Group Work with Overwhelmed Clients: How the Power of Groups Can Help People Transform Their Lives

With the explosive growth in managed health care, more and more problems that can overwhelm those who live in poverty -- from domestic violence to teenage pregnancy -- are being treated in a group setting. In fact, group psychotherapy is proven to be one of the most effective treatments for overwhelmed clients. Respected experts June Gary Hopps and Elaine Pinderhughes have long advocated the efficiency and power of group therapy; now Group Work with Overwhelmed Clients shows effective groups in action, and it discusses at length the techniques that make them work.

This authoritative, first-of-its-kind handbook will aid social service agency administrators, clinicians, and paraprofessionals as they explore group therapy for poor and oppressed populations in order to deal with addiction, gang membership, and the stresses of disease or recent immigration, as well as to improve job preparation, parenting, and sex education. It offers case-specific vignettes, new insights on leader issues, and practical application in the form of hands-on guides, as well as step-by-step instructions for organizing groups, targeting and screening members, establishing goals, and managing group dynamics.

Unlike books on groups that focus on single-issue therapy, Group Work with Overwhelmed Clients presents the first integrated treatment approach, demonstrating that the sharing, support, and empowerment of a group can be life-transforming. Comprehensive and exhaustive, Group Work with Overwhelmed Clients will be of great value to anyone in the field.