Mental Health Nursing

1. Identify & describe the Informal Roles of the specific group members you observed. Identify at least 3 roles.
2. Identify & describe the following using examples of each.
a. Leadership Style
b. Communication Techniques used by the group leader (at least 3)
3. Identify and describe two (2) Therapeutic Factors present in the group you observed using Yalom’s Currative Factors:
4. Describe specific examples of each Therapeutic Factor; discuss why you feel these characteristics were present:
5. Evaluate the effectiveness of the SG from your perspective and why?
6. Describe how you felt attending this SG.

 

1. The following are informal roles of specific AA group members: -

• To establish an environment of self-empowerment, self-directed modification and self-realization
• To provide a network of support to other struggling members dealing to recover from alcoholism
• To get involved in processes of AA meeting, which are regular meetings held with other members recovering from alcoholism. These AA meetings are held by different members of support groups to help each other in recovering by sharing, communicating their sufferings as well as learning the treatment processes.
• Each specific member of group plays a crucial role in the recovery process that involves providing motivation to refrain, coping with compulsions, problem-solving practices and lifestyle balancing activities.

2.a) Leadership Style

The leader of this support group adopted the “Affiliative Leadership Style” that focuses more on emotional needs and relationship development. This leadership style completely justifies the purpose of healing processes to overcome stressful circumstances (Cummings et al. 2010). The leader was successfully handling team harmony, sharing information and building trust with all the members of the group.

b) Communication Techniques

Consultative communication technique

The consultative communication technique was used by the leader in the form of workshops and discussion groups to develop a two-way relationship between leader and members of support group.

Participative communication technique

The participative communication involves the use of interpersonal means of communication in decision-making process. The leader used this technique by involving group members in treatment the decision-making process.

The LILI communication technique

The LILI communication involves Leading, Involving, Listening and Informing all the four drivers were adopted by the leader to build trust among group members while shaping a strategy for treatment.

3. The two therapeutic factors present in the group are: -

Group cohesiveness

Catharsis

4. Group cohesiveness – In this therapeutic factor al the group members have a sense of security, value, belonging and acceptance in the group (Yalom, 2010). In this group cohesiveness was observed when the entire members showed equal participation in a single treatment process with complete enthusiasm.

Catharsis – This involves disclosure of information to all group members as a part of the healing process (Yalom, 2010). This therapeutic factor was observed when the outcomes of treatment process were discussed openly with all the members of group.

5. This support group is very effective in building the relationships, developing hope and positivity among members and establishing a social interaction. All the group members were working like a family, helping each other to recover from alcoholism. There was a ray of hope in their conscious for getting back a normal life that was observed while communicating with these members.

6. The experience of attending this SG group was conversant in understanding the drawbacks of getting involved in alcoholism. It also helped to get knowledge on magnanimous working for the betterment of society.

References

Books

Yalom, I. D. (2010). The gift of therapy. Piatkus.

Journals

Cummings, G. G., MacGregor, T., Davey, M., Wong, C. A., Lo, E., Muise, M., & Stafford, E. (2010). Leadership styles and outcome patterns for the nursing workforce and work environment: a systematic review. International journal of nursing studies, 47(3), 363-385.