Appendices

Home: Workers: Counselling Issues: Groupwork theory

• Appendix 1
• Appendix 2
• Appendix 3
• Appendix 4

Appendix 1

The course of adjustment to crisis from family to family and from crisis to crisis, family members are collectively numbed by the blow. They may meet friends at first, as if the blow had not fallen. Then, as the facts sink in, there follows a downward slump in organisation. People find it hard to meet their everyday responsibilities and tasks, resentments are smothered and expressed or converted into tensions that make for strained relations.

After the period of disorganisation, there follows a time during which things begin improving, new routines arrived at by trial and error or by thoughtful planning and sacrificing are put into effect; and some minimum agreements about the future are reached. Finally, a level of reorganisation is reached which may be at a similar level to that operating before the crisis, at a lower level or at a higher level than previously.

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Appendix 2

CRISIS PHASES AS OUTLINED BY HELEN MASSON AND MARCUS EROOGA (1990)

Phase 1

Inability to accept reality

• Feelings of shock, disbelief and inability to accept the reality of loss or that the abuse has indeed occurred.

Phase 2

Accepting reality

• Feelings of anger, guilt, despair and disorganisation
• Realisation of reality of loss and implications of this, such as loss of a life partner, friend or expectations regarding the future

Phase 3

Redefinition of self

• Developing new ways of coping "This stage is painful, as the individual has to relinquish the image of self and relationships which were held prior to the crisis".

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Appendix 3

Hopes:

• To get support and to know that what I'm feeling is the same.
• That I can gain further strength from listening to others. I may be able to contribute some of my experiences that could possibly help others.
• To feel support and not to be the only one going through this to regain self-esteem and hope.
• To feel less isolated. Help to cope with feelings of anger and panic. Contributing to bring about some changes in attitudes to sexual abuse.
• To find out how others in the group have coped in the last 3 months and longer.
• Share and express my anger, the sadness and to give and receive support. Perhaps share ideas about handling behavioural problems with the children.
• To find ways to deal with the anger I feel. and to find new ways to help my daughter.
• To meet a lot of friends who have been in the same situation as me. Talking about this I hope will make me deal with this huge problem and get on with my life.

Fears:

• It is hard to trust people now. I would like to be able to get that trust back.
• That the various feelings I feel I have worked through in 12 months will reappear and that perhaps I haven't grown as much as I thought I have.
• Being alone and hurt and so angry.
• That I will get upset. That I will feel let down.
• How I feel about what has happened to me, others in the group might not understand.

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Appendix 4

Identifying 3 important things learnt in the Group:

• That there are people worse off than me.
• How to cope with my feelings.
• To open up and share with others.
• That different people react to circumstances in very different ways.
• There are people in worse situations than my own.
• The system definitely needs to be changed.
• Support is out there.
• I'm not alone.
• That each of us have a sense of humour.
• Total compassion and empathy.
• To express feelings and emotions.
• Understanding of "system" and helplines available.
• To be myself.
• To love myself.
• I am worthy of all the love that I get.

2; How was the number of people in the group?

1. Too large 0.
2. Just right 7.
3. Too small 0.

3. Were the group facilitators knowledgeable and confident about the content?

1. Not at all 0.
2. Satisfactory 3.
3. Very good 4.

4; How did you find the facilitators approach and attitudes towards the participants and the group?

1. Unsatisfactory 0.
2. Satisfactory 2.
3. Highly satisfactory 5.

5. Which session did you benefit the most from and why?

• Last session
• Listening to what everyone feels about me.
• Last session was good.
• Session 3: Benefited from acknowledging the various responses of others.

From all:

• All the sessions.
• Sessions 3 and 6: Dealing with the perpetrator and looking after myself.
• A bit from each session.

6. Which sessions did you benefit the least from and why?

• 4 said "all were good"
• 3 wrote no answer.

7. In what way will having attended this group benefit or change you?

• Made me feel better about myself.
• I have learnt to listen to others, I do not feel as bitter towards the perpetrator.
• I feel much more together about my feelings.
• I wasn't angry with this before, I learned to get angry and get back at him for what he's done.
• Rebuild confidence and self-esteem.
• The strength to carry on no matter what.
• No answer.

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