Positive Dynamics: A Systemic Narrative Approach to Facilitating Groups

(Paperback)

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Description

Group work is a common and valuable resource used in many areas: from therapy, education and training, to businesses and commercial organisations. At its best, group work is rich and productive, promoting open and honest communication; at its worst, it can become a source of failure and hostility. In this clear and engaging book, Margaret Henning focuses on the concrete practicalities of how to make groups vehicles for success, whether in supervision, therapy or self-development, in optimising team function, or in achieving specific organisational tasks. With a focus on the role of group facilitators, she lays out a model of group work based in systemic and narrative techniques generating optimal conditions for groups to achieve success. The book will appeal not only to counselling and psychotherapy practitioners and students, but to those in social work, education and management settings. Grounded in a firm psychological basis, Positive Dynamics pulls together what is known about creating a 'best possible' group culture and, informed by extensive experience, describes the principles and techniques for achieving it.

Reviews

This welcome, practical workbook offers a rich resource for practitioners wanting to develop their understanding of groups and group work. It clearly sets out and addresses the dilemmas that all group facilitators will find themselves facing at some point, and is packed full of ideas about how to develop the safety from which creative exploration is possible. The book is a wonderful resource that group facilitators will find themselves returning to time and again. - Deborah Page, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (UK)

Author Bio

Margaret Henning is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Systemic and Family Psychotherapist, previously in the NHS, now in private practice. She has been engaged in various forms of group facilitation for over 25 years, and is passionate about the positive effects of attending to inter-personal dynamics in any group context.