·         avoid titles, judgments or labels 

·         be aware of your own social location and need for power

(Larson, 2008)

Social work profession with its theory, practice and research and with a holistic approach needs to develop a primary alternative to mainstream mental health approaches (Morley, 2003).

Women with severe mental illnesses need an approach that takes strengths from more than one approach and the resulting intervention becomes a more well rounded holistic approach, 

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Larson, G. (2008). Anti-oppressive Practice in Mental Health. Journal Of Progressive Human Services, 19(1), 39-54. doi:10.1080/10428230802070223

Lindsay, T. & Orton, S. (2014). Groupwork practice in social work, 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Milner, J., & Myers, S. (2017). Working with violence and confrontation using solution focused approaches: creative practice with children, young people and adults. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers

Okech, J. E. A., Pimpleton, A. M., Vannatta, R., & Champe, J. (2015). Intercultural Communication: An Application to Group Work. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 40(3), 268–293. doi: 10.1080/01933922.2015.1056568

Pelech, W., Basso, R., Lee, C.D. & Gandarilla, M. (2016). Inclusive group work. New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press.

Svavarsdóttir, S. J., Ólafsdóttir, K. V., Sturludóttir, E., & Júlíusdóttir, S. (2012). Psychiatric Group Work in Social Skill Training. Social Work with Groups, 35(2), 103–123. doi: 10.1080/01609513.2011.602221

Toseland, R.W. & Rivas, R. F. (2012). An introduction to group work practice. Toronto: Pearson Higher Education.

Zastrow, C.H. (2009). Social work with groups, 7th ed. Brooks/Cole: Belmont, CA.

 

Group leaders need to face rather than avoid the diversity of mental health issues and acknowledge it, practicing with an awareness of distinguishing characteristics and continuing to inquire and understand the personal unique values of the different members.

Some members of groups do not take confidentiality very seriously and this can prevent members with mental health issues from engaging and sharing.  Creating better group cohesion helps to humanize the members, so that they feel more empathy and concern for each other and understand the vulnerability of sharing.  

"By expressing and working out their dissatisfactions, group members can assess their beliefs, values and opinions.  Therefore, verbal conflicts can lead to personal growth and encourage innovation and creativity." (Zastrow, 2009, p. 1).

There is an indigenous group technique called inner circle/outer circle.  A few members go into the center of the healing circle (other members around them) and this creates the feeling of being ‘within’ the healing circle, supported and protected.

“Implementation of inner circle/outer circle in the working stage of group development could serve as the primary intervention in helping group members clarify and work toward their goals personally as well as within the group dynamic.” (Garrett, Garrett, & Brotherton, 2001, p 27).

"……….the planned activities in a group should follow logically from the aims and objectives of the group, which themselves derive from the identified unmet needs of the members……."(Lindsay, & Orton, 2014, p. 1).

A mutual aid group has a goal to support collective resourcefulness and innovation, hopefully reducing the necessity for professional intervention, allowing the worker to share power and collaborate with members.

"Although, psycho-education is a best practice in working with families in mental health ………it can be patronizing and dis-empowering if group members are not invited to share their experiences and expertise. Mutual aid adds a recovery-focused dimension to group work practice.". (Hyde, 2013, p 3).

 Sharing activities with others helps to create a connection with members in the group.  It is better to engage the hands and the mind, creating another focus that is less serious, encouraging camaraderie.  Meanwhile the learning and recovery happen in the background, disguised by the fun.