ABSTRACT
Some group theorists believe that such group debates aimed at creating the group’s work rules build cohesion and are therapeutic. Such debates can aid in setting the expectation that the group is responsible for its own processes and should not depend on the leaders to tell the members what to do. Although that is a valuable procedure in groups of professionals organized for the purpose of studying their own group process (as in sensitivity training or group process education groups), I believe that such a procedure is inefficient for therapy groups. In therapy, clients are not focused on the intricacies of group processes. Instead, they are coming for help with their personal or marital problems and are relying on the leaders to create a group structure in which successful therapy can take place. Giving every participant a clear idea of what is expected helps the group to get underway without undue delay. It does not eliminate the need for discussions of the rules, but it does prevent the rules from being too much in focus.
