Joining A Graduate Student Support Group Essay

From my goals I have set I have learn to do my assignments all on time, I set my self a target which was during holiday time I will have one week of fun and the other week of doing assignment and it has heled me.

At one point in a person life, they will participated in a group whether it is part of a specific committee, therapy, or social group. In recent years, there has been a rise in counseling within a group forum veering from the tradition individual counseling. Therapists, physiologist, and counselors believe that form of counseling is beneficial to both counselor and client. This allows the counselor to help several clients at once rather than one at a time decreasing their strenuous workload and demanding work hours. This form of counseling integrate individual that share similar issues, struggles, and experiences into one forum. This not only allows the clients to learn from the therapist but from their fellow group members. The group experience

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 process of running a group therapy session is a unique time to tests a person’s skills abilities when it comes to facilitating that group. This paper will mainly look at ways when it comes to my learning's of this class that I took ways; I will also show examples and skills to run a good group therapy session. This whole paper is a reflection of the many things that I took was on being an active group counselor facilitator.

The power of support groups, especially when peer run can have a sign cant impact on the individual. It is vital to realize that “Compared to recent group members, longstanding group members used less medication and treatment services, had higher levels of well-being and less neurotic distress” (Solomon, 2009). Many of them also became leaders of the groups. Many times while I have personally sat in on our Hope and Recovery Group (Peer Lead), I have seen a massive shift in many of the people in our group. The socialization of each individual is profound! Many of the group members never said a word for months and now they are vibrant, full of zeal and vivaciousness. An interesting point that is brought up by Ley is the statement that “People

Compulsive gamblers groups were of high interest to me, because my father was an obsessive gambler. The group was spearheaded by a lady who is a LPC. In Gam-Anon the member will experience relief from anxiety by accepting the fact of powerlessness over the problem in the family. The heavy load of responsibility for the gambling problem is lifted and the agonizing guilt in regard to failures is gradually alleviated. The energy wasted in attempts to stop loved ones from gambling can be channeled into more useful methods of problem solving. The group meets every Thursday. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop gambling. There are no dues or fees for Gamblers Anonymous membership; we are self-supporting through our own

Support Group maybe to advance for client or not the right fit: I have noticed that some support groups are run like a family reunion, everybody knows everybody, accept the newcomer. I know that the most important person in the group is supposed to be the newcomer but that is not always the case. I have witness the regulars dominating the session while other group member just sit back because they know that this is what this person does on a regular basics, leaving little time for the newcomer to fit in. I’ve learned that the counselor/clinician must consider the best fit when referring a client, especially a newcomer who does not know what to expect from a support

The group is considered a support group because it consists of women who share the same experience and seek comfort with one another. “Support groups bring

I have attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in the past; I would attend the meetings with family or friends as their support. My earliest experience was around the age of thirteen when I attended the meeting in support of my father. To this day, I don’t forget the story the speaker told us. I listened to a man who spoke of the suffering alcohol and drugs caused his family. He told us about the day he died alone at home with his two young children. The oldest child was seven years old and was able to call for assistance. The story left me in tears, understanding how his children must feel with the death of their father an everyday threat. Walking into the AA meeting for my assignment, I never expected to feel nervous. One thing that I didn’t account for was the fact that this time I would be alone. The fear that I felt wasn’t of the people that were going to be there, it was more the fear of being an outsider. I couldn’t just state that I was there to support a loved one. I didn’t expect that I would feel as though I wouldn’t be welcomed. However, as I walked into the dated brick building, I was immediately greeted with kindness and my nerves were put at ease.

The Cokesbury United Methodist Church grief support group follows a thirteen-week curriculum from GriefShare, however, new members can join in at any time as each week has a “self-contained” lesson. The topic for the week I attendee focused on the “why” of losing a loved one. Through following this curriculum, the group seeks to equip members with “essentials to recover from the hurt of grief and loss.” (GriefShare, n.d.) The group focuses on helping members rebuild their lives after they experience tremendous loss and grief through facing the challenge together. (GriefShare, n.d.)

As I began the Group Process and Dynamics course, I was excited to become educated and experienced with group counseling. Group counseling is a topic I have enjoyed in the past and have continued to be fascinated by. I have learned the elements of a group process through observation and research. The group process consists of several elements that come together when the group begins and ends when the group is terminated. I have observed group norms, group cohesion, the generation of trust, the manifestation of resistance, the emergence of conflict and resolution, healing forces, the reactions of group members, and the various stages a group develops through (Corey, Corey, & Corey, 2010). Throughout this course, I was able to derive a conceptualization of groups. From this course I will take with me the understanding of how effective group counseling can be for individuals. Groups have been known to be as effective as individual therapy and a great source of treatment. Group counseling is designed as a part of a treatment plan that helps individuals and guide them through change. Group counseling is a versatile practice, which can be used in several settings and with different populations (Corey et al., 2010). This course has given me the opportunity to reflect on my own personal leadership style, the challenges that may arise, and an action plan to continue my group leadership knowledge and skills.

Support groups bring together people facing similar issues, whether that's illness, relationship problems or major life changes. Members of support groups often share experiences and advice. It can be helpful just getting to talk with other people who are in the same boat. While not everyone wants or needs support beyond that offered by family and friends, you may find it helpful to turn to others outside your immediate circle. A support group can help you cope better and feel less isolated as you make connections with others facing similar challenges. A support group shouldn't replace your standard medical care, but it can be a valuable resource to help you cope (Staff, 2013).

Important factors I learned for professional development from this observation and the learning modules is that empathy does not necessarily mean sharing the same experience, you can still feel empathetic because you have experienced similar emotions such as depression, stress, anxiety, etc. Member participation is equally important as the person facilitating the group, essential learning involves everyone 's participation. Observing a variety of groups exposes the facilitator to different experiences, cultures, people, scenarios, ideas, and challenges. The reading material in the modules expanded my awareness of group roles, dynamic, stages of group development,

I used to believe that I did not perform very well in groups. I am an observer who likes to learn alone. I thought I learned best when I worked on my own. Even though I always knew group work had many positive values, I was more comfortable with the lecture-based approach and resisted group work merely because it involved change, not because it had a collaborative learning approach. However, during the learning community project, I came to realize that I learn more effectively when I work in groups. Working in a group was like an adventure for me; there were both exciting and challenging times while preparing for the learning community project.

I am the kind of person who wants things done yesterday. With school, family, and life in general – it does not work that way. If I even think too much about the classes I still need to complete before I am even eligible to be in my major, I get bogged down. Instantly I get overwhelmed and feel like giving up. This quote has reminded me to slow down. “The secret of your success is determined by your daily agenda”. This is telling me that you cannot have ultimate goal without finishing the small tasks it takes to get there