ABSTRACT
This chapter presents material from several beginning sessions with distinctly different groups. The first phase of group development is generally termed "beginnings". The beginnings of all groups are characterized by some degree of fearfulness for members, with a higher incidence of concern in groups in which self-disclosure is anticipated. Just as group members approach the group with some ambivalence and trepidation, the worker may have some anxiety about the experience. With beginning workers in beginning phases, this anxiety manifests itself in two extreme stances. On the one hand, workers tend to involve themselves in every interaction, being directive and controlling. On the other hand, some workers defend against the terror they feel by withdrawing entirely. The establishment of trust is the most crucial factor in a group's development. Trust creates the sense of safety that "holds" the group as it struggles towards becoming a cohesive unit.
