As people call in, we call them back and screen them over the phone. A. First through the intake procedure I just described. In the first meeting of the group we go over the ground rules, what the group is going to be about, what people can expect, how the process goes along, and the importance of attending each session. The pros for weekly are that the group facilitators are not tied up too long. When you have 8 sessions and meet weekly, you have a 2-month commitment.
Weekly sessions benefit the facilitators if they have a time constraint.
It is also helpful for people who join the group and may be leaving on vacation in two months. If they have other commitments, the shorter commitment is better. However, the bi-weekly sessions are good for people who need something to do with their time, and it gives them a regular place to meet with people for 4 months. It takes them through a longer period of their grief process. No, groups are not open-ended.