DQ2 response 5 week 4 449

Kaylynn Wester

There are three distinct groups types: Treatment groups, self-help groups, and task groups.  Treatment groups “focus on helping individuals to make changes by seeking to enhance their socioemotional well-being through the development of social skills, education, and therapy” (Hepworth, 2016).  Treatment groups often consist of subgroups like support groups, educational groups, growth groups, therapy groups, and socialization groups (Hepworth et al., 2016). 

In contrast self-help groups consist of members who have “central shared concerns, such as coping with addiction, illness, or obesity” (Hepworth et al., 2016).  Additionally, it’s notable to mention that many of these groups are led my nonprofessionals who have experienced and are managing the same issues as those presented in the group (Hepworth, 2016). 

Lastly, there are task groups that focus “on the group as a whole as the unit of change or the group as mechanism for influencing the individual members” (Hepworth et al., 2016).  Task groups are more structured around a specific issue or item, which members are generally assigned or elected producing a more formal environment (Hepworth et al., 2016).  Task groups be separated into three subtype groups: “1) Groups that are created to meet client needs, 2) Groups that are intended to meet organization needs, and 3) groups that address community needs” (Hepworth et al., 2016). 

In the scenario presented as self-help group maybe recommended.  The individual in the scenario is grief-stricken and holds a Christian worldview.  The individual maybe reluctant to receive help because the stigma that may be perpetrated by the Christian worldview.  In the self-help group it focus on interpersonal support and promoting an environment that enables an individual to regain charge on their lives (Hepworth et al., 2016).  Participating in a group that shares similar concerns and ideology will provide the individual with necessary social and emotional support to acknowledge, understand, and accept their feelings of grief.  In addition, the group may provide spiritual ways to help overcome grief and break the negative stigma that that maybe associated with grief.  Furthermore, the group would provide the individual with applicable tools manage and overcome grief using their faith.  Additionally, treatment groups like support groups, growth groups, and therapy groups would be suitable for addressing how to manage and overcome grief. 

Reference: 

Hepworth, D. H., Rooney, R. H., Rooney, G. D., & Strom-Godfried, K. (2016). Direct social work practice: Theory and skills (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage.