Working More Creatively with Groups

by Jarlath Benson

Overview

In this classic text, Jarlath Benson presents the basic and essential knowledge required to set up and work with a group. He looks at how to plan and lead a group successfully and how to intervene skilfully. As well as covering the different stages in the life of a group, this book emphasises the various levels of group experience and gives suggestions for working more creatively with them.

For this new edition, the author has added two new chapters reflecting how his own thinking and practice have developed since the book was first published. In the first chapter, he presents a clear systemic context for using groupwork in professional settings and agencies across the public sector and health care. In the second, he considers the importance of making agreements and contracts with the group which are as advantageous and acceptable as is possible for its membership in terms of involvement, power sharing and joint decision-making.

Each new chapter provides a series of clinical vignettes that facilitate each of these contexts and perspectives.

There is also an expanded section on how to conduct virtual and online groups and again a series of clinical vignettes that illustrate best practice. All other chapters have been brought up to date and expanded.

Working More Creatively with Groups is well known to countless social workers, psychologists, teachers, community workers and many other professionals who utilise and employ groupwork in their practice. This new edition not only provides the basic guide to groupwork but also shows how to move on to more in-depth and intensive work.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032999562
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/30/2025
Edition description:	5th ed.
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	6.88(w) x 9.69(h) x (d)

About the Author

Jarlath Benson is a psychotherapist working in private practice in Belfast and London for the past 40 years.

Table of Contents

1.Working with individuals in a group or Groupwork?  2.How to plan the group.  3.Setting up and Leading the group.  4.Why we make agreements and contracts with the group.  5.An introduction to group dynamics and process.  6.Work at the beginning stages of the group.  7.Work at the middle stages of the group.  8.Work at the later stages of the group.  9.Work at the ending stage of the group.  10.The foundations of creative groupwork.  11.The skills of creative groupwork.  12.The techniques of creative groupwork.  13.Working more intensively with groups.  14.Working more synthetically with the group.  15.Working with different types of groups.  16.How to set up and run a reflective practice group.  17.Setting up and running a supervisory group.  18.Why some groups don’t work and what you might do about it.  19.Keeping your practice going.

Editorial Reviews

‘The use of this book should be extended way beyond the social work community and practicing psychotherapists to those leading groups in all forms of organisations. For twenty years this text has become a fundamental benchmark for group workers who want to deeply understand the living nature of working and leading groups. This hugely important edition is a full testament to Jarlath's remarkable skills. We cannot recommend it highly enough’ - Joan and Roger H Evans, Co-Founders – Institute of Psychosynthesis, London

'This is an invaluable and essential Satnav to help guide both the neophyte and experienced group worker through the myriad complexities, vicissitudes and pitfalls of group work, and with the added bonus of two new up to date chapters offering helpful strategies and approaches about how to survive as a hard pressed professional in the highly stressed and under resourced culture of current Health and Social Care settings.' - Michael Kelly, UKCP Registered Psychotherapist and Senior Group Analyst, IGA London

‘This book is a core text for all our students and is a joy to read. Jarlath writes evocatively about the science and art of facilitating groups, generously sharing his rich and challenging experiences. This new edition contains two new chapters that explore reflective practice groups and why some groups don’t work. Jarlath inspires beginners and experienced facilitators to create spaces that encourage thinking and feeling and include the inner and outer worlds. At the heart of this book is a profound belief in the capacity of the individual and the group to engage in the mysterious process of relating and thinking to create more sustainable, creative, just and transformative relationships.' Dr Mary B Ryan, Head of Department, Co-Director Counselling and Adult Guidance Programme, Department of Adult and Community Education, Maynooth University

From the Publisher