Group Work Stage Theory

Group work stage theory is defined as a “goal-directed activity with small groups of people aimed at meeting socioemotional needs and accomplishing tasks. This activity is directed to individual members of a group and to the group as a whole” (Magen, 1998, p. 123). By having a good definition of what group work stage theory is, we are able to understand the process. In doing so, this essay will describe each stage of the group work stage theory, and apply it to facilitation tasks, integrate it into the lab group that we participate in, and a critical reflection on how I believe I performed as a group work facilitator.

The first stage in the group work stage theory is forming a group. This stage is about the formation of a group plan. Corey and Corey (1997), describe this stage as being extremely important in terms of expressing the expectations and outcomes you will have of the group. This means that the better the planning, the better the outcome for the group and if the planning is lacking, it will show later in the group. In our particular lab group, our planning involved making a course outline for a parent help group who were having trouble with their children’s behaviour, or a group of young adults who were using drugs and alcohol. As the facilitators of the group, we had the task of coming up with a ten week plan together. Corey, Corey and Corey (2010), explain that careful thought and planning are necessary in order to lay a solid foundation for any type of group, which is something that should be considered when facilitating any of these two groups; or any other group, no matter the seriousness of the issue. The type of group that we were facilitating is known as a ‘formed group’. Garvin (1986) describes formed groups a...

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...p in the understanding of each stage, as well as a critical reflection on my own performance as a facilitator.

Works Cited

Boller, S. (2005). Teamwork Training. Baltimore, MD: Victor Graphics, Inc.

Corey, M. & Corey, G. (1997). Groups: Process and Practice (5th ed.). Pacific Grove: Brooks/Cole.

Corey, M., Corey, G,. & Corey, C. (2010). Groups: Process and Practice (8th ed.). Belmont, California: Brooks/Cole.

Doel, M. (2005). Using Groupwork. London, New York: Routledge.

Garvin, C. (1986). Innovations of Social Group Work: Feedback from Practice to Theory (2nd ed.). London, England: The Haworth Press.

Magen, R, H. (1998). Practice with Groups (2nd ed.). The Foundations of Social Work Practice (pp. 188-208). Washington D.C.: NASW Press.

Maxwell, J, C. (2008). Teamwork 101: What every leader needs to know. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.