Group Plan and Goals

The first phase of the APT group will begin with a core of six members and a group leader. The group leader will have supervision. Each member will be required to download and install the Traveler software. Group members have the option of maintaining some anonymity as the software allows the user to select a name for the chosen avatar and the user profile information, if any, is whatever is entered by that user.

The APT group will be initially conducted in much the same fashion as a personal growth, encounter, or T-Group (Yalom, 1985). The group will meet for five weeks for 1.5 to 2 hours each weekly session. This time includes time set aside to process the evening's session and look at what has been learned.

The goal of this first phase is to gain experience in the conduct of a realtime online group of this type and explore its potential as a means of training mental health professionals in online therapeutic methods.

Phase two will explore the group as a means of mental health service delivery by conducting a group where members assume the role of a person suffering from a disorder of some kind. This group format can allow the exploration of various disorders to find which can be effectively dealt with online.

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Basic Group Rules

The APT group follows many of the standards of traditional face to face groups however due to the electronic nature of APT, the standard set of rules must be expanded slightly to cover other opportunities. The standard core rules involve the maintaining of confidentiality, group matters stay within the group, be polite and offer constructive criticism rather than put downs, don't interrupt. These rules must be extended due to the remote nature of the group membership.

The software allows for private text messages to be passed between two members. This is not allowed as it may promote subgrouping and interfere with the cohesion of the group. Also private communication via email or telephone during group meetings is not permitted. The aim is to keep the discussions within the group for the benefit of all the group members.

Other group rules and norms will be developed as the group organizes and progresses through various stages.

Next - The Meeting Space

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