Psychology

A simple way to remember the stages of group therapy is as follows: form, storm, norm, perform, and adjourn. For its members, a therapy group begins with the group’s first gathering (form). Early meetings are frequently accompanied by some level of conflict (storm) as members learn to work together and establish the “rules” of the group. As members become more comfortable with the process (norm), their ability to work toward a common goal improves (perform). This is when the bulk of the therapy group’s productivity occurs. Finally, when the desired results have been achieved, the group terminates (adjourn). There are more scientific names associated with these stages, and there can be sub-stages, as well, but the underlying concepts of progression and change over time remain the same.