Reference no: EM133526625

Adam is leading a group for teenagers transitioning out of foster care in a short-term residential treatment facility. The group is not going well. So far, he's let them talk about anything they want to talk about; they have talked about movies, music, and video games they like. Since it is an open group with members coming and going, he feels he cannot really focus on anything due to so much time spent introducing new members and saying good-bye to departing members. He and the members find the group to be boring. He took this group over from another therapist, Donte, who called the group a process group. When Adam asked what that meant, Donte said the members process any thoughts they are having. Adam asked Donte about his training and Donte reported he had a bachelor's degree in psychology and had been to one three-hour training on groups where they focused mostly on doing exercises. When asked what the purpose of the group was, Donte said he hadn't really thought about it. Adam sat in on the group three times before taking it over and has been leading it the same way Donte was. Adam wants the group to be better, so he asks a friend of his who is a counselor what he would do. She says she would start by figuring out the kind of group and the purpose.

1. While contemplating the direction of the group, Adam realized that he had not thought out the purpose. Discuss what is wrong with the purpose of this group.

2. Adam wants to change the purpose of the group but is not sure if that is appropriate. What advice would you give Adam?

3. Adam wonders if this group can have multiple purposes. What would you tell Adam?