You and Others: Reflective Practice for Group Effectiveness in Human Services, 3rd edition

This text is designed for Introduction to Group Work courses in Social Work, Human Services, Early Childhood Education and Child and Youth Worker programs at colleges and universities.

Self-reflection is currently considered one of the most important tools in the human service professions, as well as one of the most difficult skills to learn. You and Others: Reflective Practice for Group Effectiveness in Human Services, is a unique Canadian text that applies a self-reflection approach to the study and practice of group work, providing practical ways for students to engage in self-reflection and self-assessment. The text includes case studies specific to the social services sector in Canada and interactive classroom exercises. It covers the important theories in human services studies and links them to practice in an applied and interactive format.

Hallmark features of this title

• Specific focus on training students in effective group participation for professions in the human services by concentrating on reflection and self-assessment with worksheets that provide students with practical tools to evaluate group effectiveness.
• Introductory chapter outlines the major concepts of group dynamics and self-reflection; subsequent chapters progress through major elements of group dynamics, and asks students to apply the concepts and skills described and reflect on what they have learned about themselves, and how they belong to and participate in groups.
• The Reflection Tool and Self-Assessment Framework are in-text worksheets that challenge students to explore their own participation in groups and think about how to apply group skills to their future careers.

New to this Edition

• As the world shifts to a greater reliance on digital media, it is appropriate that this resource evolves as well. This third edition is the first fully digital version of You and Others: Reflective Practice for Group Effectiveness in Human Services. Instructors and students will find that, although the medium has changed, the content is fully consistent with prior editions.
• The third edition of the text has taken on a new look. The goal has been to create a more user-friendly, visually appealing resource that draws attention to vital concepts and makes room for students to take notes, analyze, and interact with the material. The move to creating a digital eText takes advantage of digital features to enhance the interactive student experience. 
• The tools of communication have changed significantly since this text was originally published. Most notably, technology (particularly social media) has had a major impact on how we define groups. The text explores the impact of technology on the ways people today work in groups. When appropriate, we have considered the new culture of technology as we take a closer look at how digital citizenship is related to ethical behaviour, professional practice, and group forums.