Group Work: Process and Practice

by Marianne Schneider Corey

Ninth edition

Genres: Counselling, Psychology, School, Textbooks, Nonfiction, Grad School, Reference

Paperback

Published January 1, 2015

Reviews

[Jon De · Rating 1 out of 5]

They need to learn to shorten what they say. Constantly repeating themselves does not make them sound smarter or more intellecutal. Get to the point. Chapters are entirly to long and you can loose the point of the chapter by time your halfway through.

[Kendra Jones]

You best believe I’m putting my grad school textbooks on here this year. too much time for them not to count

[Maide Karzaoğlu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hastanede grup terapilerine başlamadan önce detaylı bilgi için okuduğum pek çok kitaptan en başarılısı. Tam bir rehber kitap. Daima elimin altında olmasına özen göstereceğim.

[Aimee J Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my textbook for Group Therapy. This is never going to be my specialty field of study, but I am glad to have read it.

It touches on every aspect of group therapy from theories to various types of groups, to being the group leader/counselor/co-leader, developing your own group, ethical and legal group therapy issues, confidentiality issues, the leader's role within the group and their limits and boundaries, and much more.

Very basic and reader-friendly. A lot to soak up in 8 weeks! Was a very difficult course.

[Kari Schooley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. I enjoyed reading it but felt that it repeated the same concepts over and over while lacking depth. I plan to facilitate groups when I become a counselor, so this is a textbook I’ll keep on hand.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not really sure how to review a textbook. I found the DVD that went along with the book the most helpful part of the package.

[Scott Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good text which describes the attributes and skills needed to be a group leader in psychological counseling.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This textbook was PACKED with information but it could have been cut down a lot. There was a lot of rephrasing, rewording, and restating.

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative book about leading counseling groups. A lot of very useful information.

[Brandt · Rating 4 out of 5]

In its tenth edition, this book is a resource for facilitators that summarizes the practice and essential concerns present in working with an assortment of groups. Although highly practical as a resource, it also explains the important constructs and concepts of group theory.

For this tenth edition, all the chapters have been improved and modernized to reflect current developments and reasoning in the group process and practice. Moreover, the author’s have placed special care in aligning the information provided, with the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) 2016 standards. As a result, learning objectives, for each chapter, are matched with the CACREP 2016 standards.

This book is designed to serve as a primary textbook for both graduate and undergraduate students who are taking courses in group counseling and/or leadership. Additionally, this book may serve as a valuable reference for this in the social work, rehabilitation, teaching, correctional, and family and marriage counseling fields.

Ultimately, I will keep this book, and refer to it often, as a solid reference when asked to facilitate a group.

Happy Reading!

[Dana Libhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't mind reading this textbook. I bought it on Kindle, which I've never done with a textbook before, and I found it to be very easy to navigate and use. The topics are very well organized and the information is presented in an approachable way. One of the most reader-friendly CMHC textbooks I've read so far.

**As an important note, this particular textbook is only viewable on desktop, tablet, and phone Kindle apps, it is not compatible with a Kindle e-reader. This did not bother me because I think a textbook would be much harder to use on a Kindle device format, so I was happy to use it on my Macbook and iPad.

[Abigail G · Rating 4 out of 5]

While being a textbook I found many things to think about pertaining to interpersonal communication. I think the thing that amazed me the most was realizing how many people that I know, especially in religious settings, that are expected to practice these skills without receiving any additional training outside of their personal experience in groups. The skills and practices taught in this book are useful for anyone and everyone especially people in ministry.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another of this semester's textbooks finished. Lots of information packed into a modest number of pages. The thing I liked best about the book was that it offered practical applications for group settings that would be equally useful in individual counseling. The group proposal section at the end was a great description of putting the things taught in the rest of the text into action.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great potential but dreadful writing

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basic and fairly comprehensive treatment of the group counseling context.

[Rose Boyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I especially liked this book. Very helpful in running groups. It also varies from Ed 9 which I read last year and also liked. Ed 10 gets deep into the skill of running psychotherapy groups.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent text and resource about the topic of leading therapeutic groups.

[Clivemichael · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent resource/textbook filled with useful suggestions, examples and references

[Holyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, I read the 8th edition. Helpful outline for beginning to learn about group process and dynamics...

[D.l. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good basic textbook on group counseling

[Abigail Bliss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to learn about the stages of group therapy and the nuances that lie within each one!

[Caitlin King]

(For work)

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

a textbook!

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a lot of info that could be found on a simple google search, and a lot of common sense knowledge

[Marcus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Corey & Corey set out to consolidate their years of group therapy experience into a shorter reference material. Their end product is Groups: Process and Practice, which behaves somewhat like a reference text. The authors’ experience shines brightly throughout the text. Mixed with the reference feel, the text features strong elements that mentor, guide, and share stories. The authors write with confidence and authority; any reader quickly gets the sense that the authors speak from the chair of experience as well as theoretical knowledge.

The strongest quality of Groups: Process and Practice is its organization. The editing team and publishing company should be proud! The book is divided into three parts: “Introduction: Basic Issues in Group Work,” “Group Process: Stages of Development,” and “Application of Group Process to Schools and Community Agency Settings.” The first part looks at Group therapy as a whole and works under an assumption that the reader knows little about the Group Process field. The second part looks at the lifespan of the group, spending extensive time in each theoretical “stage” of the therapy group experience. Finally, the third part applies the concepts in part two in specific group content relating to schools and community agency settings.

Groups: Process and Practice’s strength lies in its organization, clarity, and accessibility. Everything about the book and its content communicates availability, openness, and user-friendliness. Corey & Corey’s writing language is down-to-earth, relatable, and personal. Readers feel as if they are sitting with the counselors themselves receiving an overview and mentorship when applicable. Colors, quality pages, and easy to understand section titles structure the information in such a way that navigation is an ease!

The structured content is also quite thorough. The text assumes little to no knowledge about the group therapeutic process and would serve as an excellent resource in any introductory setting. The thoroughness begins from the get-go with an overview of the group types before looking at a theoretical understanding of the counselor/therapist profession in relation to the group. Before long, the authors are discussing the nature of group evolution in stages and eventually applying the concepts to practical, real life settings with real life suggestions and examples. If the topic pertains to Group Therapy, it’s likely that the text has something to say about it – even if it’s introductory.
Another strength worth mentioning is the multicultural thread woven throughout the data. There are several inserts that apply the discussion in a multicultural setting. This is a timely discussion for a book published in 2014, a year just before controversial racial headlines that began late 2014. If the book is indeed being written as an introductory text to budding counselors, this is welcome additional content!

The strengths that bolster Groups: Process and Practice, however, are also its weaknesses. Because the text is written to serve as an introduction to young counselors as part of early education, critics affirm there is not much depth to the content. The authors write to cover a wide range of topics rather that going deep on specific content often. This leaves readers asking many “Wait, what about…” questions since there is so much unexplored content and territory. Sections each average only about 30–50 pages, and the pace may feel so fast at times that thorough, adequate discussion eludes readers.

Another fair critique is the amount that Corey & Corey tend to repeat themselves. By the time readers get to the second section, the data begins to feel redundant. “The leaders set the culture,” “Be sensitive to members,” and “Communicate expectations” are three main themes that are repeated again and again in different words. This makes the text feel like it’s stretching for content. When this is combined with a “shallow” feeling, the text could leave some readers frustrated.
Groups: Process and Practice serves as a strong, well-organized, clear and articulate overview and introductory text that is useful as a referential launching pad into further study and practice. The text won’t be world-shaking or groundbreaking when it comes to material or insight, but it will give a valuable overview and viewpoint into the field itself. All in all, the text was a great application of class material.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely one of the easier and more pleasant reads for my school counseling program. I enjoyed the many examples and real-life applications they provided. This was actually the first book in my program that I have done extensive highlighting in! Someone complained that the Coreys repeat their information a lot but I rather preferred that about the book. I didn't feel that it insulted my intelligence, but I was going with the knowledge that if it is repeated, it is likely incredibly important. The book is broken down into the sections very logically and is great not only for a text book, but also for a reference to general aspects of group counseling.

[Carolynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written text, and full of valuable information for the future counselor, although the Coreys do tend to go on and on and repeat themselves as if they were being paid by the word. It can be very challenging to stay focused as the chapters seem to go on forever, and easy to miss valuable insights as your eyes glaze over.

The last few chapters include plans for running many types of groups. The DVD of actual group sessions, with the Corey's adding commentary after each session were the truly helpful part of this book. I really did learn a lot by watching how they managed group trust and conflict in group.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the book we used as a textbook for my Group Process course at Ivy Tech Community College. The book provides great ways to understand the dynamics of how a group properly functions. At times, as with all or most textbooks, it seems a bit long, but the information provided goes in great detail on how to properly run a successful group on a wide range of topics. This book provides those individuals that never believed they could run a successful group the means to do so. If you are in the Social Work/Human Services field this is a must read so you can also be adequately prepared to run a successful group.

[Ms Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has prepared me to lead some pretty awesome groups during the school year. Lots of ideas on how to get the students to do the work and I only mediate and facilitate to make sure they understand.

[Melissa Lee-Tammeus · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great new edition to add to the older version. I love this team of authors and think they are the best in their field. Very useful information and I know I will refer to this numerous times in the future.