 | Group development in practice: Guidance for clinicians and researchers on stages and dynamics of change Group development, a key factor in treatment effectiveness, is covered in virtually every introductory text on group psychotherapy. This is the first book devoted exclusively to this process. In this volume, Virginia Brabender and April Fallon chronicle the rich history of group development research, provide a survey of modern theories of group development, and introduce the authors' own five-stage model of group development. The authors demonstrate the importance of group identity to the achievement of treatment goals through a series of vivid, real-life vignettes that illustrate the characteristic behavior of group members at each stage. They apply their developmental perspective not only to traditional unstructured groups but also to focused groups and groups emerging from postmodern frameworks, such as social constructionism and narrative psychology. In its comprehensive scope and attention to detail, Group Development in Practice is a vital resource for experienced group clinicians, therapists new to group psychotherapy, and for therapists leading all kinds of groups, from traditional, long-term unstructured groups to focused, time-limited groups in inpatient and outpatient settings, to the emerging world of cyber groups. It will also be of great use for researchers and those interested in developing or refining theoretical approaches to group psychotherapy. Virginia Brabender, PhD, ABPP (C1) , is the associate dean and director of the Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology of Widener University, Chester, Pennsylvania, where she also directs a concentration on group psychotherapy in the doctoral psychology program. She has run outpatient and inpatient groups, the latter at Friends Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she conducted research on time-limited groups. Dr. Brabender has authored or coauthored three prior books on group psychotherapy including Models of Inpatient Group Psychotherapy with April Fallon, and she is on the editorial board of the International Journal of Group Psychotherapy , for which she serves as editor of the video review section. Dr. Brabender is a fellow of the American Psychological Association's Division 49 (Group Psychology and Group Psychotherapy). April Fallon, PhD , is a member of the psychology faculty at Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, California, and an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Fallon received her PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1981. She has collaborated with Virginia Brabender on several other books, including Models of Inpatient Group Psychotherapy and Awaiting the Therapist's Baby: A Guide for Expectant Parents and Essentials in Group Psychotherapy . She has also taught and written on topics such as psychological assessment, women's issues, body image, and aggression. |
