A previous thesis by Kerr and Kirkham (I963) indicated the extent to which caseworkers worked with groups in Vancouver. The present study continues this investigation, focussing on how caseworkers use themselves as change agents in such groups. An interview schedule was used to obtain from the workers the necessary data. This information was then classified according to the purpose and goals of the group, and the role of the worker, using the conceptual framework of Dr. J. Klein as model. The study revealed that each of the groups could be placed in one or the other of Klein's three categories: group education, social group treatment, or group psychotherapy. It was found that lack of clarity of purpose resulted in conflicting goals, with a consequent confusion in worker role. Most frequently, inexperience on the part of the agency or worker was the cause for confusion of purpose. It was seen that a written statement of purpose contributed to a clear perception of goal and role. The need for caseworkers to set conscious goals for each meeting was established. Particular attention was given the goals established in the first and final meetings: planned goals were common for the first meeting, inconsistency of appropriate goals common in the final meeting. Analysis of the difficulties on the part of most workers in their role in the group, suggest the following as possible causes: (1) lack of clarity of purpose; (2) lack of clarity of goals; (3) lack of knowledge of group process; (4) lack of necessary skills; and (5) confusion in professional identity. It is important that workers in the psychotherapy groups should have a clear perception of purpose and understanding of appropriate role. Some findings in relation to "open-ended groups" appear which agencies should take into consideration when planning such a group. Knowledge and training in social group work is obviously valuable for caseworkers if they are to work with groups; and the need is clear for further study to be undertaken of caseworkers working with groups. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

The focus of this study was on the development of the POSI-COPE group program for separated or divorced parents and an investigation of its efficiency and effectiveness. A survey of the literature in this area indicated that there was a paucity of systematic research in the field of group programs for separated parents coping with relationship dissolution. Utilizing a Program Development Model of research (Gottman and Markman, 1978), formative and summative strategies for planning and developing the POSI-COPE program were implemented. Through a distillation of major themes in the literature, the goals chosen for the development of the POSI-COPE program were: 1. To provide a supportive and reassuring group environment for participants, leading to a reduction in the intensity of anxiety experienced during the relationship dissolution process. 2. To share information about relationship dissolution and to help participants meet their needs through ventilation of feelings and effective problem-solving, leading to a reduction in the accumulation of negative feelings which inhibit the process of positive family change. 3. To encourage participants to be responsible for themselves and their behaviour and to focus on their strengths as parents (with or without custody of their children), leading to a greater sense of autonomy and self-esteem. The formative strategy for the development of the POSI-COPE program consisted of systematically describing the implementation of this program and monitoring its efficiency. The latter involved the use of self report post session and post program questionnaires. The feedback generated by these questionnaires confirmed that the participants had experienced the group environment as supportive and reassuring, that they had an opportunity to share and resolve some of their concerns and had gained information about the relationship dissolution process as well as affirming their identities as concerned parents. These findings suggested that the group leaders, the group discussions and the information provided were components that facilitated the success of the program. They also indicated the value of making minor modifications to the program and to extend its length. The summative strategy for the development of the POSI-COPE program consisted of assessing its effectiveness in achieving the three goals specified through the use of three measures, the State Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Adjustment to Change Scale and the Tennessee Self Concept Scale relative to a no treatment wait list control group. Analysis of covariance was used to test the hypotheses generated within this segment of the study. The results indicated that: 1. The POSI-COPE program did not meet the criteria for the reduction of the intensity of anxiety experienced during the relationship dissolution process. 2. The POSI-COPE program did not meet the criteria for the reduction of the accumulation of negative feelings which inhibit the process of positive family change. 3. The POSI-COPE program met two of the seven criteria for the achievement of a greater sense of autonomy and self-esteem through reducing Self Criticism Scores and increasing positive ratings of Personal Self. It did not meet the remaining five criteria of this goal which were to increase positive self ratings on Total Score, Physical Self, Moral-Ethical Self, Family Self, and Social Self. Reasons for, and implications of these results were discussed and suggestions for program change and for further research were described. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

M.Cur. (Psychiatric Nursing) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

No description available.

No description available.

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

The purpose of this research was to inquire into the subjective experience of participants of psychodynamic group art therapy.This investigation was designed to record participants' responses and understanding of their art-making and their artwork in therapy. The qualitative methodology of phenomenography was chosen to record the art-making process. The sample included three women from a women's centre and six university students. A single interview was conducted with each of the nine participants and included their artwork from the group art therapy. Group art therapy committed to a participant's personal development was effective in contributing to a resolution of personal conflicts, whereas group art therapy committed to professional development was effective in stimulating group dynamics, but the participants were guarded when discussing the personal content of their artwork. / Master of Arts (Hons) (Art Therapy)

This investigation was conducted to determine the effectiveness of Personal Achievement Skills (PAS), a structured group psychotherapy approach, on the productivity, social functioning, self-esteem, locus of control, and life satisfaction of individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury. Subjects for the study were recruited through disability advocacy organizations, state disability service agencies, and local colleges, universities, and rehabilitation centers. The research design utilized was a randomized, pretest, posttest control group design with 15 experimental and 14 control group subjects. A behavioral Activity Questionnaire was specially designed for the study to assess productivity. It included activities such as employment, educational pursuits, social and community involvement, volunteer work, and family responsibilities. Other measures included: (a) the Affiliative Tendency Scale, (b) the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, (c) the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale, and (d) the Life Satisfaction Index. The results of the investigation indicated that PAS group participants, in comparison to the control group, improved significantly on the self-esteem measure. No such improvement was found on the other measures in the study. With regard to the self-esteem finding, male subjects responded more favorably to the PAS approach than female subjects. The issues and concerns of using the PAS approach with individuals with physical limitations were discussed along with recommendations and modifications for future research. / Graduation date: 1992

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of sensory awareness training on self-actualization in a personal growth group. The null hypothesis pertained to the differences in self-actualization between treatment and control groups as measured by the Inner Directedness Scale of the Personal Orientation Inventory.The subjects were undergraduate students from a Midwest university who volunteered to participate in a Personal Growth Group. Based on their time availability, a.m. or p.m., the sample of 116 subjects was randomly assigned to four treatment, four control, or two reserve groups, so as to maintain proportional samples of females and males. Because of attrition prior to the group experience, some reserve subjects were randomly assigned to some treatment and control groups so that the final sample was composed of 88 subjects (57 females and 31 males). Forty-four of these subjects experienced one of four treatment groups (10 or 12 subjects per group) and the other 44 subjects experienced one of four control groups (10 or 12 subjects per group).Both experimental and control groups were one and one-half hour long personal growth groups designed to develop human potential, increase awareness of self and others, and to increase skills in interpersonal relationships. The difference between the groups was that the treatment groups received instructions which stressed, emphasized, and sought to stimulate aspects of sensory awareness, while the control group instructions minimized sensory awareness experiences.Immediately following the group session, all subjects were administered the Personal Orientation Inventory. The instruments were scored and the differences between the average raw scores of the Inner Directedness Scale of the POI were subjected to a univariate analysis of variance, with the differences considered significant at the .05 level. Preliminary to testing the null hypothesis, all other main effects had been controlled and computed F value for effect due to interaction between groups and sex (F = .329, p< .568) was not significant.control groups as measured by the I Scale of the POI. Therefore, it is concluded that, using this one and one-half hour scripted personal growth group approach, the sensory awareness. training did riot produce a significant positive change in self-actualization as measured by the aforementionedThe computed F value for the group effect (F = 1.273, p < .263) was not significant. Therefore, the null hypothesis—There will be no significant difference between the experimental and control group subjects’ average raw scores on the Inner Directedness Scale of the Personal Orientation Inventory, controlling for any effects due to fascilitator, time, and sex—was not rejected.Analysis of the data indicated that there was no significant difference in self-actualization between the experimental and control groups as measured by the I Scale of the POI. Therefore, it is concluded that, using this one and one-half hour scripted personal growth group approach, the sensory awareness training did not produce a significant positive change in self-actualization as measured by the aforementioned instrument scale. Use of the pre-structured script disallowed flexibility of sensory awareness training activities. The group members had to "flow" with the script, rather than the script "flow" to meet the needs of the group.Data was also collected through subjects completing a questionnaire concerning their reactions to the group experience. These secondary data were descriptive in nature and were not treated statistically. An analysis of these data indicated that both experimental and control group subjects valued the growth group experience and expanded their human potentials, especially in the areas of self and other awareness. Finally, these data indicated there may have been a lack of process difference between the experimental and control groups. Specifically, some aspects of sensory awareness training might have been reduced further in the control groups.

Thesis (M.A.) -- University of Texas at Arlington, 2008.