Intro
In my perception, group work is a method of working with people in groups (two or more people) for personal growth, the enhancement of social functioning, and for the achievement of socially desirable goals. Furthermore, groups are mostly presented with a team leader or a social worker who facilitates the group to guide and accomplish one or more goals. Although my interpretation of group work are very similar from the textbook, that I was assigned for class, my family, school, church, and social experiences also played a huge part in helping me construct it. In addition, those experiences not only gave me further knowledge, but skills to help me facilitate and accomplish group work tasks. As a facilitator and as a future social worker, my idea of a successful/effective group would be a group with a positive dynamic; where each individual in the group are able to open up, share and embrace their culture, interests, stories, and backgrounds. That way the group is able to trust and support each other and respect each other based on their values and ideas.
Moreover, many people benefit from group work; a few are domestic violence, sexual abuse, anger management, etc. Groups like these and countless more are very crucial in our society because it provides structure for our communities to build on, as well as, meeting the individuals own socio-economical needs and/or accomplishing a goal that is set. Not to mention, improving yours and your group’s ideas so that the task becomes more efficient/successful. Lastly, groups help bring people together who feel alone in their struggle, to be able to build a healthy relationship, and help educate each other and our youth to participate in this impenetrable social system.
Values
Although a lot of treatment/task groups are mandated and a lot of others are voluntary, growing up I learned that if you accomplish certain