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“If there is a definitive textbook on social group work methods and theory written for students, practitioners, or clinical faculty, then this second edition of the Handbook of Social Work with Groups fits that definition extremely well….[It] highlights the most current leading practitioners and scholars who survey the breadth of current knowledge relative to current approaches to working with groups in many different settings and for a variety of purposes….This text is not only cutting-edge; it is practical, well written, and extremely well organized….As a practicing social group worker, this enhanced second edition of the handbook will be a valuable asset to further my practice and will surely help anyone who wishes to incorporate its lessons, cogent state-of-the-art thinking, and evidenced based research to advance their own social group work skills.”

—Social Work with Groups


“A comprehensive compilation of knowledge about social work with groups written by many of the field’s leading authors. The editors are noted social work authors and educators and they have produced a wonderful resource....Students will welcome the rich scholarship and the convenience and affordability of this text....Will undoubtedly be included in the libraries of many students, educators, and practitioners for generations to come.”

—Journal of Teaching in Social Work (on the first edition)


“This encompassing collection reminds us how vital the healing of group work can be and how powerful it is in creating change in individuals and in communities. Editors...present a broad view of this domain in social work, offering a range of practice models....A rich resource for students as well as scholars.”

—Social Work Forum (on the first edition)


“Garvin, Gutiérrez, and Galinsky bring deep roots that span multiple dimensions of group work theory, practice, teaching, and research, making them a terrific team for developing—and now revising—this handbook. Their expertise is complemented by contributors who are true luminaries. The second edition's scope is impressive, and well suited for micro- to macro-oriented group work courses. It would also enrich the reading lists of courses on professional foundations, practice, research and evaluation, interprofessional contexts, and core social work commitments to engagement and social justice. Chapters emphasize the effectiveness of group work alongside attention to diversity, adding instructional value.”

—Paula S. Nurius, PhD, MSW, Grace Beals Ferguson Scholar, Professor, and Associate Dean for Transdisciplinary Scholarship, University of Washington School of Social Work


“This handbook takes a broad view of social work with groups, from concepts of group dynamics to interdisciplinary applications. In these uncertain times, the second edition's attention to ethical dilemmas, the marginalization and oppression of nonprivileged group members (familial to global), transformational leadership, and empowerment is especially relevant. As practitioners, we should embrace the concepts in this book as if our lives, and our clients' lives, depended on it.”

—Mary Joanne Kraus, PhD, LCSW, private practice, San Antonio, Texas


“This book is so thorough, solidly conceptualized, and cohesive that it will become the group worker’s 'go-to' resource—whether student or practitioner. The volume represents current thinking, research, and group work practice with clients across the lifespan and in many practice areas. Significant new content in the second edition includes chapters on group work with immigrants and refugees and other timely topics. I particularly appreciate the coverage of research-informed group work, which deepens and broadens the discourse on evidence-based practice, and community organization, which has disappeared from the curriculum of many social work schools. Group work practice is evolving to meet the needs of vulnerable and underserved communities in a volatile world. This volume provides a wellspring of data and practical information to help students and practitioners evolve as well.”

—Dana Grossman Leeman, PhD, MSW, Associate Dean for Online Education, Simmons College School of Social Work


“The second edition of this handbook enhances the scholarship on social work with groups in several significant ways. New and revised chapters respond thoughtfully and inclusively to the field's increased emphasis on the role of research evidence, the impact of technology, and the need to expand and clarify the theoretical base of group work practice. The book also takes an expansive view of the importance of collaboration and of cultural competence in both research and practice. This is an outstanding volume that should become part of all social workers' personal libraries.”

—Michael Reisch, PhD, MSW, Daniel Thursz Distinguished Professor of Social Justice, University of Maryland School of Social Work


“The second edition of this essential text surpasses its excellent predecessor in its breadth and depth. The editors and contributing authors guide readers into contemporary models of group theory, research, and practice across social welfare fields of service. The chapters highlighting new examples of the application of strength-based group work principles are particularly noteworthy. All who access the book will find valuable and pertinent information for our profession for years to come.”

—Edith A. Lewis, MSW, PhD, Associate Professor Emerita of Social Work and Women’s Studies, University of Michigan

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Table of Contents

Introduction, Charles D. Garvin, Lorraine M. Gutiérrez, and Maeda J. Galinsky

I. Theoretical and Philosophical Foundations

1. Group Dynamics, Ronald W. Toseland

2. An Ecological/Systems/Seven C's Perspective on Group Practice, John E. Tropman

3. Social Group Work in a Global Context, Rebecca Smith, Justin Bucchio, & Barbara F. Turnage

4. An Empowerment Perspective, Margot Breton

5. Ethics and Values in Group Work, Allan E. Barsky & Helen Northen

6. Group Work and Socially Just Practice, R. M. Ortega

II. Principal Foundations of Group Practice Models

7. The Mutual Aid Model, Alex Gitterman

8. Cognitive-Behavioral Group Work, Richard Tolman & Craig W. LeCroy

III. Group Work Approaches Related to Purpose

9. Support and Self-Help Groups, Linda Farris Kurtz

10. Psychoeducational Groups, Jennifer Root

11. Social Work with Groups and Drug Abuse Prevention with Youth: Rich History and Untapped Potential, Flavio F. Marsiglia & Elizabeth Kiehne

IV. Group Work Approaches Related to Setting

12. Group Work in Health Care Settings, Brian L. Kelly

13. Evidence-Based Group Work in Mental Health Practice, Mary C. Ruffolo & Carolyn M. Maker

14. Involuntary Groups, Ronald Rooney & Michael Chovanec

15. Strengths-Based Group Work with Children and Adolescents, Andrew Malekoff

16. Group Work in Child Welfare, Barbara Rittner

17. Group-Based Approaches to Preventing Adolescent Substance Abuse: The State of Social Work Science, David Córdova, Francheska Alers-Rojas, Brian Perron, Christopher P. Salas-Wright, & Michael G. Vaughn

18. Groups for Older Adults, Ruth Campbell

19. Groups for Reducing Intergroup Conflicts, David Bargal

20. Group Interventions for Partner Abuse, Daniel G. Saunders

21. Group Work with Immigrants and Refugees, Izumi Sakamoto & Sidonia Couto

22. Intergroup Dialogue: Engaging Difference for Social Change, Biren (Ratnesh) A. Nagda

23. Group Work in the Shadow of Mass Incarceration, Reuben Jonathan Miller, Desmond Upton Patton, & Jorge Delva

V. Group Work in Organizational and Community Settings

24. Assessing and Strengthening Characteristics of Effective Groups in Community-Based Participatory Research Partnerships, Amy J. Schulz, Barbara A. Israel, & Paula Lantz

25. Participatory Research, Popular Education, and Popular Theatre: Contributions to Group Work, Janet L. Finn, Jillian Dean Campana, & Maxine Jacobson

26. Social Action Groups, Lee H. Staples

27. Group Process Dynamics and Skills in Interdisciplinary Teamwork, Laura R. Bronstein & Julie S. Abramson

28. Group Work with Working Groups, Paul H. Ephross, Thomas V. Vassil, & Steven R. Rose

VI. Group Work Research and Evaluation

29. Evaluation and Research Design, Larry M. Gant

30. Measurement Issues, Randy Magen

31. Qualitative Research, Susan Preston, Judy Hughes, & Michael R. Woodford

32. Intervention Research in Social Work with Groups, Mark J. Macgowan

VII. The Uses of Technology to Create Groups

33. Technology-Mediated Groups, Ronald Fitch

Epilogue, Charles D. Garvin, Lorraine M. Gutiérrez, and Maeda J. Galinsky

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About the Editors

Charles D. Garvin, PhD, until his death in 2023, was Professor Emeritus in the School of Social Work at the University of Michigan. He was internationally known for his contributions to group work and social justice issues in social work. Dr Garvin was the author or editor of several books, as well as many journal articles and book chapters, and served as coeditor of Small Group Research. A past chair and board member of the International Association for Social Work with Groups, he was a recipient of the Significant Lifetime Achievement in Social Work Education Award from the Council on Social Work Education. In 2020, Dr. Garvin was named an NASW Social Work Pioneer by the National Association of Social Workers Foundation.

Lorraine M. Gutiérrez, PhD, is Arthur F. Thurnau Professor in the School of Social Work and the Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan, where she is also faculty associate in Latino Studies. Her teaching and scholarship focus on multicultural praxis in communities, organizations, and higher education. A Fellow of the American Psychological Association and the Society for Community Research and Action, Dr. Gutiérrez is a member of the editorial team of the Journal of Community Practice.

Maeda J. Galinsky, PhD, until her death in 2019, wasKenan Distinguished Professor Emerita in the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Shepublished widely in the area of group work theory, practice, and research, including articles on support groups, open-ended groups, and evaluation of innovative interventions. Dr. Galinsky served on the editorial boards of Social Work with Groups, Small Group Research, American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, and Social Work Research, and on the board of the International Association for Social Work with Groups.

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Contributors

Julie S. Abramson, MSW, PhD, School of Social Welfare, University at Albany, The State University of New York, Albany, New York

Francheska Alers-Rojas, JD, Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

David Bargal, PhD, Paul Baerwald School of Social Work, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel

Allan Edward Barsky, JD, MSW, PhD, School of Social Work, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida

Margot Breton, MSW, Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Laura R. Bronstein, LCSWR, ACSW, PhD, Institute for Multigenerational Studies and Department of Social Work, College of Community and Public Affairs, Binghamton University, The State University of New York, Binghamton, New York

Justin Bucchio, PhD, Department of Social Work, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Jillian Dean Campana, PhD, School of Theatre and Dance, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana

Ruth Campbell, PhD, School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Michael Chovanec, PhD, School of Social Work, St. Catherine University/University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota

David Córdova, PhD, School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Sidonia Couto, MSW, RSW, Davenport–Perth Neighbourhood and Community Health Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Jorge Delva, PhD, School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Paul H. Ephross, PhD, School of Social Work, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland

Janet L. Finn, PhD, Department of Social Work, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana

Dale Fitch, PhD, School of Social Work, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri

Maeda J. Galinsky, PhD, School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Larry M. Gant, PhD, School of Social Work and Penny W. Stamps School of Art and Design, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Charles D. Garvin, PhD, School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Alex Gitterman, EdD, School of Social Work, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut

Lorraine M. Gutiérrez, PhD, School of Social Work and Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Judy Hughes, MSW, PhD, Faculty of Social Work, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Barbara A. Israel, DrPH, Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Maxine Jacobson, PhD, independent consultant, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Brian L. Kelly, MSW, PhD, School of Social Work, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

Elizabeth Kiehne, MSW, School of Social Work, University of Arizona, Tempe, Arizona

Linda Farris Kurtz, DPA, ACSW, School of Social Work, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan

Paula Lantz, PhD, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Craig W. LeCroy, PhD, School of Social Work, Arizona State University, Tucson, Arizona

Mark J. Macgowan, LCSW, PhD, School of Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, Florida

Randy Magen, PhD, School of Social Work, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho

Carolyn M. Maker, LCSW, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

Andrew Malekoff, MSW, North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center, Roslyn Heights, New York

Flavio F. Marsiglia, PhD, School of Social Work, University of Arizona, Tempe, Arizona

Reuben Jonathan Miller, PhD, School of Service Administration, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

Biren (Ratnesh) A. Nagda, PhD, IDEALeadership LLC, Seattle, Washington;

Green String Network, Nairobi, Kenya Helen Northen, MSW, PhD (deceased), School of Social Work, University of Southern California,

Los Angeles, California

R. M. Ortega, PhD, School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Desmond Upton Patton, MSW, PhD, School of Social Work, Columbia University, New York, New York

Brian E. Perron, PhD, School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Susan Preston, MSW, PhD, School of Social Work, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Barbara Rittner, LCSW, PhD, School of Social Work, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York

Ronald Rooney, PhD, School of Social Work, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Jennifer Root, PhD, Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

Steven R. Rose, MSW, ACSW, PhD, Department of Social Work, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia

Mary C. Ruffolo, MSW, PhD, School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Izumi Sakamoto, PhD, Factor–Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Christopher P. Salas-Wright, PhD, School of Social Work, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts

Daniel G. Saunders, PhD, School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Amy J. Schulz, PhD, Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Rebecca Smith, PhD, Department of Social Work, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Lee H. Staples, MSW, PhD, School of Social Work, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts

Richard Tolman, PhD, School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Ronald W. Toseland, PhD, School of Social Welfare, University at Albany, The State University of New York, Albany, New York

John E. Tropman, PhD, School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Barbara F. Turnage, PhD, Department of Social Work, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Thomas V. Vassil, PhD, School of Social Work, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland

Michael G. Vaughn, PhD, College of Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri

Michael R. Woodford, PhD, Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

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Audience

Social work students, practitioners, and researchers.

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Course Use

Serves as a text in undergraduate- and graduate-level courses such as Group Work, Advanced Practice, Community Practice, and Social Work and Social Justice

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Previous editions published by Guilford:

First Edition, © 2004
ISBN: 9781593854003

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New to this edition:

• Incorporates over a decade of advances in the field
• Heightened focus on practitioner–researcher collaboration.
• Two chapters on substance abuse prevention with youth.
• Chapters on social justice work, evidence-based practice, offender reentry, intimate partner violence, intergroup dialogue, working with immigrants and refugees, qualitative methods, and intervention research.
• Major updates on existing topics, such as cognitive-behavioral group work, psychoeducational groups, health care settings, and technology-mediated groups.
• Integrative epilogue that synthesizes key themes.