ABSTRACT
In group work particularly interesting work can be done towards initiation, because in a group all the phenomena of social life appear. Important considerations need to be addressed here, such as how much support and how much confrontation should be offered. If too much support is given, there may be actual collusion with abusive behaviour patterns; if too much confrontation is given, there may be a very high drop-out rate. ‘Empowerment’ is one of those terms which was first used by humanistic psychology, and later used even more in transpersonal psychology and its associated work with organisations. A good example of this kind of work in action is to be found in Gerald Haigh’s article, too long to quote here, where a woman goes into her feelings about her mother and resolves something very important once and for all. In an encounter group it is possible to catch a glimpse of spiritual realities which go beyond ordinary consciousness.
