Group Proposal Essay

     What is groupthink? There is a simple definition for it, but is it truly that simple? The term groupthink refers to the inclination of group members to have the same opinions and beliefs; it frequently leads to mistakes. It often occurs without an individual being aware of it. Conflict is considered to be a harmful element when related to groups, but conflict is good when considering groupthink because it helps to eliminate the existence of a groupthink. The explanation sounds simple enough, but it is more complex than the description given.

Jacobs, E. E., Masson, R. L., Harvill, R. L., & Schimmel, C. J. (2012). Group counseling: Strategies and skills (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.

I selected Gladding’s model (2008) to evaluate 12 Angry Men with contemplation and thought after viewing the film and reviewing the reading selections. Gladding’s model goes through the five stages of forming/orientation, transition storming/norming, performing/working, and mourning/termination. After careful consideration of the various models presented in the text, I found that Gladding’s model provided the appropriate stages that were evidenced in the video. I also admire and respect Gladding’s work, so it was a great choice to analyze further. The movie 12 Angry Men depicts a superb model of a group who face challenges and responsibilities, while trying to reach a goal. Throughout the film you are able to see the characters working together, forming relationships, emerging leaders, collaboration, cohesion, and respect among the men. Overall, it reveals how groups work and what can take place in a group setting. Crespi (2008) states, “Group counseling initiatives are one important service that can help children” (p.273). As an aspiring school counselor it is imperative that effective group counseling skills are learned so they can be utilized to best help students.

I learned two significant things about group counseling in this course. The first thing that I learned is the importance of setting up a treatment plan. The intention is to follow the client from their entrance into the program until the client is discharged. In this process the clients’ problems are identified through various assessments and as each problem is addressed, it is checked off of the list. Once all of the problems are checked off of the list, the client is considered as having completed the plan. This plan is especially important because it evokes thoughtful conversation between the client and the counselor and is the best method to gain information from the client regarding the help they want to receive. The second most significant thing that I learned about group counseling is how to design a group from start to finish. From pre group design, planning the goals of the group and determining the members to setting up the environment and structuring the sessions, each step adds its own important components to designing group counseling.

The purpose of the study is to determine the effectiveness of anger management training, specifically, with adolescent males with conduct disorder (Gliner, Harmon, & Morgan, 2000).

Purpose of the group counseling varies from group to group. It can be therapeutic, educational, or helping people to make fundamental changes in their way of thinking, feeling and behaving (Corey, 2004, p. 7). Group counseling/therapy has the advantage of being more effective than individual therapy because, it more closely stimulates social interactions and interpersonal communication patterns than does individual counseling (Kottler, 2004, p. 260). The techniques and strategies use in group counseling are to help resolve members’ interpersonal conflict, promote greater self-awareness and insight, and help them work to eliminate their self-defeating

In this paper I will describe and analyze my experience working in a group situation, writing a paper on the movie 12 Angry Men. I will address therapeutic communication techniques used in our group situation. I will address any conflicts that arose in our group. Utilizing Tuckman’s group process theory, I will also address the effectiveness of our group process.

The treatment goal is for the client to learn effective ways to manage her anger. The primary goal is for the client to identify strategies and techniques that will allow her to deal with her anger and to recognize events and cues that can trigger her anger to intensify. Another goal is for the client to analyze family patterns and how her family dealt with anger and other emotions and how past interactions can impact her current thoughts, feelings and behaviors. By identifying strategies and recognizing cues and past patterns the client will be able to focus on managing her anger and using effective techniques in order to reduce her anger.

Children with ADHD are in need of a group that will help to improve their academic functioning. This group would be important for children with ADHD because those with ADHD have significant impairment in multiple domains of functioning. “The most problematic is academic impairments because children with ADHD will most likely be retained, placed in special education, and drop out of school

Group therapy is an important method that is commonly used by psychiatric professionals in the treatment of many types of mental illnesses. They consist of three or more people and are targeted at promoting psychological development and change. There are three different types of groups. The task group works by using tasks, such as activities and techniques, designed to help clients work toward desired goals. In addition, midrange groups work by allowing clients to share their thoughts and feelings with others who have learned to cope with similar problems over a longer period of time. Lastly, process groups work by allowing clients to work on their communicating patterns, skills and methods (Fortinash & Holoday Worrett, 2008).

In the past few years, community agencies have increasingly used groups since various groups have become a common feature of today's society. Some of the most common groups in today's society include groups for women, men, parent education, children, HIV/AIDS support, and those for reducing substance abuse. Due to the increased use of groups by communities, there are various approaches that have emerged including group counseling and group psychotherapy. Group counseling is a designed preventive and remedial approach to meet the needs of specific population in the society like women, men, the elderly, adolescents, and children. On the contrary, group psychotherapy is a re-education process of the present and past through conscious and unconscious awareness.

Looking for new and more effective ways to treat the issues of their clients, counselors and therapists may often begin to consider leading a group therapy session. Group therapy is a form of therapy in which a therapist either treats or provides psychoeducational skills to a small, carefully planned target group of individuals in an effort to ameliorate the issues and dysfunctions of each individual in that particular group of patients together (Scheidlinger, 2004). In this group, therapists often utilize some of the psychotherapy theories such as Gestalt, transactional analysis, psychotherapy or psychodrama which they often use to treat clients individually.

Group counseling may be adverted to as a course of counseling, which takes a group of people coming together under one or more trained therapists, who simultaneously facilitate them and promote them to help one another to overcome their challenges. The group members are usually peers who may not necessarily face the same problem, but their problems may be linked. According to Jacobs, Masson, Harvill and Schimmel (2012), all members in a counseling group wish and desire personal growth. This kind of therapy has been employed over the years and it has produced excellent results in the lives of the group members.

The anger management group is designed to serve combat veterans or those who have suffered a traumatic event while in the military. In the ten-weeks of group meetings, facilitators will focus on teaching coping skills along with educating veterans by introducing themes and concepts relating to anger management and control. Facilitators will introduce a new theme and skill every week with the expectation of active participation by the veterans. Ideally, group meetings are meant to held at VA outpatient clinics that focus on treating PTSD and providing readjustment counseling. As reported, group therapy has a significant power to help people gain a sense of greater personal, interpersonal, and environmental control over their lives (Gitterman,

This article closely examines different ethical, legal, and treatment issues that arise in school group counseling. The author starts by looking at some of the psychological issues that effect school aged children. He also suggest some appropriate topics to offer group counseling on such as a divorce group, a drug and alcohol abuse group, or a physical abuse group. The article goes on to explain several different types of group intervention such as educational guidance groups, counseling groups, and therapy groups. Five different stages of groups; forming stage, storming stage, norming