For our first group session, the focus was on personal growth. Prior to beginning our group sessions, the group leader, Dr. Wallace, emailed the class a brochure that was related to Personal Growth. After reviewing the brochure, I gained a better understanding on the purpose of our group session and the goals of the group session. The purpose is to all me as the participant to become more aware of my vision, current strengths, and areas for enhancement as well as identifying a path for moving forward. The goal are to identify my vision, address two personal goals related to my vision, and develop a plan of action with realistic and measurable steps that will help me meet my goals. After reviewing our group norms that were created on the first …show more content…
(Corey, Corey & Corey, 2014). This was our first group session and we were in the initial stage. According to Corey et al., during the initial stage, group members tend to present the dimensions of themselves, exploration and orientation are conducted, and a certain degree of anxiety is present (Corey et al., 2014). Usually in this stage, members may experience shyness. Even though some of us were newly acquainted, there weren’t a lot of shyness characteristics present. Our group leader was effective and allowed us to overcome that possible barrier. (Corey et al., 2014) Dr. Wallace began our session with an ice breaker activity. For the icebreaker, we were given a blank index card by Dr. Wallace and were asked to write our name in the center of the card. After writing we were asked to answer the following …show more content…
The Adlerian theory focuses on the individual’s goals toward success and dealing with tasks in life and the Existential theory focuses on the present and what one is becoming (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2010). Most of the group participants shared similar beliefs and gave appropriate responses to the group leader’s questions. Based on the group participants’ responses, the majority of the group enjoyed traveling, was family oriented, and set goals within five years to become success which is the goal of the Adlerian approach. The group participants shared personal aspects about themselves, gave positive feedback, and were respectful. Prior to the group sessions, I was a bit reluctant on how open I should be but that quickly change once I saw how positive everyone was towards one another. My role and my classmates’ roles in the group session were the group participants. As group participants, we were attentive and active listeners. Our group leader was Dr. Wallace and she was an effective group leader. Dr Wallace was an active listener, participated in the discussion, and showed a sincere interest in the conversation. She kept a calm tone, good eye contact, and had a good sense of humor which allowed us to become more relaxed and open to talk. The therapeutic factors that were present during the group session were universality and cohesiveness (The American Group
The primary roles that were incorporated into group were defined by the leaders of group. Those leaders included the social workers and group psychologists, as well as students when appropriate. The leaders focused on task and maintenance roles, such as; coordinator, elaborator, evaluator, information seeker, initiator/contributor, opinion giver, procedural technician, encourager, gatekeeper, harmonizer, and standard setter. The individual roles was primarily the dominator. Due to the dominator portion of group, it changed the atmosphere and will be discussed later.
Both groups can be seen as open systems because they "do not always maintain a steady state but [they are] constantly developing and moving towards a steady state or hemostasis" (Posthuma, 2002, p. 18). Moreover, group development can be evaluated from three stages. While both groups go through these stages, self-help groups experience them in a different way when compared to therapeutic groups. The three stages of group development are the pre-commitment, commitment, and termination
Shulman, B. H., & Watts, R. E. (1997). Adlerian and Constructivist Psychotherapies: an Adlerian Perspective. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy , 11 (3), 181-193.
One objective is to utilize the most powerful tool at psychotherapy’s disposal; the group experience. By one individual sharing their experience within the group, the other members are able to identify their similar experiences and work toward their own growth. Group therapy also increases self-awareness of clients in order for them to think introspectively in order to make a change in behaviors, increases social comfort, allowing exploration of new behaviors, provide and obtain support, develop communication skills, and promote interactions with others using truth and
Gilovich, T., & Gilovich, T. (2013). Chapter 12/ Groups. In Social psychology. New York, NY: W.W. Norton.
Gadding, S. T. (2012). Groups: A counseling specialty (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education
...rs to deal with any problems that arise from the group. It is important for them to be alert to the risks of the group. To reduce any unnecessary risks, I will understand each member’s limits, respect their requests, be invitational and not dictatorial, describe their behavior and not be judgmental, and avoid harsh verbal confrontations. These risks will also be discussed during the initial session of the group. I will counteract psychological risks by using various techniques such as blocking, caring confrontation, questioning, and assessing. I have taken precautionary measures as well by contacting my mentors and consultants and alerting them about the risks of the group I am running. If there is an ethical or legal concern, it will be documented and taken to a clinical supervisor. In addition, I have liability protection and malpractice insurance in place.
Earley, Dave & Rod Dempsey, The Pocket Guide To Leading A Small Group: 52 ways to
..., has also allowed me to gain some insight into what it takes to be a leader within each of the four major group types. Research into these area’s has also provided me with a sense of assurance, that I didn’t have before, in that it has assured me that the techniques I am learning in my counseling program are designed to mold me into the group leader that I wish to be.
Group therapy is considered one of the most resourceful forms of therapy. The benefits to group therapy can be both cost-effective and a great means of support (Corey, Corey & Corey, 2014). The process of experiencing ideas and viewpoints expressed by your peers allows group members to become more susceptible to the counseling procedure. Group counseling also helps individuals to feel a sense of belonging due to similar situations and experiences shared by the group. The sense of support from group members can be an excellent means towards developing long-lasting relationships and developing communication skills needed to move forward during the counseling phase. In this paper, I will discuss my experiences throughout the group-counseling phase.
There are many different techniques and approaches to group counseling. The approach that I found to be the most interesting is the existential approach. “The existential perspective holds that we define ourselves by our choices” (Corey & Corey, 2014, p.114). This approach can be successful in therapy because it allows one to oversee one’s future. In this paper, I’m going to generally discuss the existential approach to therapy and where it can be used.
After completing the group task of preparing a presentation on, transferring individual facilitation skills into a group work setting, I will critically reflect upon my own participation. I will evaluate my self-awareness while working in the group, as well as those around me. The way that I personally dealt with any issues that arose within the group and how that affected the group dynamics. I will also briefly discuss the roles in which each member of the group took part and how role allocation affected, the group dynamics and the working relationships. Finally, I will evaluate my work having discussed it with my fellow group members.
Individual counseling, the client is working on personal issues without having to share with others, but only with the counselor that is there to reinforce patterns of behavior, or to help make any other personal adjustments. They are the focus of the session, without having to share the spot light with others. Many people are not comfortable talking in a group, especially issues that are hurting and need personal attention. Although not much differences have been shown to differentiate the effects of group counseling to individual counseling, a study done by Kalavainen et al., using a population of obese children showed that group therapy did benefit to help and support the child’s weight. “There were many therapeutic factors like group support, group learning and group optimism, which were linked with working in the groups and which most probably influenced the participants in the group program” (Kalavainen, Korppi, & Nuutinen (2007). Group support can be of advantage in many issues that people are trying to work out in
(2012). Can a Structured Model for Group Intervention be Responsive to Group Process? A Proposal. Clinical Social Work Journal, 40(4), 391-400. doi:10.1007/s10615-010-0285-2
For this to occur however, requires an understanding of culture and society, as well as governance and process. In addition, I have also understood the power of strength based approach, how strength based therapy used in relationships an essential factor among group members. I view this class as the opportunity to practice how effectively work with groups and individuals to understand their own inherent power. Therefore, I learned the way of using a strengths-based approach; I can highlight the assets of group members, offering building blocks which can then lay the foundation of their social change. Furthermore, I understand change could be a mutual process, so in group therapy until group members became comfortable with each other to share their experiences giving them space and later help them to engage in along with group process. I also learn how to help in the facilitation of change, by asking open questions, validating, empathic and allowing them to feel what they are feeling, and empower them what they wants to do with their current