Introduction
You have decided to start a new psychotherapeutic group and need a manual. Instead of finding one, you are going to write your own! Decide on a focus for your new group, considering age, type of group work, mental health issues to be addressed, and so on. You can choose any type of group you want, be it process, self-help, psychoeducational, or any other.
Ideas for coming up with a group:
What’s missing in your community?
What kind of group do you wish you had as a parent or caregiver?
Ask your preceptor if they conduct group therapy and know of any group therapy needs in the community.
What kind of patients does your preceptor specialize in (such as eating disorders)?
What is something you are interested in that you could see yourself conducting a group in after graduation?
What vulnerable populations are in your community?
Over the next nine weeks, you will develop a comprehensive manual detailing your development of this group. This is an opportunity to be creative while grounding your proposed group in the established research and literature on group work and your target population.
The manual should be functional and appropriate for eight one-hour sessions. For this assignment, each stage will last for two sessions, although in practice, groups typically last longer, with the middle stages taking up a lot more time. Information should be practical and written in an explicit manner so that others could facilitate the group.
Information on each session should be detailed. Explain how each session’s activities or process is relevant to the given stage of group formation and development. Create at least two tools for your members to complete at the beginning and at the end of your group to evaluate the effectiveness of the group experience. You can also create other tools and activities.
Written assignments starting in Week 7 will help you develop your manual. You must integrate feedback from your instructor on those papers into your final manual. The manual must be your original work. Any submitted work that draws heavily on previously developed and published material will receive a failing grade. However, you can draw from such material to enhance your original idea. All such material must be referenced.
Samples
Please see Group Manual Examples (Links to an external site.) for exemplars.
Elements
Your manual must include the following sections and elements.
Cover Page
Name
Name of your group
Title of the course
Date submitted
Introduction
Pregroup Issues
Type of group
Topic or theme
Target population and age
Relevance
Dates and times
Qualifications for the leader
How and where the group will be advertised
Selection and screening
Informed consent procedure
Ground rules
Initial Stage
Structure for each of the sessions
A description of two tools for your group members to complete at the beginning and at the end of your group to evaluate the effectiveness of the group experience. You must develop these tools yourself.
Any other tools and resources used during these sessions
Transition Stage
Structure for each of the sessions
Any tools and resources used during these sessions
Working Stage
Structure for each of the sessions
Any tools and resources used during these sessions
Final Stage
Structure for each of the sessions
Any tools and resources used during these sessions
References
At least five current scholarly articles that support the rationale and structure of the group
Appendices including, but not limited to:
Screening sheet
Informed consent document(s)
Two tools for your group members to complete at the beginning and at the end of your group to evaluate the effectiveness of the group experience
The manual does not have to be in APA format (except for references), but you must include a cover sheet that includes your name, the name of your group, the title of the course, and the date. Spelling, grammar, sentence structure, and references will all be evaluated. The project must reflect graduate-level work and a level of knowledge of group work and process appropriate to a graduate-level PMHNP student.
Timeline
Week 7: Decide on the focus, develop the group information, and work on the pregroup issues in Assignment 7.1: New Psychotherapeutic Group Pregroup Issues.
Week 8: Work on Sessions 1 and 2 in Assignment 8.1: Initial Stage.
Week 9: Work on Sessions 3 and 4 in Assignment 9.2: Transition Stage.
Week 10: Work on Sessions 5 and 6 in Assignment 10.1: Working Stage.
Week 11: Work on revising your manual so far.
Week 12: Work on Sessions 7 and 8 in Assignment 12.1: Final Stage.
Week 13: Revise your complete manual, including references, tools, and appendices. Do not simply collate your papers but revise them into a cohesive manual including all required elements. Be sure to incorporate feedback from your instructor on the papers.
Week 14: Submit the final manual.
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