Group leaders’ experiences in heterogenous grief support groups

ABSTRACT

Group processes in social work are complex. In this article, the authors examine how Norwegian leaders experience these processes during their grief support group work. The authors take a qualitative approach, specifically semistructured interviews. Seven group leaders participated. Using qualitative content analysis, the authors found new and supporting information as presented in two inter-related themes: (1) Achieving cohesion is a challenging balance and (2) Facilitating the group activity is linked to group leaders’ engagement and competence. The authors suggest that group work is enhanced by well-qualified leaders paying attention and understanding toward the ongoing group processes, homogenous groups, prescreening, individual timing, and group cohesion.

KEYWORDS:

• grief
• group process
• heterogeneous groups
• interaction
• facilitating
• social work

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the deacon for handpicking seven grief support group leaders who voluntarily participated in this study