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If Only They Were Adults My Job Would Be Easier

There is a misconception about group work with children and youth that I encountered midway through my career. While at Youth Directions and Alternatives, a small youth agency on suburban Long Island, New York, one of my staff members with whom I worked intensely around the “chaos” he was experiencing in his group blurted out one day, “If only they were adults my job would be easier.” This worker was an MSW. I tried diligently to bring him to a place where he could understand the dynamics of group work with adolescents. However, he struggled throughout the group and could not see the gains his clients were making. He just felt things were “out of control.” This particular worker never did develop a comfort level with his role as group facilitator and eventually moved on to a different position within a year of being hired. My first professional group work experience was at a Settlement House in the Bronx, NY. I was hired, after completing my graduate degree from Teachers College of Columbia University in Family and Community Education, to facilitate groups for parents of newborns. I came to the position with limited group work experience. As I started out, I found myself feeling lost and confused in the groups. I was fortunate to be supervised by someone with a strong belief and significant training in group work. The weekly supervision, process recordings and overall support were extremely beneficial. I was given the opportunity to share my frustrations and fears and critically analyze my work in a