Introduction
Fei Yue Family Service Centre (FYFSC) strives to effect life transformation through the provision of quality social services by being an excellent establishment in leading people to a truly fulfilling life within an integrated community network. In line with their vision, they identified marriage group work counseling as an emerging need in Singapore.
The conceptualisation of Marriage Dance (MD) programme stems from an assessed need to work with couples facing marital issues, which is prevalent in FYFSC’s casework. Such a treatment group would allow couples to receive help “on a different level of functioning”.
Planning
Marriage Dance is a treatment group designed for couples to work on their marital issues. A rationale for the use of therapeutic group work as an intervention is to help the members understand that they are not the only ones facing such problems, something that individual case work alone cannot achieve. Furthermore, the process of mutual aid takes place during group work when members draw upon their own experiences and deep-seated needs to support their fellow members. It is through this process of “giving” where these members also “receive” and learn from their past experiences (Kurland & Salmon, 1993).
As such group members typically have intensive personal or emotional problems, skilled professional leadership is required. It is due to the intensive nature of the group work that Marriage Dance is a co-led. In fact, according to Gurman, co-led marital therapies fare better than those led by a single therapist (Gurman, 1973).
MD was previously held over 6 weeks but was reformatted as a staycation (three-day-two-night) due to poor attendance. Each run of MD is a closed group comprising of 5-6 couple...
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...ut the issue faced by another couple outside the context of the group work. In addition, with some couples having the history of family violence in the group, the safety of the group might be compromised if a member turns aggressive.
Conclusion
Despite many insights from the group worker, we recognise the limitations of our analysis towards MD due to the subjective nature of our research from the group leader. We were unable to analyse the dynamic interactions amongst members apart from the short excerpts given by the group leader.
Furthermore, our group attempts to use the Garland, Jones and Kolodny model to analyse the stages in which members of MD undergo throughout the group work process. Although the stages are presented in a linear fashion, we recognise that the actual group work process might not strictly follow the individual stages in a sequential manner.
Ripley, J. S., & Worthington Jr., E. L. (2014). Couple therapy: A new hope-focused approach. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. ISBN:
Research of literature depends on the theory or topic one is researching. Research uncovers what the author knows about his or her discipline and its practices. Augustus Napier is a family therapist with vast experience in family therapeutic processes and experiential therapy with couples. In my research of his background, I reviewed his book “The Family Crucible.” In this text, Dr. Napier chronicles the therapeutic process of one fictitious family (which is a composite of real cases) experiencing marital discord. In reviewing the case studies in this book, I gained insight into his style of the therapeutic process, which exposed Dr. Napier’s framework which leads to his assumptions about marriage. The details of this case study coupled with Dr. Napier’s added paragraphs and chapters of analyses with his conclusions on the maladaptive reasons people marry other people make this resource of great qualitative value. Additionally, useful evaluative data revealing a deeper insight into Dr. Napier’s position on irreconcilable differences can be fo...
Lindsay, T., & Orton, S. (2008). Groupwork practice in social work (2nd ed.). Exeter: Learning Matters.
The group has reached the Norming stage when they begin the second stage. “The team is faced with creating cohesion and unity, differentiating roles, identifying expectation for members, and enhancing commitment. Providing supportive feedback and fostering commitment to a vision are ne...
Group therapy is considered one of the most resourceful forms of therapy. The benefits to group therapy can be both cost-effective and a great means of support (Corey, Corey & Corey, 2014). The process of experiencing ideas and viewpoints expressed by your peers allows group members to become more susceptible to the counseling procedure. Group counseling also helps individuals to feel a sense of belonging due to similar situations and experiences shared by the group. The sense of support from group members can be an excellent means towards developing long-lasting relationships and developing communication skills needed to move forward during the counseling phase. In this paper, I will discuss my experiences throughout the group-counseling phase.
Humboldt Journal of Social Relations 32.1, TRANSLATIONAL APPLIED SOCIOLOGY (2009): 158-83. JSTOR.Web. 11 May 2014. Chalmers, Jennifer H. "Romantic Love: Is It a Realistic Goal for Marriage Therapy?" Romantic Love: Is It a Realistic Goal for Marriage Therapy?
New York, NY: Guilford Press. Gurman, A., (Ed.). Clinical Handbook of Couple Therapy (4th ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
In mentor couples approach; couple meets with a married couple that provide mentoring. The ...
The first chapter of “Working in Groups” focuses on group communication, the first aspect being the key elements of group communication (Engleberg and
In order to evaluate my role within the group, it is important to identify what makes a group. A group must firstly consist of more than three members, “Two members have personal relationships; with three or more there is a change in quality” of the personal relationship. (Bion 1961, p26) The group must have a common purpose or a goal in order to succeed. Having now completed my group work task, I can look back and reflect upon the process that my group went through to get to the presentation end point.
Toseland, R & Rivas, R 2012, An Introduction to group work practice, 7th edn, Allyn & Bacon, Massachusetts.
The techniques used in marriage and family counseling can be different. For instance, counselors will sometimes handle family therapy in different ways than they would couples or marital therapy. Both family and marriage c...
The Importance of Group Work in Today's Organizations. It could be argued that in order to be successful, modern organisations must actively develop strong and cohesive work groups. Why do you need to be a member? Is it true that there is no room for the individual in today’s organisation? The rapid progression and improvement in information and communication technology has led to modern organisations finding new ways to work.
Engleberg, Isa N. and Dianna R. Wynn. Working in Groups. 6th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2012. Print.
For this to occur however, requires an understanding of culture and society, as well as governance and process. In addition, I have also understood the power of strength based approach, how strength based therapy used in relationships an essential factor among group members. I view this class as the opportunity to practice how effectively work with groups and individuals to understand their own inherent power. Therefore, I learned the way of using a strengths-based approach; I can highlight the assets of group members, offering building blocks which can then lay the foundation of their social change. Furthermore, I understand change could be a mutual process, so in group therapy until group members became comfortable with each other to share their experiences giving them space and later help them to engage in along with group process. I also learn how to help in the facilitation of change, by asking open questions, validating, empathic and allowing them to feel what they are feeling, and empower them what they wants to do with their current