Conceptualizing process

Current textbooks on group counseling, group therapy, and group psychotherapy were reviewed for definitions and descriptions of the term process. A wide variety of definitions and descriptions were found and categorized as structural, action, interactions and relationships, and types. Most did not distinguish between process at the micro level (focused on individuals) and process at the macro level (focused on the group as a whole). Presented and discussed are a proposed definition for process, the conceptual framework for elements in the proposed definition, and a schema for making process commentary that is illustrated with clinical vignettes.