The Phases of Helping in Group Work

Phases of Helping
The concept of the phases of helping indicates there is a preferred sequence of worker activity so as to help the group become a mutual aid system and achieve group purpose (Gitterman, 2004; Glassman and Kates, 1990; Kurland and Salmon, 1998; Schwartz, 1961, 1976, 1977). The phases occur over the course of the group’s life cycle and include: preparation, beginning, work and ending phases (Schwartz, 1961; Gitterman, 2004). This framework has relevance for conceptualizing the sequencing of worker activity in each group session as well (Birnbaum and Cicchetti, 2000; Birnbaum, Mason and Cicchetti, 2002; Shalinsky, 1983; Shulman, 2005b).


The Preparation Phase
The preparation phase attends to ‘tuning in’, pre-group planning, and work with the prospective members (Gitterman, 2004; Kurland and Salmon, 1998; Schwartz, 1961; Shulman, 2006). Tuning-in helps the worker anticipate members’ needs and feelings and develop preliminary empathy (Schwartz, 1961; Shulman, 1999, 2006). The worker also tunes-in to one’s own feelings, attitudes and thoughts about the ensuing group encounter. A framework for pre-group planning proposes that the worker consider such interrelated factors as group purpose, composition, structure, size, content, and the environmental context of the group (Kurland and Salmon, 1998; Northen and Kurland, 2001). Group workers, in addition to preparing the new group member, need to work with other staff members to gain sanction for their group and to facilitate referrals (Doel, 2006; Shulman, 1999, 2005b). Member outreach and preparation provides an opportunity to identify the goodness of fit between the group purpose and the prospective member’s needs and address feelings of ambivalence or reluctance about attending the group (Shulman, 1999, 2005b).



The Beginning Phase
The beginning phase has as its central assignment a collaborative approach to developing an initial contract for work (Henry, 1992; Schwartz, 1961, 1971a; Shulman, 1999, 2006). According to Schwartz (1971), “The contract, openly reflecting both stakes, provides a frame of reference for the work that follows, and for understanding when the work is in process, when it is being evaded, and when it is finished” (p.8) The work of the beginning stage is understood as group building. Phillips (1957) explains the role of the worker in group building indicating that the worker should focus her attention at “understanding and using the worker’s activity in a process that enables each group member to find and take part in the whole, in relationship with other members” (p.142).
Several developmental frameworks postulate that member ambivalence about both the work and connecting with one another is normative (Bennis and Shepherd, 1956; Kurland and Salmon, 1998; Schiller, 1995; Shulman, 2006). Shulman (2006) incorporated ideas from Bion’s group-as-a-whole approach, in particular his observation that members approach emotionally threatening material with a ‘fight’ or ‘flight’ response further explicating the understanding of ambivalence. In response to this the worker engages in purposeful group building so as to cultivate a climate of safety and trust which in turn contributes to establishing a culture for work (Schiller, 1995; Shulman, 2006).


The Work Phase
In the work phase the group’s energy is directed to “the main body of problems and to the major tasks of the helping process” (Schwartz, 1977, p.1335). The worker considers when to intervene with the group as a whole, the interactional process and the individual member (Shulman, 1999, 2006; Toseland and Rivas, 2005). Central worker tasks include the maintenance of the group as a mutual aid system and actualizing group purpose (Schwartz, 1977). The tasks of this phase according to Schwartz (1977) include: the search for common ground; detecting and challenging obstacles to task accomplishment; worker contribution of ideas, facts and values; the sharing of the worker’s vision, that is “his feelings about the process, and his faith in the clients’ strengths and capacities”; and defining the boundaries of the “situation in which the small group is set” (Schwartz, 1977, p. 1335).
How the work is conceptualized is in large part informed by the population, the nature of the group and the purpose for which the group was formed (Shulman, 2006). For example, the nature of the therapeutic work for people with Substance USe Disorders is conceptualized as a developmental process with early treatment tasks focused on establishing abstinence, deepening motivation and eroding denial (Flores, 1997; SAMHSA, 2005a). The nature of treatment for people with SUDS will be discussed further at the group work and substance use disorders page provided at the link above in the resource menu.


The Ending Phase
The ending phase presents the group members the opportunity to consolidate gains, explore feelings and thoughts about endings, review and evaluate their work and make plans for the future (Gitterman, 2004; Schwartz, 1961; Shulman, 1999). Variations on endings occur when the worker leaves the group and when members leave a group that is ongoing (Shulman, 1999).