GROUP and ENVIRONMENTAL

COUNSELINGBy: MARVIN P. POSILLO BEED

4-23

Four Activities to Consider Teaching Groups Discussion Groups Laboratory Method Group Psychotherapy

What is it?

Group counseling is a dynamic interpersonal process focusing on conscious thoughts and behaviour. It involves therapy functions of permisiveness, orientation to reality, catharsis and mutual trust, caring, understanding, acceptance and support.

It provides beneficial advantages, where people can share experiences and contributions from other members in the group are considered valuable, since all the group share similar experiences.

A group therapist, there are usually two, provides an anchor point in the group to allow members to share openly and safely.

One of the main principles behind group counselling is the idea that dealing with specific issues may cause isolation and a feeling that one is alone in facing one's problems

Group counselling attempts to counteract this isolation by assembling people with similar issues to enforce that each individual's issues are not singular to one person.

Additionally, knowing other people with similar troubles can be comforting to each individual, who may not have access in their family or friends to people with the same issues.

offer a unique environment in which to learn about and experience both self and others.

provide valuable insights into characteristic patterns of thinking and relating in a group setting.

The group experience gives individuals an opportunity to explore their issues in more depth, in a setting which closely resembles work, study, social and family groupings.

The Facilitator

professionally trained counsellor acts as 'the facilitator‘

helping the group, and individual members to learn, and find a solution or reach a consensus, without imposing or dictating an outcome.

works to empower individual members of the group to learn for themselves, or find their own answers to problems without control or manipulation.

the facilitator usually attempts to encourage silent members to participate early on  in treatment. 

Different Group Counseling Models Common problem model(Bennett)

a. Establish a groupb. Set the common purpose of the grouping and share the different experiences, leading or getting to knnow something about the members- Mutual Support- Empathy and Insight- Focus and Direction

Case-centered model- the counselors will be a role model for the members and they will be counselors for them.

a. Multiple helping relationshipb. Divergent perceptions and attitudesc. Individual-centered focus

T-group model- a model of group interaction based upon group dynamics. It is group of human beings put in unstructured and ambiguous situations in which they can meet their own needs

Human resources group model- an interaction of the group with other kinds of counseling or therapy groups- Members talk about their fears, concerns, problems and potentials.

a. The multiple strength perception method

b. Action program

Transactional group model- similar to the group process

however, in this type, the counselor acts consistently as an observer and interpreter of behavior and systematically analyzes and feeds back to the group the clinical significance of their behavior.

Group Counseling Contract

Group counseling is no different to 1-2-1 counselling, confidentiality and respect for all form part of the same clinical, ethical and professional boundaries.

A 'Group Counselling Contract' is agreed by all members of the group which includes:

What you hear here stays here What you see here stays here What you say here stays here Treat other members with the same

respect as you would expect to receive

All content within the group counselling sessions are confidential (Except where harm to self or others may occur)

Any additional agreed content to the contract

Aftercare

The end of long-term group counselling may cause feelings of grief, loss, abandonment, anger, or rejection in some members.

The group therapist will attempt to foster a sense of closure by encouraging members to explore their feelings and use newly acquired coping techniques to deal with them.

Working through this termination phase of group counselling is an important part of the treatment process.