An Introduction to Group Work Practice: International Edition (7e)

This comprehensive revised edition offers the most up-to-date research available and continues to stress the importance of developing skills in group-work.

Students receive a thorough grounding in areas that vary from treatment to organizational and community settings. Numerous case studies, practice examples, and guiding principles add to the ease and readability of this popular text.  Content is tied to the  competencies needed for generalist and specialized social work practice with groups.

PART I: THE KNOWLEDGE BASE OF GROUP WORK PRACTICE

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Historical Developments

Chapter 3: Understanding Group Dynamics 

Chapter 4: Leadership 

Chapter 5: Leadership and Diversity 

PART II: THE PLANNING STAGE

Chapter 6: Planning the Group

PART III: THE BEGINNING STAGE

Chapter 7: The Group Begins

Chapter 8: Assessment

PART IV: THE MIDDLE STAGE

Chapter 9: Treatment Groups: Foundation Methods 

Chapter 10: Treatment Groups: Specialized Methods

Chapter 11: Task Groups: Foundation Methods

Chapter 12: Task Groups: Specialized Methods 

PART V: THE ENDING STAGE

Chapter 13: Ending the Group’s Work

Chapter 14: Evaluation

• Updated! Reference material provides the most up-to-date research on group practice
• Expanded! Content on evidence-based practice
• NEW! Provides comprehensive and coherent treatment of group dynamics for the group leadership
• NEW! Connects content to the core competencies in EPAS of CSWE
• Updated! Content on virtual groups and the use of technology in group work
• Expanded! A coherent and organized overview of group work practice from a generalist practice perspective
• Updated! Typologies illustrating group practice with task and treatment groups at various levels, including organizational and community group work. 
• Updated! Emphasis on three focal areas of practice: (1) the individual group member, (2) the group as a whole, and (3) the environment in which the group functions.

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• Provides a thorough grounding in group dynamics and working with people in both task- and treatment-oriented groups, in a variety of settings.
• Chapters on the history of groups, group dynamics, group leadership, and diversity help the reader build a solid knowledge base about groups.
• Chapters in Part II follow the order of the group development stage model used in social work (planning, beginning, assessing, middle , ending, and evaluating) and provide useful practice skills for students working with groups in each stage of their development.
• Includes the latest research on groups and developments in the field of group work, providing broader and deeper treatment of the stages of work with groups.
• Case studies from diverse practice settings illustrate valuable content to help students make the transition from theory to practice.
• Additional content on technology and group work including telephone and computer-mediated groups draws students' attention to methods of outreach to serve isolated clients through the use of technology.
• Content on values, ethics, and practice standards developed by the Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups informs students of the developments in this important area of group work (Ch. 1 & Appendix A).

Ronald W. Toseland, University at Albany, State University of New York      Dr. Ronald W. Toseland is Director and Professor, Institute of Gerontology, School of Social Welfare, University at Albany, State University of New York. He holds an MSW from Fordham University and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.  He has published 6 books and over 110 articles and book chapters, many of which have focused on clinical practice with the frail and chronically ill older adults and their family caregivers. An edited book (with David Haigler and Deborah Monahan) Education and Support Group Programs for Family Caregivers: Implications for Practice, Research and Policy is in press (N.Y.:Springer). Dr. Toseland is internationally recognized for his research on social work practice with groups and effective interventions for problems faced by aging individuals. His research findings have been featured in Congress and internationally. Dr. Toseland has received more than $10 million in grants for research. He was awarded the Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work Career Achievement Award in 2007 for outstanding lifelong contributions’ the Society for Social Work and Research Distinguished Achievement Award in 2008 and was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare in 2010.

Robert F. Rivas, Siena College     Robert F. Rivas is Professor of Social Work at Siena College in Albany NY.  He has published 2 books, several articles, book chapters and conference papers.  He holds a BA Degree from New Mexico Highlands University and an MSW degree from Arizona State University.  His practice has focused on individual and group work with children and families as well as work with Native Americans.  Professor Rivas has served on both the Commission on Accreditation and he Board of Directors for the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).   He has also been honored by the Association of Baccalaureate Program Directors in Social Work (BPD) and was awarded the BPD Presidential Medal of Honor in 2008 for his service to this organization.  Professor Rivas has consulted extensively with social work education programs across the country, specializing in curriculum development and accreditation services.