Identifying the needs of a target group

Abstract

Groups can be run for a wide range of reasons such as:

• To address social skills, improve problem solving skills, improve self-esteem and to teach children to play

• For relaxation training, promoting insight, anger management, treating depression

• For children with mental health diagnoses (either as inpatients or outpatients), children with a particular problem (such as ADHD), with specific behaviour problems and substance abuse problems

• For children of alcoholic parents and of separated or divorced parents

• For children who have been, or are part of, violent families, suffer from chronic or terminal illness, have a relative who suffers from chronic or terminal illness, have been, or are at risk of being, sexually abused, suffer from excessive anxiety, have study or other school performance problems

When running groups it is important to target children with similar needs.