Small Groups in Counseling and Therapy.Process and Leadership

Running Head : SMALL GROUPS IN COUNSELING Small Groups in Counseling and Therapy Process

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Small Groups in Counseling and Therapy Process

Introduction

Small group counseling has preventive as well as remedial aims Generally , the

counseling group has a specific focus , which may be educational vocational

social , or personal . The group involves an interpersonal process that stresses

conscious thoughts , feelings , and behavior . Counseling groups are often problem

oriented , with their content and

aim determined largely by the members

These group members don 't require extensive personality reconstruction and

their concerns generally relate to the developmental tasks of the life span

Group counseling tends to be growth oriented in that the emphasis is on discovering

internal resources of strength . The participants may be facing situational

crises and temporary conflicts , or they may be trying to change

self-defeating behaviors . The group provides the empathy and support necessary

to create the atmosphere of trust that leads to sharing and exploring these

concerns . Group members are assisted in developing their existing skills in

dealing with interpersonal problems so that they will be better able to handle

future problems of a similar nature

The group counselor uses verbal and nonverbal techniques as well as

structured exercises . Common techniques include reflection (mirroring the

verbal and nonverbal messages of a group member , clarification (helping

members understand more clearly what they are saying or feeling , role playing

and interpretation (connecting present behaviors with past decisions

Other common techniques used in group counseling are described in more

detail in Chapter 2 . Basically , the role of the group counselor is to facilitate interaction

among the members , help them learn from one another , assist them

in establishing personal goals , and encourage them to translate their insights

into concrete plans that involve taking action outside of the group Counselors

perform this role largely by teaching members to focus on the here-and-now

and to identify the concerns they wish to explore in the group

Advantages of Groups

Small group counseling has a number of advantages as a vehicle for helping people

make changes in their attitudes , beliefs about themselves and others feelings

and behaviors . One advantage is that participants can explore their styles of

relating with others and learn more effective social skills . Another is that

members can discuss their perceptions of one another and receive valuable

feedback on how they are being perceived in the group

In many ways the counseling group provides a re-creation of the participants

everyday world , especially if the membership is diverse with respect to

age , interests , background , socioeconomic status , and type of problem As a

microcosm of society , the group provides a sample of reality - members

struggles and conflicts in the group are similar to those they experience outside

of it - and the diversity that characterizes most groups also results in unusually

rich feedback for the participants , who can see themselves through the

eyes of a wide range of people

The group offers understanding and support , which...