group

Making the Most of Small Groups: Differentiation for All
$22.00
I love Debbie Diller's focus on kids working in pairs. I used her system for one year and the kids seemed to enjoy it and I thought it went very smoothly. The only thing that I did not like about it was that it is a lot of work and upkeep every week. If you are looking for something with a little less upkeep and "busy work" try the Daily 5.

Activate: An Entirely New Approach to Small Groups
$12.99
Whether you agree with Nelson Searcy or not, you will find his thoughts on small group life to be new and challenging. The author has thought through the entire small group process and its relevancy for today's church.

Searcy vigorously advocates reformulating the groups three times a year. And that may be the most challenging part of the book for pastors. Aren't we trying to build a sense of community into our church life? If so, then one may question why a church would advocate ending a small group season so quickly. As you read his thoughts in this area, you may find yourself becoming convinced that he has nailed his case for terminating small groups after such a short period of time together.

Searcy's main concern is to have his church grow while people are connecting with others through small groups. For his church, that means splitting up the small groups after just a few months of life so that all members connect and reconnect with even more people throughout the year. And, as the author points out, it gives the small group leaders a short break.

Not every church will find his approach appealing. It depends on where your church is headed. But in any case, all will find this book an interesting read that will cause you to think and rethink your small group organization.

Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, Fifth Edition
$55.00
The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy is a practical and informative book which all novice and seasoned psychotherapists should read. Yalom identifies interpersonal problems as a central reason why people are in need of psychotherapy. He illustrates Sullivan's use of the term "parataxic distortions," and the role it plays in group psychotherapy. Parataxic distortions characterize the individual's propensity to mangle their perceptions of others. It appears in an interpersonal situation when one relates to another on the basis of a portrayal occurring primarily in the former's fantasy, rather than on authentic characteristics of the other individual. According to Yalom, an effective psychotherapy group is one in which the primary focus is on the "here-and-now." In addition to recognizing one's parataxic distortions, concentrating on the here-and-now enables the patient to become more aware of how they interact with group members and can provide them with a more realistic view of how others perceive them. This eventually leads to improvement in their interpersonal relationships outside of the group, which in turn addresses many of their reasons for initially seeking therapy.

Yalom offers therapists several useful suggestions. In particular, he describes the most effective ways of handling "problem" patients (e.g. The Monopolist, The Silent Patient, The Characterologically Difficult Patient); the use of written summaries; therapist self-disclosure; the difference between long-term outpatient groups and short-term inpatient groups; and the importance of personal psychotherapy.

My only criticism is that there are portions of the book that are somewhat repetitive in explaining certain concepts (e.g., the selection of patients). A few of the case vignettes are repeated throughout the book and have been mentioned in other books of his, but I do not consider this a major drawback.

Not only do Yalom's concepts and recommendations make sense intuitively, he cites several research studies to support many of them. I have read most of Yalom's books and have found all of them (including his fiction novels) to be both engaging and educational. As a graduate student, I find the breadth and depth of his knowledge of psychology, philosophy and literature, along with his creativity and insight, to be quite inspiring.

103 Group Activities and Tips
$29.95
Used this book as resource for several my MBA courses.
It was great! Highly recommended.