Solution-Focused Groupwork (Brief Therapies)

Praise for the First Edition John Sharry has fluency with language that allows complexity to sit side by side with clarity and ideas to flow across the page. This is a book that must be read by anyone interested in front-line developments in solution-focused therapy. -Chris Iveson, Brief Therapy Practice, London In a thoughtful, step-by-step, and easy-to-read fashion, John Sharry integrates the best from established principles of group therapy with recent advances in brief, strength-based, resiliency-oriented treatment approaches. A 'must read' for practitioners working with groups. -Scott D. Miller, Co-Founder, Institute for the Study of Therapeutic Change, Chicago This slim tautly written volume disguises an enormous practical treasure store to help group facilitators. Solution Focused Groupwork should be essential reading. -Barbara Wilson, Family Mediation in Practice Enlightening, clearly written, and helpfully presented. . . The book echoes what Solution-Focused Groupwork is all about-being practical and optimistic about human potential.-David Jaques, Author of Learning in Groups Solution-Focused Groupwork, Second Edition is an innovative and highly practical guide for all professionals who use groups to help people. For those new to the approach it provides a clear, step-by-step introduction, while for more experienced practitioners it presents ideas and techniques which can be readily integrated into existing practice. In this fully updated revision, including a brand new chapter on Supervision, John Sharry examines the therapeutic factors that characterize solution- focused groupwork and contribute to its effectiveness. Using carefully selected case studies and examples, he takes the reader through the various stages in the therapeutic process, from getting started to the final session. The book also provides creative exercises for use in practice, guidance on evaluating the outcomes of group work and also a model for group supervision for the facilitator. A real strength of the book is in showing practitioners how to create a constructive, positive, and solution-focused group culture and how to maintain this culture in spite of the challenges, tensions, and difficulties that naturally arise within groups. Solution-Focused Groupwork, Second Edition is ideal for individual study and for use on courses in a wide range of fields, including counseling, social work, psychology, community work, and nursing as well as researchers and educators who use groupwork as a means of teaching and communicating ideas.

Practitioner Sharry applies the concepts of brief therapy to group situations, giving therapists practical tools to use in solution-focused groups. He describes how solution-focused brief therapy works within the group setting, including the basic principles and dynamics, then shows how to design a solution-focus group, engage and motivate clients to attend, set the stages of solution-focused groupwork. He explains how to evaluate groups and ensure they remaining on target, gives tips on managing difficult groups, describes creative exercises to enhance the group progress, and gives ways to use a team model to supervise solution-focused groups. Sharry has updated this edition with the newest research and practice, and has completely updated the materials on the central model of solution-focused groupwork. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Solution-Focused Groupwork, Second Edition is an innovative and highly practical guide for all professionals who use groups to help people. For those new to the approach it provides a clear, step-by-step introduction, while for more experienced practitioners it presents ideas and techniques which can be readily integrated into existing practice. In this fully updated revision, including a brand new chapter on Supervision, John Sharry examines the therapeutic factors that characterize solution- focused groupwork and contribute to its effectiveness. Using carefully selected case studies and examples, he takes the reader through the various stages in the therapeutic process, from getting started to the final session.

Praise for the first edition:</p> <p>`An interesting book to read, written in a simple and transparent style and interlaced with topical, up-to-date examples of media events' - Journal of Educational Media</p> <p></p> <p>'This is...a well-organized, well-informed, student-friendly textbook, ideal for first-year undergraduates as a kicking-off point into the field of media and communications research. It deserves to be widely taken up' - European Journal of Communication</p> <p></p> <p>Understanding the Media introduces key theoretical issues in media analysis and encourages students to use case studies to examine their own personal media use and exposure. Devereux applies a model of media analysis that gives equal weight to the production, content and reception of media texts.</p> <p></p> <p>A particular emphasis is placed on understanding the mass media in a social context, and readers are invited to engage with a variety of questions about the increasingly complex mediascape in which we live our everyday lives.</p> <p></p> <p>Now thoroughly revised and expanded this Second Edition:</p> <p></p> <p>" Includes an additional chapter which draws together the book's key themes </p> <p></p> <p>" Contains new and revised case studies with expanded discussions on media audiences and fandom and 'blogging' </p> <p></p> <p>" New and revised extracted readings in every chapter</p> <p></p> <p>" In addition, the book is now accompanied by an ancillary website with resources for students as well as slides for tutorials/lectures. </p> <p></p> <p>Each chapter contains concise summaries, exercises, extracts from experts in the field, model exam and essay questions, as well as directions for further reading and research. This practical dimension to Understanding the Media will ensure that the book appeals to both teachers and students of the media in the 21st Century.