ABSTRACT
As with other types of group work, an initial meeting before the group begins serves a number of important purposes (Segal, Williams, & Teasdale, 2013; Yalom & Leszcz, 2005). It allows potential participants a chance to get to know the instructor, provides a big-picture overview of what the course is all about, and clarifies the expectations and commitment needed for home practice between the sessions. Like the social psychology phenomenon of a group seeming more attractive when it is difficult to get into, I find that letting them know they should probably not attend unless they can make a commitment to themselves to do the home practice and complete all eight sessions has the effect of a paradoxical strategic intervention.
