Lecture Slides Ch 9 Group Counselling PDF

Group Counselling Group Work ▪ Broad professional practice ▪ Application of knowledge and skills by group facilitators ▪ Assists a collection of individuals to achieve mutual goals that may be intrapersonal, interpersonal, or work-related Types of Groups ▪ Task/work ▪ Psychoeducational ▪ Couns...

Group Counselling Group Work ▪ Broad professional practice ▪ Application of knowledge and skills by group facilitators ▪ Assists a collection of individuals to achieve mutual goals that may be intrapersonal, interpersonal, or work-related Types of Groups ▪ Task/work ▪ Psychoeducational ▪ Counselling ▪ Psychotherapy ▪ Peer support Task/Work Groups ▪ Promote efficiency, accomplishment of group goals ▪ 12 or fewer group members ▪ Time depends on task, ranges from 30 min – 2 hours ▪ Almost any environment – work, school, community organizations, religious settings Psychoeducational Groups ▪ Inform, develop skills/meaning ▪ Average size is 20-40 members ▪ Mental health, social service agencies, hospitals, education, work environments ▪ 8-10 sessions (50 min – 2 hours) ▪ May be a single session Counselling Groups ▪ Prevention, growth, remediation, interpersonal and group dynamics ▪ 8-12 adults, smaller size for children ▪ Schools, mental health agencies, employee assistance programs ▪ Regular meetings, approx. 20-90 mins Psychotherapy Groups ▪ Personal and interpersonal problems of living; some severe, remedial, reconstructive ▪ Group size depends on whether open or close-ended, may include 2 or 3 – 12 members ▪ Hospitals, clinics, mental health and social services agencies ▪ Regular meetings, long-term, 60-120 minutes Selection of Group Members ▪ Screening group members for readiness, compatible needs & goals ▪ A two-way process ▪ Pre-group interviews ▪ Composition of membership important ▪ Homogeneous vs. heterogeneous Open vs. Closed Groups ▪ Open groups admit new ▪ Closed groups promote members after the group more cohesiveness among has started group members ▪ Ability to replace lost members rather quickly ▪ Often long-term groups The Setting ▪ Space that can comfortably and safely accommodate the group ▪ Physical structure – the arrangement of group members ▪ Seating arrangement is important Theoretical Orientations Considerations: ▪ Do I need a theoretical base for conducting the group? ▪ What uses will the theory best serve? ▪ What criteria will be used in the selection process?  Systems Approach ▪ Each element in the system is affected by whatever happens to any other element ▪ Includes group leader(s), group members, and the group as a whole ▪ Group members are always deciding between their needs for differentiating themselves and integrating with others Systems Approach Small or seemingly insignificant events make a difference in a group: ▪ Presence or absence of a group member ▪ Withholding or divulging feelings ▪ The passage of time ▪ Groups as systems, with many parts, are constantly in a state of flux  Group Dynamics The following influence group development and productivity: Group content ▪ Includes the words, ideas & information exchanged & the purpose of the group Group process ▪ The interaction of group members, often in some meaningful way Need for Balance Group Dynamics ▪ Confidentiality - essential for creating safety ▪ Managing conflict ▪ Differing personalities & communication styles ▪ Self-disclosure ▪ Feedback Group Structure Group exercises and activities ▪ The inclusion of ice breakers, structured activities & games can promote experiential learning Group interactions ▪ Nonverbal & verbal behaviours The Group Experience ▪ Instill hope ▪ Universality & connection ▪ Altruism ▪ Interpersonal learning (modelling, social skills, gaining insight) ▪ New knowledge ▪ Catharsis Group Leadership Styles ▪ Authoritarian ▪ Expert role, direct the movement of the group ▪ Democratic ▪ Facilitators of the group process, not directors ▪ Laissez-faire ▪ Group-centered perspective ▪ Leaderless groups ▪ Rotate the leadership role, NA, AA Effective Group Leaders ▪ Personal qualities ▪ Interpersonal & intrapersonal style of leadership ▪ Core and specific group skills Key Leadership Skills ▪ Cutting off ▪ Drawing out ▪ Holding the focus ▪ Shifting the focus ▪ Using eyes (paying attention to nonverbals) ▪ Tying things together Co-leaders ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES ▪ Ease of handling difficult ▪ Lack of coordinated situations efforts ▪ Modelling ▪ Too leader focused ▪ Feedback ▪ Competition ▪ Shared knowledge ▪ Collusion ▪ Practical considerations Group Process ▪ Forming ▪ Storming ▪ Norming ▪ Performing (working) ▪ Mourning (closing) Forming 1. Develop a rationale for the group 2. Decide on a theoretical format 3. Weigh practical considerations 4. Publicize the group 5. Screening & pre-training 6. Select group members 7. Select group leader Forming ▪ Creating safety ▪ Dealing with apprehension ▪ Setting group rules & goals ▪ Setting limits ▪ Promoting positive interchange among members Storming ▪ A time of conflict and anxiety ▪ Members compete with others to find their place in the group ▪ May manifest as resistance, confrontation, defensiveness, conflict, avoidance, or transference ▪ Issues related to structure, direction, control, catharsis, and interpersonal relationships Norming ▪ Norms are expectations about group members’ behaviours that should or should not take place ▪ Group norms regulate the performance of the group as an organized unit ▪ Group norming is the feeling of “we-ness”, identity, cohesiveness that comes when individuals feel they belong to a group Performing ▪ Focuses on the achievement of individual and group goals ▪ Problem-solving stage ▪ Includes 40-60% of total group time ▪ Intimacy, self-disclosure, feedback, teamwork, confrontation, and humor Mourning ▪ Termination is a transition event that ends one set of conditions so another experience can begin Ending Group Sessions ▪ Member summaries ▪ Leader summary ▪ Go-Rounds ▪ Dyads ▪ Written reactions ▪ Feedback and rating sheets Ending Groups ▪ Reviewing & summarizing the group experience ▪ Assessing members growth ▪ Finishing business ▪ Applying change to everyday life ▪ Ceremonial close (structured activities) ▪ Saying good-bye References ▪ Gladding, S. T. (2008). Groups: A counseling specialty (5th ed.). Columbus, OH: Pearson Prentice Hall. ▪ Gladding, S. T., & Alderson, K. (2012). Counselling: A comprehensive profession. Toronto, ON: Pearson Education Canada.