The Therapeutic Contract in Work with Groups

An appreciation of the complexity of the therapeutic contract is essential for effective social work practice with groups. In essence, the group contact is a dynamic instrument which changes over time in relation to the number of persons engaged, the configurations involved (one to one through group as a whole), and the nature of member interpersonal connection. A theoretical matrix is developed which provides prescriptive as well as analytic utility for social work role performance. Contract-form alteration is matched to stage of group maturation, and implications are elaborated upon with respect to the use of the contracts as conceptualized here. Brief examples from group practice are cited to illuminate the relevance of a more formal understanding of the contract in work with groups for social work practice

Epistemology · Formal description · Group (periodic table · Interpersonal communication · Interpersonal relationship · Political science · Relation (database · Relevance (law · Social contract · Social relation · Sociology · Work (physics · Computer Science · Engineering · Law · Psychology · Social Psychology · Social Work Education and Practice