PSY 611-Group Counseling Skills

22 counseling skills practices

CLARIFYING

An extension of active listening. It involves responding to confusing and unclear aspects of a message.

SUPPORTING

Providing group members with encouragement and reinforcement, especially when they are disclosing personal information, exploring painful feelings, or taking risks.

QUESTIONING

This technique is probably overused the most with inexperienced group leaders. It can have a negative impact on group interaction, especially if the group members give a "yes" or "no" response.

CONFRONTING

A powerful way to challenge members to take an honest look at themselves.

GIVING FEEDBACK

A skilled group leader gives this very specifically and honestly based on his or her observation of and reaction to the members' behaviors and encourages the members to do this with each other as well.

BLOCKING

Sometimes a leader must intervene to stop counterproductive behaviors within the group. This skill requires sensitivity, directness, and the ability to stop the activity without attacking the person.

MODELING

Group members learn by observing the leader's behavior.

SUGGESTING

A form of intervention designed to help participants develop an alternative course of thinking or action.

PROTECTING

This skill involves assuming a parental attitude toward the group. Leaders need to be able to safeguard members from unnecessary psychological or physical risks.

LINKING

Looking for themes that emerge in a group and then connect the work that members do to these themes.

ACTIVE LISTENING

This skill involves paying total attention to the speaker and being sensitive to what is being communicated at both the verbal and nonverbal levels.

RESTATING

This is an extension of listening. It means recasting what someone said into different words so that the meaning is clearer to both the speaker and the group.

REFLECTING FEELINGS

This skill responds to the essence of what a person has communicated. The purpose is to let members know that they are being heard and understood.

SUMMARIZING

The skill of pulling together the important elements of a group interaction or part of a

session.

INTERPRETING

The leader provides possible explanations for a participant's thoughts, feelings, or behavior.

DISCLOSING ONESELF

When leaders reveal personal information, they usually have an impact on the group. The skill is knowing what, when, how and how much to reveal.

EMPATHIZING

The core of this skill lies in the leader's ability to sensitively grasp, the subjective world of the participant and yet retain his or her own separateness.

EVALUATING

An ongoing process that continues for the duration of the group. After each session, the leader assesses what is happening in the group as a whole and within individual members.

SETTING GOALS

Group members do this. Group leaders do not. It is the core of group counseling.

INITIATING

This good skill on the leaders part keep the group from floundering. These skills include using catalysts to get members to focus on meaningful work.

FACILITATING

This skill is aimed at enhancing the group experience and enabling them members to reach their goal.

TERMINATING

Group leaders need to learn when and how to end their work with individuals as well as groups.