A model for working with the group life cycle in each group session across the life span of the group

Abstract

Developmental stage theory has been well attended to by groupwork theorists. A neglected area in the group work literature is the stages, or phases, of group development in each group session. The paper provides a holistic model for sessional groupwork practice that includes tasks and skills in the beginning, middle and ending stages of individual sessions, problems typically encountered in sessional work, transition between sessional stages and connectedness between sessions.