Some are organized as open-ended sessions with women developing the agenda from their expressed needs on the day they meet or for the entire series of sessions. Other groups have specific pre-planned themes for each session. The kind of group you decide to have will depend on a number of factors. The advantages are that women can experience a warm welcome from other group members. Group members can share what they learned as well as relearn when topics are repeated.
Women learn to work together with changing group dynamics.
However, when there is a pre-determined schedule in an open group, the repetition can slow down the process. The group dynamics change and bonding relationships may be more difficult to maintain. Closed Groups Closed groups generally do not accept new members after the second or third session because group members will have established a rapport and will have decided on the focus of their sessions. A new member who has not been part of the decision making may have greater difficulty building relationships and owning the process. Safety issues also make it important not to include new members after the initial group-building sessions.