ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an introduction to group work for those interested in pursuing follow-up education and experience in the context of master's and doctoral graduate preparation. It focuses on the history of group work, types of groups, stages of group life, characteristics of group facilitators, responsibilities and interventions in groups, myths connected with group work, and issues and ethics of group work. Most introductory textbooks for counselor education students begin the discussion of group work by attempting to make distinctions among group therapy, group counseling, and group guidance. In general, group therapy is described as being longer term, more remedially and therapeutically focused, and more likely to be facilitated by a facilitator with doctoral-level preparation and a more "clinical" orientation. The group worker who specializes in group counseling focuses on assisting group participants to resolve the usual, yet often difficult, problems of living by stimulating interpersonal support and group problem solving.
