The Leadership Of Group Therapy

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

As a potential group leader I have learned a few things about myself in terms of my interactions with the clients. I am patient with my clients because I understand that it takes time for clients to build trust in the counselor and because it also takes time for a client to accept their situation allowing them to move toward positive change. I am a good listener because I realize that as a counselor, I have to allow my clients the

After doing the “Self-Assessment of Group Leadership Skills” (Corey, Corey, & Corey,2018), I concluded that I have two strength group leadership skills which are active listening and reflecting. Active listening is one of the essential skills a counselor can possess. The counselor has to be able to listen and pay attention to every detail that his or her clients are discussing and presenting in the session (Corey, Corey, & Corey,). During the technique in counseling class, I realize that I was very good at active listening

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.

After completing the group task of preparing a presentation on, transferring individual facilitation skills into a group work setting I will critically reflect upon my own participation. I will evaluate my self-awareness while working in the group, as well as those around me. The way that I personally dealt with any issues that arose within the group and how that affected the group dynamics. I will also briefly discuss the roles in which each member of the group took and how role allocation affected, the group dynamics and the working relationships. Finally I will evaluate my work having discussed it with my fellow group members.

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

The first time I personally experienced attending a group therapy was part of my course. Through this experience i can say that group therapy can be very powerful in healing a person emotionally and since the members were from the same class, where we all have similar goals. Group therapy helped all of us to establish meaningful and intimate relationship and we also recognised commanality of members needs and problems and to develop a sense of bonding and we became very close and we could also be there for each other during emotionally trying times.It also helped me to increase self-growth, self acceptance and self –confidence among oneself and group members. Group therapy is a powerful venue for growth and change. It also helped me in expressing my emotions in a healthy way.

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.

Leadership can be demonstrated by anyone in a work environment, on a sports team, in a group of friends, or any number of other situations. Individual traits distinguish a leader. It is someone who takes charge because they have the knowledge and ability to handle situations that arise and can delegate, teach, and encourage followers to perform in a way that will provide a positive outcome to the situation. An example of leadership is seen often in my job setting as a Mental Health Counselor. We often are faced with dangerous situations where patients become a danger to themselves or others (crisis). When a crisis occurs, several staff arrive to assist and help de-escalate the situation. All staff involved are within the same title as Mental Health Counselor, but there is always someone who has been in many situations like the present, knows what they are doing, and is confident in their ability to make the situation go as smoothly as possible. This person will inevitably become the leader of the crisis and delegates who will go into what position in the restraint, who will keep track of time, who will notify the nurses, and who will communicate with the patient in order to regain safety.

Leadership skills are important to developing a successful and effective group session. Leaders can include nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, recreational therapists, occupational therapists, and other types of mental health workers. Leaders need to have the skills to develop behavioral rules to maintain positive function, facilitate communication between clients, and direct the group in meeting their desired goals. The role of the leader is to be open, sincere, kind, warm, positive, honest, and flexible. This allows clients to feel trust, freedom and confidentiality. It is also important for leaders to act as role models, set boundaries, and up-hold rules and procedures. This encourages clients to express their thoughts

Group work has been a cornerstone of the social work profession and requires a variety of facilitator skills and awareness of group processes. The SSLDTM Group Program for People with Difficulties in Social Situations (Socialwork1914, 2017) provides an excellent example of a psycho-educational group co-facilitated by two female social workers, Jane and Karen. After viewing the 6th session of this 8-week program, I began to understand how the concepts of group formation/development, interpersonal dynamics, and leadership styles contribute to successful group work outcomes.

Group counseling not only allows for members to learn from their therapist, it also allows for them to learn from personal experiences of other members and to gain insights and ideas on the issues they are confronting. Group counseling also helps in improving social skills among the members as they are able to interact freely in and out of the group. This way members can be more confident and open to interactions during the sessions. Group therapy influences growth and change to those involved. Also, it increases their self-awareness and enables them to gain sustenance from each other. Group counseling is also favorable to the therapist as they are able to gain faster and more efficient results for their members by counseling them simultaneously rather than one at a time. Jacobs, Mason, Harvill and Schimmel (2012) describe group counseling

substantial information about the group process. As I have learned in this program, group therapy is a powerful form of therapy that allows group members to complete their therapeutic goals in a group setting. As a therapist, I believe it is essential to experience what group process is like. For this class assignment we were required to record a video session of a group session demonstrating skills discussed by Yalom in our required text. This paper will serve the purpose to explore my reaction of the experience of leading the group, reflections on the Yalom skills I incorporated, and my views on the strengths I displayed as a leader. In addition, I will explore ways I can improve as a group leader. From this assignment, my hope is to complete a session with tenants of Yalom, and make improvements to my therapeutic style.

The group therapy leader is one of the most essential variables that will influence the group’s success or breakdown. Group therapy leaders need to have very important group leadership skills before they can go into helping individuals deal with their own problems. Group leaders must have knowledge of how groups best function and that they individual posses the skills to intervene in timely and effective ways. When a group leader creates a group climate that fosters interpersonal norms such as directness, openness, respect and concern for one another, these norms will create therapeutic interactions among the members. Essential leader behavior is to cultivate a group climate that is secure, constructive, and encouraging, yet strong enough to at times withstand highly charged emotions, challenges, and interactions between members. In addition to personal characteristics, group leaders need to acquire a body of knowledge and a set of skills specific to group work. Counseling skills can be taught, but there is also an element of art involved in using these skills. The objective of this paper is to compile a list of the important factors and traits that allow therapists to be successful group therapy leaders.

Leadership is the process by which one person can influence an individual or a group into the completion of a goal or an objective. The ability to inspire and motivate others stems from his or her capacity to efficiently manage time and people. I was recently placed in a leadership position, where I facilitate a group of clients who are low-functioning schizophrenic adults at a mental institution. My role as a group facilitator, which I sometimes view as teaching, is to guide and teach members the different coping skills for their illnesses. It is also my responsibility to make sure that members participate and are able to achieve their desired goals. My greatest challenge as a leader is understanding the importance of group dynamics.