ABSTRACT
There are two aspects of group facilitation that will be significantly important for successful and effective psychoeducational groups: fostering the emergence of therapeutic factors and an ability to capitalize on the stages of group development. This chapter presents specific actions group leaders can use to foster the emergence of therapeutic group factors and increase their understanding of group stage development. The group leader is a role model, especially for demonstrating positive ways to initiate and establish a meaningful relationship, communication, and problem solving. The chapter discusses the therapeutic factors, which are hope, altruism, existential factors, the corrective emotional experience, family-of-origin issues, and cohesion. The foundation for encouraging hope is the leader's beliefs and attitudes about members and their faith in the efficacy of group counseling/therapy. Positive psychology pays considerable attention to intra-individual subjective qualities, such as meaning and purpose in life, hope, and altruism.
