Social Work Practice
With Groups
{ From Social Work and Social Welfare by Marla Berg-Weger
Group Work
● Group work (or mezzo practice) is a practice
method in which the social worker works with
a multiple clients to develop a planned change
effort that meets the needs of the group
● The social worker’s role in a group can be that
of initiator, facilitator, therapist, resource
person, consultant, evaluator, or a combination
of these roles
History of Group Work
● In the United States, group methods were initially
used as a strategy for working with youth through
organized activities
● By the 1930s and 1940s, group work had become an
intervention method with hospitalized patients, the
developmentally disabled and mentally ill, and
returning World War II veterans
● By the 1970s, social workers were participating in a
variety of experimental self-improvement groups
● Group social work practice is now recognized as part
of the profession’s mission to empower and promote
well-being
Social Goals Groups
● These groups, also known as “social action
groups,” aim to make change on
organizational, governmental, and community
levels
● Examples may include neighborhood safety
groups, groups advocating for legislation, and
interdisciplinary groups of professionals
working in the same field or area
● Groups may consist of professionals or non-
professionals
Remedial Groups
● Remedial groups—also known as therapy groups or
treatment groups—aim to help members enhance
their social functioning
● The role for the social worker in a remedial group is
typically as a leader or facilitator
● These groups may be closed or open; in an open
group, members may join or leave at any time, while
in a closed group, the membership does not change
● Therapeutic groups often arise when a professional
identifies several individuals within the agency’s
client population that share a common issue
Reciprocal Groups
● Reciprocal groups, or mutual aid groups, come
together out of a shared interest or experience
● Reciprocal aid groups differ from therapy
groups in that leaders can be professional or
nonprofessional, individual members do not
typically have specified treatment goals, and the
intervention occurs as a result of the members’
interpersonal relationships
● Examples include groups based around
addiction, diseases/health conditions, or
adoption
Task Groups
● Task groups work collaboratively toward
creating solutions to specific problems or issues
that affect a larger group
● Examples may include:
● Faculty, staff, and parents in a school working
together to put together IEPs
● A task force at a food pantry working together to
show appreciation to volunteers
Skills for Group Practice
● Engagement involves explaining group purpose;
establishing rules, norms, and boundaries; and
creating a safe environment
● Assessment involves monitoring individual progress
and group dynamics; balancing personal and group
goals; and remaining aware of group diversity
● Intervention involves establishing goals, documenting
the group agenda, and managing conflict and
disruption
● Evaluation and termination involve reviewing goals,
obtaining group member feedback, and obtaining
information on the success of interventions
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What is Group Therapy?
Key Points
● Group work has a long history in the field of
social work
● Many of the skills involved in individual and
family practice can be applied to group work
● Groups can be oriented toward tasks, social
change, remediation of problems, or mutual
aid
