSA for Wurzweiler School of Social Work Yeshiva University to train 2^nd year students in clinical field placements with high risk adolescents and transitional age youth. Her recent volume with Sage, Group Work: A Humanistic and Skills Building Approach 2^nd Ed., provides underpinning for the training design. Dr. Glassman maintains a long-standing clinical practice with individuals, families, and groups.

She has written and presented papers on field education processes and experiential learning, training field educators, group work, and clinical practice. Dr. Glassman served on the Council on Social Work Education Commission on Educational Policy during the time when social work competencies were defined and field education as social work’s signature pedagogy was branded.  She was instrumental in the development of CSWE’s field education symposium – now the field education track, co-founder of NANFED – North American Network of Field Educators and Directors, and of the NYC Red Apple Chapter of the International Association of Social Work with Groups, and has served as chair of these initiatives.