TOPIC: REPORT ON A GROUP SESSION

Introduction

The approach adopted in helping individuals to achieve an optimal state of personal,

social, and emotional wellbeing by social workers or mental health services is the recovery-

oriented approach. The recovery approach dictates that person should be supported to make their

own choices, listened to, and treated with dignity and respect. as such, group work, group

therapy, group counseling, and treatment group (peer support group) has become a crucial factor

in the assessment or interventions for illnesses prevention, treatment of mental disorders, care

and the provision of support needed by individuals.

Group work is a goal-direct activity with minor treatment, primary level of prevention is

needed and not as a form of treatment and task groups aimed at meeting socioemotional needs

and accomplishing the task. Furthermore, group work is regarded as a problem-solving measure

to encourage individuals with similar concerns to develop solutions together and learn from each

other. The article group works in a healthcare setting by Kelly, 2017 gives a clear and concise

approach to group work and its dynamics in healthcare and how group work strengthens and

gives support to individuals who have experienced psychological illness or challenges with the

recovery approach, problem-based approach.

Treatment groups or psychoeducational groups provide individuals with the opportunity

to gain information regarding their health and well-being through didactic presentations, group

discussions, forums, support groups (online or face-to-face), and experimental exercises.

Furthermore, the treatment group offers members all the benefits groups have to offer, including

empathy, feedback, mutual aid, and support. For example, support groups help members identify

coping strategies for dealing with stressful life events or traumatic experiences such as
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depression and bipolar disorder. This form of group intervention or treatment can assist

individuals in conceptualizing and harnessing their hope by experiencing and witnessing their

hopes, dreams, and success and recognizing the commonalities among group members.

Therefore, the group counseling or psychoeducational group session attended was an online peer

support group facilitated by Support Groups Central.

Group counseling or Psychoeducational group session attended

The Support Groups Central allows individuals to access various organizations that

provide services and assistance. The organization source on this support group site was

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) which is an online support group that provides

people living with depression and bipolar disorder a place to share experiences, discuss coping

skills, and offer hope to one another. In addition, each participant follows their unique path to

wellness and chooses to make that journey in the company of others heading in the same

direction or requiring the same coping assistance. The DBSA is a peer support group that is a

formally organized group of individuals coming together to share advice and support related to

their experiences of illness. However, the traditional presence of the group would be face-to-

face, but due to COVID-19, the forum is now online, which is facilitated by service providers or

peers.

Before participating in the group session, a formal email was sent to the DBSA

organization requesting permission to be an observer in one or more of the peer support group

sessions. The CEO/ Co-Founder is permitted to participate with a confidentiality clause form, a

request that acknowledgment must be made, and the organization policy must be adhered to, for

example, “When joining the support group central platform, I will not identify myself as an

observer, and I will participate in the group as authentically as possible.”

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The group session attended on Saturday, July 9, 2022, was the DBSA Black Community

Mental Health Support group which a Black peer support specialist led. The online peer support

group was launched specifically for the Black community living with a mood disorder or

believing they have a mood disorder. The group was established to create an environment of

mutuality and a culturally sensitive space for people willing to share questions, concerns, stories,

and coping strategies. The group session was an informal online setting comprising twelve

individuals, including the peer group facilitator. It is a homogenous group (Black ethnicity) who

shared similar experiences in depression and mood swing disorders. The meeting session

occurred twice per week.

The session starts with the facilitator introducing herself, reminding individuals of the

check-in process, and stating the agenda or format of the session. The facilitator went on to

notify the members of the confidentiality clause and request the person to read the DBSA

welcome statement and the DBSA Support Group guidelines, such as “we are equal” and “it is

everyone’s responsibility to make the discussion groups a place to share.” Therefore, based on

the guidelines, the dynamics of the group are an emotional peer support group where members

have a sense of comfort, empathy, and reassurance. Also, the group has established a social

connection in and outside the informal session. The facilitator and other group members

demonstrated excellent, empathetic listening skills of being attentive, non-judgmental, rephrasing

the content, and reflecting on feelings.

The group has been formed for a while now; therefore, the group leader has established a

leadership intervention from its conception with open-ended questions, for example, “how was

your week at work,” clarifying questions, being very empathetic, and allowing for each member

to reflect on their achievement of the week and how that made them feel. In addition, no non-
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verbal behaviors were identified, or any critical incident occurred in which the leader or

facilitator had to respond; however, throughout the session, the facilitator tried to encourage and

empathize continuously.

The core purpose of the session was for individuals to reflect on their week. How their

emotional and psychological state was during the week and how they were able to cope, and

whom they could call upon at the moment of the break for support by assuming most members

of the session as the facilitator number, so it is safe to say they communicate with her for help.

Furthermore, the peer support group involves interpersonal and task behavior. As such, the group

process encapsulates Tuckman’s stages of group development of forming the initial stage; the

facilitator helps members feel comfortable by breaking the ice and emphasizing established

ground rules.

In the storming stage, the group members started to work and interact with each with

little or no struggles for status within the group. Everyone is equal and respected. Also, the

DBSA organizer pre-established the norming stage, and the facilitator re-emphasizes the

guidelines for every session upon the start. Furthermore, the performance is highly effective in

meeting the requirement and goals of the group. During the adjourning phase, the facilitator

reminds members of the next session and ends with the celebration of each member's

achievement for the week, as well as informs members of the latest offers that are out there

which can assist with medical needs.

The peer support group intervention for mood disorder or depression can decrease

isolation (direct effect), reduce the impact of stressors, increase sharing of health and self-

management tips or ideas, provide positive role modeling, and may empower group members to

play a more active role in their self-care. Based on the observation of the group, the interventions
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of the peer group support are highly effective; members seem less stressed, interactive, have

social abilities, and empowered, and show the sign that they are fighting the emotional and

psychological impact that comes with everyday life that causes them to be depressed or show

sign or mood disorder. Also, members are delighted and looking forward to the next session and

interaction with their peers.

In observing the group, there are very few personal biases that as influenced by the

perspective of the peer group session. However, my self-awareness was very tentative, and I can

associate my subjective experiences with being affected by mood disorders or depression.

Throughout the session, I had to regulate the impulses to respond, intervene in the meeting, or

share subjective experiences. However, the session deems a little wanting and unexpected for

example, the session was not grouped interactive but with one student to facilitator interaction. I

was expecting group interaction (questions and responses by a member or other members of the

peer group) and sharing ways in which people can empower each other.

The peer support group emphasizes one of Saint Leo University's core values, which is

respect: "In the spirit of Jesus Christ, we value all individuals’ unique talents, respect their

dignity and strive to foster their commitment to excellence in our work. Our community strength

depends on the unity and diversity of our people.” The DBSA peer support group guidelines and

welcome statement represent similar aspects of Saint Leo's core values of respect for the

members of the peer group session. For example, “one person speaks at a time” respect the

individual rights to speak, “we are equal” the acceptance of cultural differences, sexual

orientation, gender non-conformity, social and racial differences and promote acceptance.

Having a cohesive and comfortable peer group session with respect towards each group member,

no matter the cultural competence and privacy, are critical to the success of the group's goals.
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The in-class perception of group work is quite dynamic and has its share of conflicts and

challenges when interacting with peers. However, despite some challenges, the group has come

to comprise and develop a respect for each other cultural, ideology, and intellectual differences

and approaches to completing a task to achieve the ultimate goal.

References
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Evett, D., Hutchinson, K., Bierbaum, M., Perikic, N., Proctor, C., Rapport Frances, & Shih, P.
(2021). Peer support and social network groups among people living with epilepsy: a
scoping review. Epilepsy and Behavior, 1-10.

Ezhumalai, S., Muralidhar, D., Dhanasekarapandian, R., & Nikketha, B. (2018). Group
Interventions. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 514-521.

Kelly, B. (2017). Group work in health care settings. In G. Charles, L. Gutierrez, & M. Galinsky,
Handbook of Social work with groups (pp. 203-219). New York: Guilford Publications.

Perkins, R., Atkins, J., Hunter, N., Repper, P., & Robertson, P. (2015). Real lives: promoting
recovery through personalization and peer support. Mental Health and Social Inclusion,
22-29.

Pfieffer, P., Heisler , M., Piette , J., Rogers, M., & Valenstein, M. (2011). Efficacy of peer
support interventions for depression: a meta-analysis. Gen Hosp Psychiatry, 29-36.

Richert, T. (2018, Aug 6). Peer Support: Helping others, healing yourself. Retrieved from
National Alliance on Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/August-
2018-/Peer-Support-Helping-Others-Healing-Yourself#:~:text=A%20peer%20support
%20group%20is,their%20experiences%2C%20struggles%20and%20challenges.

Strand, M., Eng, L., & Gammon, D. (2020). Combining online and offline peer support groups in
community mental health care settings: a qualitative study of services users experience.
International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 1-12.

Support Groups Central. (2022). DBSA Online Support Groups. Retrieved from DBSA Black
Community Mental Health Support Groups:
https://www.supportgroupscentral.com/responsive/member_secure/clt_addtllinks_meetin
gs_details.cfm?cid=18&rno=31&mdno=215&mno=29452