groups midterm

four areas of advanced practices or specializations

• task groups

• psychoeducational groups

• counseling groups

• psychotherapy groups 

task groups

goal focused work (committees, planning, staff development)

psychoeducational groups

structured learning to build knowledge/skills

counseling groups

focus on interpersonal process, problem-solving, behavior change

psychotherapy groups

deep-seated psychological issues, personality reconstruction

brief group therapy

short-term, time-limited interventions

culture

shared values, beliefs, behaviors

culturally skilled counselor

aware of biases, knowns diverse backgrounds, adapts interventions

group process

norms, cohesion, trust, resistance, conflict, healing, stages, universality

leader techniques

silence, feedback, interpretation, role-play, summarizing, challenging beliefs, goal setting, homework, cultural awareness

leaders tools

ability to form relationships

key leader traits

courage, presence, empathy, openness, cultural awareness, stamina, humility, humor

leadership skills

active listening, reflecting, summarizing, facilitating, empathizing, linking, confronting, supporting, blocking, modeling 

diversity-competent leader

beliefs/attitudes, knowledge, skills

open to worldviews

co-leader pros

shared workload, supervision, continuity 

co-leader cons

rivalry, mistrust, poor planning

improvement

review structure, interaction, relationships, therapeutic factors

informed consent

purpose, goals, confidentiality exceptions, leader role

voluntary membership

this is ideal

rule are needed it involuntary 

freedom to withdraw

permitted, though premature exit has risks

risks

scapegoating, pressure, confidentiality breached, forced disclosure

confidentiality

stress the importance

exceptions for confidentiality

harm, abuse, court order, supervision, permission

techniques

rational needed, culturally sensitive, invite don’t force

leader values

be aware of your own and do not impose them on others 

technology within group 

confidentiality, consent, anonymity 

competence

provide only qualified services

consult/refer out if needed

legal concerns

records, informed consent, abandonment, scope, misdiagnosis, boundaries, suicide

theory

there is no single complete theory

use eclecticism or integration 

thinking-feeling-behavior model

cognitive - challenge faulty thinking 

affective - identify/express feelings

behavioral - practice new behaviors 

proposal

rational, objectives, logistics, evaluation

screening

disclosure statement, private intake, assess motivation, exclude if unsuitable 

group size

kids: 3-4

teens: 6-8

adults: 8-10

session length

kids; 30-45 min

teens; 1-1.5hr

adults; 1-2hr 

group length 

usually 12-26 weeks 

environment

private, comfortable

open group

rotating members

provides variety but less cohesion 

closed group

fixed members

stable but no new energy

initial meeting

set goals, rules, expectations, confidentiality, diversity

pre-group prep

build trust, demystifies the process

evaluation

individual (attitudes/behaviors) and group (progress, self-awareness)

co-leadership

plan together, discuss strengths/weakness, uphold ethics