Types of Groups
What kind of group has aims at preventive and educational purposes — utilizes methods of interactive feedback within a here-and-now time framework.
Counseling Groups
What is the first stage of group? List one aspect of that stage
Forming a group
ex. Screening process, group proposal
What is one facilitator characteristic you believe is important the group setting as a facilitator
responses vary
Challenges that pertain to the standards that govern the conduct of professional members. These standards can be found in the ethics codes of the various professional organizations
Ethical issues
These are all elements of what perspective in group?
Culture encompassing the values, beliefs, and
behaviors shared by a group of people
Culture is learned in groups
Effective group work involves considering culture
of participants
Cultural similarities and differences need to be
addressed in a group
Multicultural Group perspective
What kind of group provides members with targeted education on a variety of psychological issues or informational deficits.
Psychoeducational Groups
What is one element that is essential in the initial stage of group? WHY
helps members get acclimated to group process and begin work
T or F: Humor is useful in a group setting
True! Humor can provide an opportunity to connect with members, refocus the group, build the therapeutic alliance, or drive a point in group
Provide an example of how you might approach conflicts in group as a facilitator
ex. discussing with group as a whole or individually depending on the situation
do not avoid conflict confrontation
What are some considerations when working with groups in schools?
Know your state’s laws regarding group work with minors
• Do not tell children that you can keep everything they discuss confidential
• Plan to secure parental or guardian written permission
• Communicate your expectations to those in your group
• Emphasize confidentiality
What kind of group is time limited, a structured group with clear ground rules
Brief groups
Provide an example of group norms you might use in a group you are running
Examples of group norms
• Expectation of promptness and regular attendance
• Sharing meaningful aspects of themselves
• Expectation of giving feedback
• Encouraged to support and challenge others
• Encouraged to focus on the here-and-now
Give three elements of being an effective group facilitator
Examples:
Courage
• Willingness to Model
• Presence
• Goodwill, Genuineness, and Caring
• Belief in Group Process
• Openness
• Nondefensiveness in Coping With Criticism
• Becoming Aware of Subtle Culture Issues
Describe one ethical dilemma in groups
Examples:
confidentiality
informed consent
countertransference
transference
What is the difference between countertransference and transference!
Transference: feelings clients project onto the
counselor, which are rooted in the members’ past
relationships
• Countertransference: when counselors project their
own unresolved conflicts onto the client and can be
damaging to members
This kind of group focuses on bereavement refering to the exploration of feelings generated by a significant loss
Grief Groups
What elements make the final stage of group so important?
The final stage of a group is vital – members have
an opportunity to:
• Clarify and integrate the meaning of their
experiences in the group
• Consolidate the gains they have made
• Decide what newly acquired behaviors and
changes they are committed to bringing to their
everyday lives
Examples:
Being Able to Identify With a Client’s Pain
• Personal power
• Stamina
• Commitment to Self-Care
• Self-Awareness
• Sense of humor
• Inventiveness
• Personal Dedication and Commitment
Provide 3 examples of problematic behaviors of group members
Ex: Silence
• Monopolistic behavior
• Storytelling
• Questioning
• Giving advice
• Dependency
• Offering pseudosupport
• Hostile behavior
• Acting superior
• Socializing
• Intellectualizing
• Members becoming
assistant leaders
Describe one ethical dilemma within group therapy during the final stage
Answers may vary...
Provide 3 examples for groups within the community
Women’s and men’s groups
• Domestic violence groups
• Substance abuse use disorder
• Support groups for survivors of incest
• Older adult aging groups
• Older adult bereavement groups
• Institutionalized older adults
What are 3 elements needed when terminating a group?
Tasks of the final stage of a closed group
• Dealing with feelings of separation
• Compare early and later perceptions in the group
• Dealing with unfinished business
• Personal gestures in expressing the meaning of a
group experience
• Reviewing the group experience
Practice for behavioral change
• Carrying learning further
• Giving and receiving feedback
• Use of a contract and homework
• Dealing with setbacks
• Guidelines for applying group learning to life
Provide two examples of the benefits of a co-leader approach to groups
Examples
Decreases the chance of burnout
• Less overwhelming to respond to the needs of the group
• Co-leader peer supervision is beneficial
• Can be helpful in managing countertransference
• Co-leader can help process members’ reactions to other
leader
• If one leader is absent, the group can still meet with the
other
List 1 example of leader/coleader challenges that could present at each stage of group: Forming, initial, transition, working, final
answers will vary
Using one theory...explain how it is applied in the group setting ie. leader roles, member roles, group focus, goals, structure
Example:
Behavior Therapy
• The members and therapist collaboratively specify
treatment goals in concrete, measurable, and objective
terms
• Leaders tend to be active and directive and to function
as consultants and problem solvers
• Behavioral interventions are individually tailored to
specific problems experienced by different group
members
• Some techniques are relaxation methods, behavioral
rehearsal, coaching, guided practice, mindfulness
skills, cognitive restructuring, and systematic
desensitization