Josephine Catalanotto

Fellow group members would describe me as empathetic, culturally aware, and communicative. In my NUR361 Older Person placement, I recognized the importance of fostering inclusivity and mutual respect. Balzer-Riley emphasizes that respect and genuine understanding create trust, essential for effective group functioning (Balzer-Riley, 2024, p. 220). This concept shaped my approach to working with a diverse patient population, including an Italian man with whom I shared a cultural connection. He expressed his desire to garden again, a goal central to his recovery. Drawing on our shared Italian background, I relayed his goal to his occupational therapist, ensuring his voice was fully heard, especially given the language barrier.

My top three group member traits are empathy, active listening, and proactive communication. In line with Balzer-Riley's concept of active listening as a foundation for therapeutic relationships (Balzer-Riley, 2024, p. 185), I actively listened to a blind patient who valued someone who would genuinely listen. By encouraging his participation in music sessions, I aimed to support his well-being through meaningful activity, underscoring my commitment to each patient’s unique goals and background.

Something I’m working on when doing group work is maintaining openness to feedback. While I value growth-oriented feedback, I sometimes find myself sensitive to it, particularly when it highlights personal areas for development. Balzer-Riley describes feedback as an opportunity to build self-awareness (Balzer-Riley, 2024, p. 189), and I strive to integrate this mindset to better welcome and learn from constructive input.

Reflecting on my clinical placement experience, my role in the group often leaned toward creating a supportive and collaborative environment, which aligns closely with the "maintenance" role in group dynamics, as described in Balzer-Riley (2024). Maintenance roles focus on group cohesion and ensuring each member feels valued, a mindset that helped me approach my group openly and inclusively. I aimed to be approachable and encourage open communication, particularly when addressing diverse perspectives within our team. This not only supported our patients’ needs but also promoted an atmosphere where each team member felt their input was respected.