List and describe the six steps that have been identified as important for the development of cohesive, well-functioning groups.

To develop a cohesive, well-functioning group, facilitators must (1) establish an open, warm environment and productive leader-participant relationships. This can be achieved by showing empathy, appearing warm and genuine, and using relationship-building responses, attentive behavior, and effective body language ; (2) balance facilitator-generated and group-generated information by asking participants in the first session to identify their pressing concerns and then covering the most pressing problems first ; ( 3) design problem-solving strategies by providing opportunities for group problem solving instead of having the counselor tell participants what they need to do ; ( 4) provide the opportunity for group members to practice new skills; ( 5) use positive role models and pacing to keep the group motivated; and (6) ask for evaluation and feedback.