Respond to a colleague who has a different response to Talia. Discuss

Respond to a colleague who has a different response to Talia. Discuss the benefits of using a strengths-based strategy in this group setting
Colleague 1 RC
E: Discussion – Week 9
COLLAPSE
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This group of women are rape victims.  They are there to receive help in recovering from their horrific experience with the assistance of a knowledgeable social worker.  The purpose of this group is to help these victims overcome negative feelings about themselves and hopefully rebuild their trust for people in society again.  It is important for the social worker to gain their trust so she can work with them efficiently. According to (Toseland & Rivas, 2017), gaining a therapeutic alliance with each member based on trust, humility in the human condition, and respect for the dignity and worth of every group member is critical for any specialized technique to work effectively.
Utilizing empowerment and strengths-based strategies is important to helping these victims overcome the “self-blame” that they have been feeling for themselves.  Some members may feel responsible for what had happened to them (Laureate Education, 2013b).  These strategies will also empower each member to overcome their situation with new coping and problem-solving skills (Toseland & Rivas, 2017). 
The way the social worker showed patience to listen to each member with her kindness, empathy, and gratitude for their ability to share their feelings is the impact that “positive regard” has in this group.  As mentioned in (Farber & Doolin, 2011), treating clients in a consistently warm, highly regarding manner would inevitably allow them to grow psychologically, to fulfill their potential.  The social worker seemed respectful that allowed members in the group to share their thoughts and feelings in a safe and trusted place. 
I would respond that her skepticism of the usefulness group sharing is what she feels at that moment and there is nothing wrong with it.  This group session where she was treated fairly and taken seriously gave her the courage to voice her true feelings about group sharing.  It empowered her to have the courage to voice her opinion.
Reference
Farber, B. A., & Doolin, E. M. (2011). Positive regard. Psychotherapy, 48(1), 58–64.
     https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022141
Laureate Education. (Producer). (2013b). Johnson (Episode 3) [Video file]. In Sessions.
     Baltimore, MD: Producer. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu
Toseland, R. W., & Rivas, R. F. (2017). An introduction to group work practice (8th ed.).
     Boston, MA: Pearson.
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Colleague 2 DP
The assigned video presented a group that had a purpose of building and empowering the self-esteem of women survivors of rape. The group also had a goal of helping the women survivors rebuild trust in other individuals. Knowing that rebuilding trust is an important key factor for this group because that should tell the group leader that currently there is little to no trust and strong rapport building will be needed. Respecting these women’s experience and valuing their thoughts and emotions is a way to connect with them (Toseland and Rivas, 2017). There are some reservations about sharing and considering the topic and intensity of the emotions and experience associated with it, I would say that those are very normal feelings. It would be helpful to remind the participants that it is okay to have those feelings and express them. By doing so, trust is being built and it communicates that there is nothing wrong with their feelings. By welcoming all feelings, emotions, and thoughts it empowers members to continue to share and communicates safety within the group. Toseland and Rivas (2017) explain that using empowering and strength-based strategies can help members over come the “self-blame” and other negative emotions that they experience. RAINN Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (n.d.) explains that participating in physical and emotional self-care can help participants support the experience that their bodies go through. Helping members identify what their physical and emotional self-care looks like can lead to building coping skills and using strength-based skills. Farber and Doolin (2011) illustrates that when working with survivors, providing a calm, welcoming, and respectful manner will allow for members to grow in a positive direction. This will also lead to what Toseland and Rivas (2017) describe as therapeutic alliance. Piper et al., (2006) advises to use positive regard as there is a better outcome for treatment.
 
References:
Farber, B. A., & Doolin, E. M. (2011). Positive regard. Psychotherapy, 48(1), 58–64.
Piper, W. E., Ogrodniczuk, J. S., Lamarche, C., & Joyce, A. S. (2006). Use of the social relations model by group therapists: Application and commentary. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 56(2), 191–209.
RAINN. (n.d.). Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network. Retrieved from https://www.rainn.org/about-national-sexual-assault-telephone-hotline
Toseland, R. W., & Rivas, R. F. (2017). An introduction to group work practice (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.