Group Mentoring

Group mentoring refers to a broad array of “natural” or programmatic contexts in which one or more mentors meet on a recurring basis with at least two mentees. Consistent with widely accepted definitions of mentoring, group mentoring includes mentors who offer their experience to help guide their mentees’ growth and development through fostering an emotional bond among all the members of the group. The approach emphasizes group [Page 333]process and building a strong relationship, or alliance, among mentors and mentees as primary means of targeting development. These emphases differentiate group mentoring from other types of group activities, including self- and mutual-help groups, group psychotherapy, and skills training.

The popularity of group mentoring programs has far outpaced research documenting their effectiveness. However, there is evidence, albeit inconclusive, ...