The child abuse and support group is an open ended and ongoing group that meets once every week for 90 minutes at a child protective agency. This particular group session is comprised of a single session group whose members change from week to week. The intent of the group is to meet and discuss a single problem or issue facing group members that contribute to group member's stress or the increased likelihood that child neglect or abuse might occur. The intent of each session is to provide group members with support in a warm and nurturing environment so they are capable of discovering outlets to relieve their stress and support their families in the best manner possible given their situation. .

             Group Purpose.

             The purpose of the group is for clients to identify what personal behaviors and stressors contribute to upheaval in the family and can create an environment that facilitates neglect. It is also to help develop insight into how stress and other external factors can affect group member's mentality. Also, the aim of the group includes to help members identify ways to manage stress in their everyday lives and reduce the potential for neglect and create a loving and embracing environment. This group resembles a single session or time limited group therapy session rather than a long term group session as single problems are identified and approached in each group session.

             Area of investigation.

             The area of investigation for this analysis is issues of a single session group. In particularly the therapist will investigate the problems unique to time limited therapy and the unique problems and issues presented in a single session group exchange. .

             Agency Setting.

             The agency setting is a child protective type agency, child protective services. In this case a single session setting presents many unique challenges to the group dynamic discussed in the following paragraphs.

             Whitaker (2000) cites Budman & Gurman (1988) noting that in short-term, single session or time limited group psychotherapy it is important to structure the group in a manner that includes the start of a session, early therapeutic intervention, middle and late intervention and termination.