Conducting Effective and Productive Psychoeducational and Therapy Groups: A Guide for Beginning Group Leaders

Dr. Brown has written yet another informative book on starting and leading psychoeducational groups. Dr. Brown defines the purpose of a psychoeducational group and how it differs from a psychotherapy group. At the same time, she identifies commonalities such as attending to the developmental stages of group and the group process and the importance of leader self-development. The book is filled with suggestions for activities and exercises that support the goals of each chapter. Leaders of any kind of group should read her chapter on diversity and group process. This helpful book can serve equally as a beginner's guide or a reference source for more experienced group leaders.

-Eleanor F. Counselman, EdD, CGP, ABPP, LFAGPA, past president of the American Group Psychotherapy Association

Dr. Nina Brown has done it again! This comprehensive, user-friendly book should be required reading for all beginning group leaders, especially psychoeducational group leaders. Among the many contributions included in this valuable book are Dr. Brown's tools for understanding and working with difficult members, discussions and guides for using processes and easily implemented activities, constructive ways to understand and address cultural and diversity issues, tips for resilient boundary-building for the leader and group members, and much more.

-Ann Steiner, PhD, MFT, CGP, psychotherapist, author, and professional speaker

This book's ten chapters take the reader step by step through planning, therapist factors, the group mindset, the balance of content and process, and more. The theoretical aspects of running groups are demonstrated frequently with concrete examples and useful suggestions. Of particular interest early in the book is Dr. Brown's discussion of narcissism and its role, both positive and negative, in the development of the therapist. Too frequently do new group leaders lose consciousness of their own emotional make-up in their management of what is happening in their groups. I believe this book should be a part of the graduate curriculum of all counseling programs.

-Richard Newman, MEd, LPC-S, LMFT-S, LCSW, owner and psychotherapist at Greenway Psychotherapy Associates, P.C.

This is an essential manual for facilitating effective group psychotherapy that belongs on the shelf of all group facilitators, coordinators, and supervisors. Its straightforward yet sophisticated tackling of the topics make it my go-to resource for training in group psychotherapy. Finally, here is a practical guide that gets to the core of what group facilitators need to know to do excellent work.

-Noelle Lefforge, PhD, MHA, CGP, assistant director of clinical services and research at the PRACTICE clinic at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas