strength of group work as contrasted to social settings outside of group where clarity of expression and emotional honesty are often masked behind competitive aims and defensive posturing.

As it turns out, however, another strength of group work is precisely that what happens outside the group will be brought into the group. As group members begin to relax into their familiar social selves, openness and emotional honesty will at times be interrupted as competitive aims and/or defensive posturing find their way into certain interactions between group members.  This too is live social interaction in real time and becomes part of the group work.  As facilitator I track such interactions as I also pay attention to how other group members react or respond.  At particular junctures I will stop the action and invite group members to discuss what they saw and heard.  As the group again returns to an atmosphere of openness and emotional honesty group members can then take in a larger view of how they affect and are affected by others.

Such illumination through open group discussion demonstrates the essence of process work and becomes a learning foundation that will help you better understand the social worlds around you and, more specifically, to identify and assume a more clear ownership of your role in significant relationships with others.