Week 4 Group Counseling and Group Work PDF

Week 3: Counseling and Helping Relationships • 1. Introduction to Group Counseling: • 3. Group Development Stages: • Forming: • Definition: Group counseling involves a therapeutic approach • Initial stage, members get acquainted and establish norms. where a counselor works with a small group of i...

Week 3: Counseling and Helping Relationships • 1. Introduction to Group Counseling: • 3. Group Development Stages: • Forming: • Definition: Group counseling involves a therapeutic approach • Initial stage, members get acquainted and establish norms. where a counselor works with a small group of individuals simultaneously to address shared concerns, foster mutual support, • Storming: • Conflict and resistance may arise. and facilitate personal growth. • Group roles and power dynamics become apparent. • Key Concepts: • Norming: • • • Group dynamics: Interactions and relationships within the group. Universality: Recognizing commonalities among group members. Norms: Shared expectations and rules within the group. • 2. Group Types and Structures: • Psychoeducational Groups: • • Focus on imparting information and teaching skills. Common in educational and preventive settings. • Process Groups: • • Emphasis on emotional expression and interpersonal interactions. Explore feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. • Counseling Groups: • • Led by a professional counselor. Focus on personal growth, problem-solving, and support. • Task Groups: • • Aimed at achieving specific goals or tasks. Common in organizational and workplace settings. • • • Open groups allow new members to join at any time. Closed groups have a fixed membership. Focus on task achievement and goal accomplishment. Group members work effectively together. Adjourning: • • Final stage, group disbands or transitions. Reflection on accomplishments and closure. • 4. Group Leadership Styles: • Facilitative Leadership: • • • • Encourages group members to take an active role. Fosters a collaborative and empowering environment. Directive Leadership: • • • Open vs. Closed Groups: • • Performing: • • • Cohesion increases, and norms stabilize. Trust and collaboration improve. Provides structure and guidance. More instructor-oriented. Transformational Leadership: • • Inspires and motivates group members. Focus on personal growth and transformation. • 5. Ethical and Legal Considerations: • 8. Group Termination and Follow-Up: • Confidentiality: • Termination Process: • • • Informed Consent: • • • Balancing individual privacy with group dynamics. Clarifying limits to confidentiality. Clearly communicating the purpose, structure, and risks of group counseling. Ensuring voluntary participation. Dual Relationships: • • Managing potential conflicts of interest. Maintaining professional boundaries. • 6. Group Interventions and Techniques: • Psychoeducation: • • • Acting out scenarios to explore feelings and behaviors. Enhances interpersonal skills. Feedback and Reflection: • • • Providing information and education. Skill-building sessions. Group members provide constructive feedback. Reflecting on personal experiences and insights. Monitoring and discussing group dynamics in real-time. Facilitates awareness and understanding. • 7. Cultural Sensitivity in Group Counseling: • Diversity and Inclusion: • • • Acknowledging and respecting cultural differences. Adapting interventions to be culturally sensitive. Intersectionality: • • Recognizing multiple dimensions of diversity. Considering the impact of various identities. • Summarizing achievements and future goals. Follow-Up: • Providing resources and support after group termination. • Ensuring a smooth transition for members. 9. Group Supervision: • Supervision Dynamics: • • Supervising counselors leading groups. • Reflecting on group dynamics and interventions. Professional Development: • Continuous learning and skill enhancement. • Addressing challenges and seeking feedback. • 10. Research and Evaluation in Group Counseling: • Outcome Measures: Process Observation: • • Preparing members for the end of the group. • Role Play: • • • • • • • Assessing the effectiveness of group interventions. • Utilizing pre and post-group measures. Evidence-Based Practices: • Incorporating research-supported interventions. • Staying informed about current research in group counseling. • Group advantages: • • • • • • • • • People learn in social context Experience social support Source of new behaviors Peer confrontation Able to play a variety of roles Biases are addressed more readily Safe place to practice counseling skills Spreads out the counselor Cost is less than individual counseling • Group Work/Group Sizes: • Children – 3 to 4 members • Adolescents – 6 to 8 members • Adults – 8 to 10 members • Group Times: • • • • Adults up to 2 hours Children 20 to 30 minutes Outpatient 90 min Inpatient shorter time • Stages of a Group • B. Tuckman • • • • • Forming Storming Norming Performing Mourning FSNPM • Irvin Yalom • • • • Orientation Conflict Cohesion Termination • Corey, Corey, Corey • Stages 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Pre-group Initial Transition Working Final OCCT Important Definitions Homogeneous – members have similar issues Heterogeneous – members have a variety of problems Horizontal Intervention – leaders work with groups as a WHOLE Vertical Intervention – leader provides INDIVIDUAL counseling in a group Risky Shift Phenomenon – people tend to shift towards social norms Group Conformity – members influence each other positively or negatively T-Group: Training groups (work environment) Self-help: members learn from each other and offer support (ex:weight-watchers) Tertiary: used for long or severe issues Secondary: reduces severity of an issue Primary: preventive; prevents issues or reduces affects of a problem • Group Task Roles • Positive Roles • Energizer: creates enthusiasm • Opinion seeker: seeks clarity • Opinion giver: adds facts and makes suggestions • Evaluator: judges • Gatekeeper: keeps peace, want to be the leader • Negative Roles • Scapegoat: Person blamed by others in group • Interrogator: asks tons of questions • Storyteller: hogs time with stories • Joker: makes insulting jokes about others of self • Help-seeker: pitied by others