Social ecology: a method for evaluating groups.

The applicability of social ecology as a means to evaluate psychotherapy groups is discussed by means of a case example. A Couples' Growth in a community alcohol treatment programme was used to demonstrate a social ecological approach to the assessment and description of groups. Members' and leaders' perceptions of the group's social environment, as well as perceptions of an ideal group, were determined via a recently developed Group Environment Scale. This assessment pointed to areas of discrepancies, and the results were validated in a "group feedback session". Systematic data on the social ecology of groups will enable clinicians to better evaluate and describe this treatment setting in which behaviour change is being attempted.