Many group workers, understandably, fear the unpredictable and conflictual moments in groups. However, challenging moments, including moments of conflict, are essential elements of successful groups. 

Learn to turn group therapy challenges into opportunities for connection and growth by engaging purposefully to create spaces where members can be honest with each other, and help each other to grow.

Case Example Demonstrations: This course includes multiple case examples where the instructor, Será Godfrey-Kaplan, talks through a scenario and describes how she facilitated these moments–informed by theory, her assessment of the moment, and the group’s purpose.

Course curriculum

    1. Welcome!

    2. Our Plan

    1. Overview

    2. Purpose in Groups

    3. Two Clients

    4. Theory Overview: Mutual Aid

    5. Mutual Aid: A Case Example

    6. Quick Review: Types of Groups

    1. Overview

    2. Prefacing Is the Best Medicine

    3. Use of Silence

    4. Decentralize Authority & Consensus Testing

    5. Leaning In

    6. Unveil Your Thinking & Modeling

    7. Partializing Larger Problems

    8. Harmonize & Compromise

    9. The Goal is Not to Rescue or Resolve; Let the Group Do the Work

    10. Demand for Work/Make Waves

    11. Finding Connections

    12. Assessing a Group's Readiness

    1. Overview

    2. Pre-Affiliation

    3. Power & Control

    4. Intimacy & Differentiation

    5. Separation

    6. Groups Aren't Always Linear

    1. Overview

    2. Dominator & The Monopolizer

    3. Gatekeeper

    4. Scapegoat

    5. Opinion Giver

    6. The Importance of Self-Reflection

    1. Overview

    2. Putting All the Pieces Together

About this course

  • $29.00
  • 2.5 CE Credits (Clinical)
  • Online, self-paced, noninteractive course
  • Available in the U.S. and Canada

Meet the Instructor

Será Godfrey-Kaplan

Será Godfrey-Kaplan is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker who completed her graduate work at Boston University. Será is the current President of the International Association for Social Work with Groups (IASWG), Director of Hope Ave Therapy Associates, and a part-time Instructor at Boston University School of Social Work. She has spent 20+ years facilitating and teaching group work within multiple different settings including: in-patient hospitals, schools, day-treatment and out-patient programs. She specializes in multiple types of group work, suicidology, Borderline Personality Disorder and adolescent mental health. She presents to individuals and organizations internationally in her effort to support group work across the globe.

Course Details

Credits: This course offers 2.5 clinical continuing education credits. Learn more

Cost: $29

Format: This is an online, self-paced, noninteractive course that includes reading and recorded videos (asynchronous course).

Registration: To register for this course, click the “Buy Now” button. This course is self-paced, so you can join at any time after completing your registration and payment.

Practice Level: Intermediate

Target Audience: This course is designed for social workers who have some group experience.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this training, you will learn to:

  • Explain how different types of challenging moments in groups each have the potential to impact group dynamics, mutual aid and growth.

  • Describe the role of facilitators in attending to ‘two clients’ in group work.

  • Evaluate group purpose, group stage and group member roles to determine the most appropriate intervention.

  • Describe how to utilize facilitation skills to increase mutual aid during important moments in group development.

Continuing Education Credits

Continuing education credits are available to social workers in most U.S. states, and in all Canadian provinces. If your state uses CE Broker, you will need to manually upload your certificate of credit. Learn more

Additional Information

Refund & Cancellation Policy: GetPractice will fully refund requests from learners who have not completed a course. If a learner has completed all requirements of a course and received their certificate of completion, they are no longer eligible for a refund. 

Accessibility: Please email [email protected] to discuss any questions or requests regarding accessibility & accommodations. 

System Requirements: This course is hosted on the GetPractice site. To complete the course and all required course materials, learners will login to the GetPractice course site. Learners will need a computer or smartphone and an internet connection to complete the course.

Course Completion Requirements: To complete the course and receive their certificate of credit, learners will complete all online lessons in the course, a posttest (a passing score of 80% is required, learners can retake the test if needed), and a course evaluation. Once these components are successfully completed, the learner’s certificate of credit will be available immediately on the course page and in their learner account.

Availability Notice:  GetPractice courses are only available for sales in the U.S. and Canada.

Questions or Concerns: Please reach out to [email protected] 

Course Creation Date: March 2, 2026

GetPractice LLC, provider #2517, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period:11/14/25-11/14/26. Social workers completing this course receive 2.5 clinical continuing education credits.

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