Syllabus
ASC51P220 Social Work Methods – advanced groupwork
Teacher: doc. PaedDr. Tatiana Matulayová, PhD.
Compulsory course: 1/1
Attestation: exam.
Number of credits: 4
Course objectives:
Students will deepen their knowledge of social work with groups and relevant group work techniques. They will consider and discuss the use of different social work practice theories, their suitability for diverse target groups and the possibilities and limits of group work.
Competency-enhancing goals:
Students will have the opportunity to improve their ability to listen empathetically to others. They will have a large and small group experience. They will experience what an empathy lab looks like. They will improve their small group leadership skills. They will experience different techniques for working with a group. They will learn how to prepare a protocol of group work.
Attestation requirements:
Attendance (min. 80%) – active participation; elaboration a paper on a specified topic corresponding to the course content and a protocol/scenario of group work. The course ends with a colloquium.
Topics:
The course is organized in six teaching blocks, which will focus on the following topics:
Group work as a method of social work. The history of social work with groups. Advantages and disadvantages of the method.
Typology of helping groups and their characteristics.
Theoretical background of group work.
Principles/phases of social work with groups: planning the group, composition of the group, course and orientation of the group session, termination.
Roles in the group. The role of the social worker in the group. Ways of conducting groups.
Group dynamics and group development. Communication in the group. Issues of power and oppression.
Pitfalls of group work. Problematic situations and their management.
Verbal techniques of group work. psychodrama, sociodrama, social psychological games, diaries, encounter groups.
Non-verbal techniques of group work: psychogymnastics, art therapy, music therapy, dance therapy.
Special techniques of group work: relaxation techniques, video training of interactions, supervision,
The importance and possibilities of using groups in social work and social services (according to the students' choice of focus on the selected client or social group; social service, type of social work).
Required reading:
Kuzníková, I. Pokročilé metody sociální práce se skupinami. Ostravská univerzita, 2013.
Havránková,O. Skupinová práce. In Matoušek, O a kol. Metody a řízení sociální práce. Praha, 2008.
Truhlářová, Z. Metody práce se skupinou. Hradec Králové, 2014.
Selected relevant academic papers: http://www.socialniprace.cz/
Further reading:
Historie sociální práce se skupinou. Dostupné : https://youtu.be/FggtchLCSXg
Kratochvíl, S. Skupinová psychoterapie v praxi. 2. vyd. Praha, 2001.
Rieger, Z.: Loď skupiny. Konfrontace, Hradec Králové.
Rogers, C. R.: Způsob bytí
Rogers, C.R. : Encountrové skupiny.
Yalom, I. D.: Teorie a praxe skupinové psychoterapie. Konfrontace, Hradec Králové.