Part I: Overall group development and the mutual aid process (Significant Events and Group Stages)
Describe how your group used components of mutual aid throughout the life of the group, from planning to termination. Provide specific examples from select group meetings to highlight your examples. Then discuss three significant events that occurred in the group sessions (i.e. a conflict, a powerful moment or transition point in the group) and what you learned from each.
Discuss the stages that took place in your group and what you learned about group stages that you can apply to future group work. How did your group change from the beginning/middle/ending stages of the group? What did you notice during the life of the group as your group moved through these stages of group development? How did the stages of your group development impact mutual aid? What do you feel were some specific turning points in your group during this exercise that moved your group from the beginning/middle/ending stages? What tools were used to evaluate your group during this process?
Part II: Individual reflection (Group Leadership and Group Membership)
1. While you were the group leader, what do you feel went well? What was your plan for leading your group, and what informed your plan? What would you do differently if you were leading the group again? As a group facilitator, what do you feel you learned about yourself during this process? What do you feel you learned about yourself from being a group member in this exercise? What were the benefits and challenges of being a group member and group leader using an online platform?
2. How did your thoughts/feelings change from the first group session to the last group session?
3. Did you feel your individual and group goals were met during this process? Why or why not?
4. What did you find most helpful and least helpful about this overall group experience?
5. Why is this learning important for you as a group social worker?
6. What was your overall experience with this group experience? What did you learn? How will this inform your practice in the future?
7. How was this model of mutual aid different from other models of group work, and what might you do differently as a result of this learning in your future practice?
