Why did Linda strongly urge these men to come together for a face-to?face group? How appropriate was Linda’s urging? When might this encroach upon self-determination?

Question

As an employee of a private, nonprofit HIV/AIDS clinic in a rural North Carolina community, Linda Summerfield’s job was to provide direct services to people with HIV/AIDS as well as to connect them with resources. Aware of their needs, she also respected their need for confidentiality and anonymity in an area where issues surrounding HIV/AIDS were highly charged and prejudice was common. In 1999, Linda was also eager to help six men in her caseload who were struggling with uncertainty, loneliness, and isolation. Aware of their shared needs, she believed in the healing power of group work for such clients. Although initially reluctant, the six men agreed to “meet” via telephone and, despite their apprehension and some technical difficulties, after five weeks all agreed that the experience was helpful. But when meeting via telephone became unworkable, Linda faced decisions over whether and how or where to persuade the men to continue meeting.

Answer 1

Linda was an experienced group facilitator and knew that group work was an excellent intervention for people with the kinds of concerns these men experienced: isolation and loneliness. She knew that support groups also served as powerful interventions for issues of loss, such as the friendships, employment, and health that these men faced. Linda believed that empowerment was key to effective social work and that establishing a group would empower these men to support and learn from one another as well as to provide safe companionship.
Linda very much wanted the men to come together in spite of their fears. She was also under pressure from her supervisor to end the telephone group. If she had insisted that these men form a support group to continue receiving services, however, or if she required it, this could violate their self-determination.