Getting the Most from Group
A Workbook to Build Self-Understanding and Positive Relationships Through the Group Experience
by Jerry L. Jennings & Steven Sawyer

Experienced therapists know how challenging it is to get adolescent and adult men to join a therapy group, much less to then participate meaningfully in a group setting. Getting the Most from Group was written precisely to help clinicians deal with the challenge of how to get men to open up in group therapy.

The unique aspects that make this workbook so effective:

1. Focus: helping individuals overcome fears and apprehensions about entering group therapy
2. Strengths-based approach: invites self-discovery and motivating engagement
3. Worksheets and Activities: support self-discovery, understanding personal strengths, and building positive relationships.

Helping Clients Gain Insight into their Reluctance

The key step toward increasing participation in group discussions is helping the men in the group understand the barriers that make them reluctant to do so. Chapter 5, “Exploring Manhood,” helps clinicians build a discussion with clients around the idea of the “Man Box”—the various societal expectations men may experience that make it difficult for them to explore and share their thoughts and feelings.  Some of these expectations are the pressures to be:

• tough and fearless
• aggressive and in control
• independent and self-reliant
• the strong family “provider”
• always concerned with sex

Worksheets to Encourage Group Participation

The worksheets included in Getting the Most from Group provide a structure for clients to explore these societal expectations, consider the impact such pressures have on them, and decide to what extent they want to continue to adhere to them.

Getting the Most from Group contains a total of eight chapters, each of which includes exercises and questions like these to help clients prepare for and engage in group therapy.

This book is ideal for clinicians searching for group therapy activities for adults. The exercises cover various topics such as learning about oneself, hopes and fears about entering a group setting, giving and receiving help, cooperation, exploring manhood, setting personal goals for the group, joining the group, and journaling to track the group experience. The exercises will help clients and their families better understand why it is hard for men to seek and participate in therapy.

Written in language that can be understood by adolescent and adult males alike, this workbook is intended to be used in outpatient, residential, and forensic settings and for multiple types of group-based treatment programs, including treatment for substance abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse, anger management, and various mental health problems, and can be used in conjunction with individual therapy.

Reflection Exercises

Getting the Most from Group includes two types of “Reflection Exercises”:

(1) Structured activities that invite clients to reflect on such topics as their:

• most recent experiences in the group
• level of anxiety at the start and end of the group
• own level of group participation
• sense of belonging to the group
• best and most difficult moments in each sessions
• self-knowledge gained from the experience

(2) Questions sets designed to help clients think about and process their experiences, behaviors, and emotions. Examples:

"Did anyone in the group say something to me or about me that I was not aware of before? What was it and do I believe that it has some truth in it?"
“What did I do in group that was intended to be helpful or supportive to another member?”
“Of all the things that happened in group today, the thing that I valued the most was what?”

Attention Clinicians!

Getting the Most from Group answers the questions:

• How do you get clients to open up in therapy?
• How do you encourage participation in group therapy?

Attention Men Considering Therapy!

Getting the Most from Group answers the questions:

• Why is it hard for men to seek therapy?
• What do you do in a men's group?
• What do men's groups talk about?