The Personal in the Political: Exploring the Group Work Continuum from Individual to Social Change Goals

SUMMARY

This article analyzes three examples of group work practice in order to examine the relationship between internal and external change goals across the practice continuum. Using the conceptual framework of the British model of self-directed group work, the authors explore the potential of social action groups to meet individual, interpersonal, and social needs. The three practice illustrations include a poetry group in a service center for homeless and low-income adults, a peer support group in a recipient-directed mental health agency, and a community meeting group in a homeless shelter.

KEYWORDS:

• Group typologies
• social action
• social change
• self-directed group work