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Theory and Practice of Counseling - PSY632

Lesson 38

GROUPS IN COUNSELING

Specialties in the Practice of Counseling

This lecture and the next ones are linked with the fourth part of the course: Specialties in the practice of

counseling. Professional counselors work in many different settings and ways. Because of interest,

background, and educational qualifications, many counselors choose to focus on specific populations. Some

counselors have more general domains and they see clients who have a wide range of problems. Before

starting the first lecture in this part of the course, we will see how different counselors with behavioral,

cognitive behavioral, and transactional analysis background will deal with Farzana's (case described earlier)

problems, and which techniques will be employed:

Case of Farzana

Behavioral Perspective/Techniques

Relaxation training

Behavioral rehearsal and role playing

Sensible eating habits

Homework assignments

Imagery

Psycho-educational adjuncts

REBT Perspective/Techniques

Dispute her irrational "musts".

Do RE Imagery

Do some shame attacking exercises

Acceptance from the counselor

Role playing

Create rational coping statements

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Theory and Practice of Counseling - PSY632

Transactional Analysis Perspective

Figure 1

Farzana's Egogram

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The diagram illustrated above indicates that Farzana is very low in free child, and is very high in adapted

child. Similarly, she is low in critical parent, while is average in nurturing parent and adult. The treatment

will focus on enhancing her adult ego state.

SPECIALTIES IN THE PRACTICE OF COUNSELING

GROUPS IN COUNSELING

The Place of Groups in Counseling

Everyone typically spends some time in group activities each day. Counselors who limit their competencies

to individual counseling limit their options for helping.

A group is defined as two or more people interacting together to achieve a goal for their mutual

benefits.

Groups differ in purpose, composition and length but they all involve "work".

Work is described as "the dynamic interaction between collections of individuals for

prevention or remediation of difficulties or for the enhancement of personal

growth/enrichment" (Gadza, 1989).

When, where, and with whom to use groups?

Groups are not effective with diverse groups in status and seniority. It is wise to take

groups with common concerns.

It is appropriate to conduct groups in a quiet uninterrupted setting. A safe environment is

required to express emotion and sufficient engagement and feedback for reality testing,

which refers to examining incident with other members, recognizing inappropriate

interpersonal feelings/behaviors and facilitation of the individual's ability to interact with

others more honestly and deeply.

Groups can be effectively used with students, women, people with physical health

problems, adolescents, drug addicts, etc.

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Theory and Practice of Counseling - PSY632

Major benefits

Major benefits include economy, time consumption, support and encouragement, new outlooks, insight

from others.

Group approach attempts to change maladaptive beliefs and behaviors through feedback from

others; interpersonal nature can offer social skills.

Major advantage is economy, and less time consumption especially in time limited group

treatments. For therapist group therapy is second option of treatment but it takes less time for

many similar clients.

Limitations

People sometime find it difficult to self-disclose in groups, hence they may not be suitable for

everyone. In case of personal problems, sometime there is an issue of self-disclosure.

Sometime groupthink, in which stereotypical, defensive and stale thought process can become the

norm, can exert bad effects on group interactions.

Those who have not gone through developmental stages properly may be involved in scapegoating,

projecting, etc.

It is difficult to find appropriate time for all participants

A Brief History

Group methods have now achieved considerably more visibility and respectability, but in early 20th century

this was not the case.

J.L.Moreno was pioneer in Vienna in early 1900s and in 1925 introduced psychodrama to U.S.A.

and used the term group therapy.

After World War II group methods became popular developed to deal with overload of work.

Role of the Counselor

Creation and maintenance of the group: patient selection is the key. Interpersonally oriented intake

interview can help in selection of the group. The counselor needs to think whether a heterogeneous

or homogeneous group will be taken.

Culture Building: The therapist must establish norms that will guide the interaction of the group.

Use techniques that are maximally conducive to interactions.

Activating and processing the here-and-now: The primary task of the counselor is to help members attend

to and discuss interpersonal dynamics as they occur in the group. It consists on two parts:

Experiencing: members live in the here and now; immediate behaviors and experiences are

addressed.

Illumination of Process: the group must recognize, examine and understand the nature of the

relationship between interacting individuals. The role of the counselor is to help members

reflect back on and learn from interactions they have in the group.

The counselor examines the group interaction, how was a comment delivered, what was the timing of

the remark, or context of discussion when the comment was made? The counselor also observes

individual patients and the group as a whole.

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Theory and Practice of Counseling - PSY632

Types of Groups

A number of group models are appropriate for a wide variety of situations

Guidance/ Psycho-educational groups:

These groups are usually effective for potential threats like AIDS, a developmental life event (such

as growing old), or an immediate life-crisis. They are often employed in educational setting. In

schools puppets and stories are used, whereas in adults, age-appropriate means are adopted for

effective outcomes.

Counseling/Interpersonal problem-solving groups:

Resolve the usual yet often difficult problems of living.

Psychotherapy/ Personality reconstruction groups

To help remediate in-depth psychological problems.

Task/ Work groups

To improve practices

To accomplish identified work goals, like task forces, committees, discussion groups, and

study circles.

Traditional & Historical Groups

These were developed before groups were classified as they are today.

T-Groups

T refers to training. First T-group was conducted at the National Training Laboratories in Bethel,

Maine, in 1947. Kurt Lewin' ideas about group dynamics formed the basis of T-groups. The

primary focus is on task accomplishments to enhacing interpersonal interactions. These groups are

similar to family system approach.

Encounter Groups:

Encounter groups focus on growth of the individual group members rather than the group itself.

Primary emphasis is on individual expression and recognition of affect.

Group Marathon:

The concept of marathon group was developed by Stoller and Batch in 1960. It is an extended one-

session group experience to reduce defenses. They have been used effectively with substance

abused people. Its duration can be to 24 hour.

Psychodrama:

Its role playing was developed by Moreno (1946, 1959). Moreno argued that it is far more

therapeutic by bringing about a degree of emotional relief (catharsis) and self-understanding. It

basically involves the client as actor, counselor as director, auxiliary egos (other patients) and

audience (other counselors or other people present there).s

Self-help/ Support Groups:

Self help groups have grown in prominence since the 1970s. The primary focus is on a single

problem; usually is led by a layperson who has little formal group training but who has experienced

stress. Support group is similar to self help group but is organized by a professional helping

organization, like Alcoholics Anonymous, Weight Watchers, etc. Some support groups charge fees

some do not.

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