Bereavement in Adults

Bereavement in Adults

The working stage in group therapy comes after the settlement of the transition stage. During the working stage, the group leader anticipates that members feel comfortable such that they can open up. As such, the working phase is characterized by the group’s ability to get deeper into the issues that bring the group together. Therefore, the member can openly air out their emotions and thoughts triggered with ease by other member’s words. In the phase, honesty is a trait employed by the team members. It is because members have become fond of each other, and thus, they do not feel judged by speaking their minds.

During the working stage of grief group therapy, the leader directs the members through the utilization of techniques and strategies that arouse emotions. Among the interventions employed during the working, stage entails ensuring flexibility in the different roles, dealing with role conflicts, and motivating the group members. Motivation is an essential factor for the group. Thus, the motivation of the members aids in managing the grief in adults. It helps in the prevention of complications that accrue with grief. Similarly, group leaders ought to be sensitive to dual relations within the group. It is because it gives rise to role conflicts that jeopardize the group leader’s role.

Moreover, the group leader can ensure flexibility of roles by facilitating the adoption of different functions by the members in different contexts. Also, the leader ought to examine the dynamics of the tasks in ensuring the corrective interpersonal and emotional experience is achieved for the group. The group leader uses minimum words while allowing the patients to talk out their issues. Besides, a group leader during the working phase ought to reach out to members through the use of both verbal and non-verbal cues. As such, when an excellent interpersonal relationship is created amid the groups facilitates the gaining of trust.

There are a couple of therapeutic factors involved in the enhancement of group therapy. Among the factors include interaction, insight, self-disclosure, and acceptance. The interaction while dealing with grief in a group therapy results from the development of socializing techniques. Often, groups offer the grieving individual an opportunity to associate and develop relationships with other individuals who share in the same problem. Thus, the group members learn from individuals with related issues with their skills. The acquired skills are fundamental in guiding the individuals to control their emotions and further deal with the loss. Similarly, the skills are not only useful in the groups but outside. Thus, individuals can approach different situations they encounter while going about their daily errands.

Conclusively, participating in groups for bereaved adults is a necessary process that equips the members with multifaceted healing aspects. Thus, the group leaders, more so, counselors should work to ensure a favorable environment is available for the patients. When this is achieved, it will pool in more grieving patients into the group where they receive adequate psychological support to deal with issues within their milieu. Thus, group leaders should incorporate approaches that facilitate the like-mindedness of individuals attending group sessions. It is because it guides the individuals through the journey of grief. Ultimately, a successful grieving journey incorporates coping and transition into acceptance of the state.

References

American Psychological Association. (2016). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5) (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Author. ISBN-13: 978-0-8904-2555-8

Carlat, D. (2016). The psychiatric interview (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LLW). ISBN-13: 978-1496327710

Corey, G. (2015). Theory and practice of group counseling (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. ISBN-13: 978-1305088016