Therapeutic Group Summary

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

Moreover, in my EPC 658 Seminar In Group Counseling, I had an assignment in which I had to develop and facilitate a psychoeducational group at my field site. Therefore, I had the opportunity of playing the role of a group leader. As a group leader, I had to be cognizant of the population I was working with. I was facilitating a psychoeducational group for first-generation college students at East Los Angeles College (ELAC). I was aware that this population tends to be very quiet and hesitant about speaking up about their problem or feel that what they are experiencing is normal because they have been faced with it all their lives. Therefore, one of my goals was to get students to feel comfortable in sharing and feel supported. The goal of this group was to provide support and offer a space where they

By connecting with other girls who are experiencing similar thoughts and feeling, it provides a place to learn to express emotions and not emotionally isolate. It can be expected that towards the beginning of the group, members thoughts and feeling will be pessimistic and focused on external things they cannot control. As the group continues the language will shift to things that are in their control and will be strengths-based, instead of focusing on their weaknesses. As their thoughts change, their self-concept improves and they begin to relate to other in healthier ways (Zinck, & Littrell, 2000). Group work is especially effective with adolescents because at this stage they value their peers and learn more effectively from one another, than from adults (Skudrzyk, Zera, McMahon, Schmidt, Boyne, & Spannaus, 2009). Group work has been found to also be more effective in areas of self-awareness and social skills Skudryzk, et al., 2009). These things are the key components to decreasing feelings of depression, anxiety, and risk-taking behaviors (Smith-Adcock, et al., 2008). For all these reason, a psychoeducational group is very effective for the chosen

Group therapy may be the intervention of choice for people with mental health problems who are assessed as potentially benefiting from an interpersonal process”. Therapy groups may focus on support, education, growth, rehabilitation or social issues (Bentley, 2002, p. 79). One model included in group therapy includes five stages which features a different set of process and dynamics: pre-affiliation, power and control, intimacy, differentiation and separation (Bentley, 2002, p. 79).

Therapeutic groups frequently have students with a large array of issues. Each group is unique and the strategies to address each student’s individual needs can vary depending on how the students present. However, speaking specifically to student level, in an elementary setting, addressing a wide range of issues in a group would require a structured environment in order to form cohesion among the group. Similar to teaching in the classroom, differentiation for students will be required to meet each student’s needs. Creating lessons that can be modified based on student’s needs, functioning level, and strengths can aid in the therapeutic process. Creating interventions that require students to interact can allow the students to find similarities

Group therapy is an effective form of treatment that brings maladaptive interpersonal patterns into the open and allows new behaviors to be attempted in a safe environment (Yalom & Leszcz, 2005, p. xv). In its initial stage, a group is concerned with orientation, developing group norms, and exploring members’ expectations, anxieties, and insecurities about being accepted (Corey, Corey, & Corey, 2014, p. 145). The current group has one stated purpose: “Make yourself known, and get to know others” (Blake, 2016). In this paper, I reflect on my experience as a group member, my impressions of the leader’s style, and my personal and leadership goals for the class.

Depression and Anxiety group at the PRACTICE). This has been a very interesting experience and has been very beneficial for me. I am also going to get an opportunity to facilitate the Young Adult Group for a few weeks while someone else will be on vacation next month. In order to measure the progress of this goal, I have reviewed my group counseling textbook from last semester and watch videos that were recommended based on Yalom’s group teachings for about one hour every two weeks thus far. I have investigated the 11 curative factors so that I could write appropriate group formatted notes. Also, I have joined a research project at our clinic related to individual and group tracking that will better our clinics group program. I have worked with one of our Post Docs and my undergraduate supervisee to explore how group outcomes and tracking can be implemented in a clinic, such as the PRACTICE. The expected outcome was that I would understand the process group dynamics and the 11 curative factors further. I have done so this far and am continuing to better understand what it would mean to track group experience in my current research project at the clinic. This also has helped me as a counselor in training to see if what I am doing is working within the group setting. By doing my own research I can see, which measures work best within the group setting and

As I look back to the beginning of the class and recall the now laughable introduction I shared my growth during this group has been amazing. It has been amazing for several reasons to start the book and the lectures covered a lot of important information necessary for leading or co-leading a group. Although counseling in a group setting is very different from one on one therapy the theories governing the counselor’s approach is the same. I now realize theories are more that theorpuit approaches and techniques it is more of an individual’s worldview and learning to become a change agent. If one desires to be a change agent it is virtually impossible to do so without first changing or broadening the way one looks at world.

I learn that the advantage of a group therapy session entails cost efficiency, spectator effect, stimulation value, support and feedback. Counseling a group of client at one time is more cost effective versus counseling just one client. It takes two full working days for a counselor to see a dozen clients in an individual session, but for two hours in a single group session the same number of clients could be seen. Being a spectator permits others to learn by observation. The spectator personalize, internalize and adapt the content they observed into their own lives. The stimulation value is seen in group sessions as new ideas are passed around, sharing of experiences and spontaneous humor. Support is necessary in humans and these groups give an opportunity to receive and give the type of support one needs. Within time, psychological bonding and intimacy is formed to create a secondary family. Feedback in a counseling group provides honest, direct and constructive reactions to their behaviors. Group counseling is a weakness that I need to work on, because it requires self-confidence in which I lack. It requires being able to believe in yourself to facilitate a group in which everyone can benefit. I feel that I need to work on believing in my abilities and practicing these skills to get to an optimal

Overall regardless of which type of group the purpose is to provide a therapeutic expeince for the participant. Consequently, clarify and hope are some of the fundamental desires that counselors should be pursuing to instill in their clients conscious. Equally important is that clients retain a mindfulness about information and tools they need to make changes and to support clients. Furthermore, the group interaction provide members a median to experiment with novel behavior and receive honest feedback from peers concerning the efforts of their behavior (Corey, Corey , & Corey, 2014).

After reading the book “The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy”, the author Irvin D. Yalom provides a complete context of group psychotherapy standards. The specification of research, developments and topics makes this book to be rather knowledgeable. Chapter 1 consists of the therapeutic factors, chapter 5 reflects on the tasks of group therapist, and chapter 12 on the advanced group, as we will get into further detail throughout this paper on the interactional focus of group therapy. Chapter 1 covers a variety of important topics that contribute to the effectiveness of group counseling. This chapters touches base with group therapy and the effectiveness of group counseling as a form of psychotherapy.

The videos and readings highlighted the significance of initial stage in group therapy. The beginning stage establishes ground rules for the group members and leader(s) and set a tone of the group. Discussing and acknowledging group expectations allow the members to develop a sense of safety even in the midst of feeling apprehensive. Therefore, discussing issues of inform consent, confidentiality, expectation, and (individual and group) goal to establish a norm for the group become crucial to the success of the group (Corey, Corey, & Corey, 2014; Microtraining Associates, 1991). Mutually agreed ground rules appear to assist group members to focus on here-and-now as well as their motivation for joining the group (see Microtraining Associates,

Psychiatric nursing field specifically explored the use of groups as a teaching method, a therapeutic tool, and a form of peer supervision.

Individuals can come into a psychological therapy group with a whole range of beliefs about their role of in the group. In the individual format the therapist is the individual and direct agent of change, however in the group therapeutic format the therapist functions far more indirectly. In this essay we will discuss basic tasks of the therapist, basic consideration of the therapist, the role of the therapist, the model setting of the participant, and the case story of carol in the group, by implementing the concept of the theory of Irving D. Yalom.

The past year has been difficult for me and the group process has allowed me to open myself up to people who are supportive and empathic. The group process made me more self-aware. Research shows “Such increased self-awareness seemed to have enabled participant to be more accepting, compassionate, and caring towards themselves” (Boellinghaus, Jones, & Hutton, 2013, p. 274). I am more aware of my thoughts and how they impact my feelings and behaviors. I am also more inclined to reflect and meditate when I am feeling angry, sad, or hopeless.