The Importance Of Group Counseling

Please explain some of the ethical considerations needed to develop, manage, and conclude a group. (25 points)

In group counseling a group leader needs to continually make decision, thus there are ethical considerations that need to be taken into account. Establishing the group’s procedures and guidelines is very important. Ethics are an important component of the group process, “possession of ethical and legal knowledge, technical skills, and personal qualities predisposing him or her to strive to achieve moral excellence in his or her group psychotherapy practice” (Corey, Corey, & Corey, 2010, p. 71). A big part of effective group work is confidentially, because this helps group members to feel comfortable and to discuss their problems.

“Careful though and planning are necessary” for the formation of any group, hence it is necessary to develop a group proposal prior to starting a group (Corey, Corey, & Corey, 2010, p. 107). A group begins with an idea that a facilitator executes. According to Peled, & Perel, (2012) “As early as when formulating the basic assumptions behind the goals, content and structure of the group intervention programs, we became aware of the challenge of striking the right balance between content delivery and facilitation of a group process.” In other words, group proposals help to orient you, hence having an outline of the group helps you have a successful group process. A group leader needs to know the proper steps to focus the group and have procedures to employ to be able to help group members reach their goals. There are five elements that can help form a group proposal: rationale for the group, objectives for the group, practical considerations, procedures, and evaluations (Corey, Corey, & Corey, 2010,p. 111-112). Having a proposal will help you run the

(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

3. Throughout the readings and discussions, the characteristics of the initial stage of groups were explored. Please list five of these characteristics and explain how you would manage these situations. (20 points)

Five characteristics of the initial stage of groups are: acquaintance, risks, building trust, learning about group functioning, and group members finding their place. During the initial stage of groups development group members are getting to know one another. During acquaintance, I would be open with their comments. According to Corey, Corey and Corey (2010), “typically, members bring to the group certain expectations, concerns, and anxieties, and it is vital that they be allowed to express them openly” (p. 107). I have listen to the fears that group members have and encourage them to express them. The group leader needs to learn to deal with the patients fears, thus “the ability of a therapist to instill confidence and trust within the therapeutic frame is essential to therapeutic success” (Ackerman, & Hilsenroth, 2003). I would invite the members to talk about how they are feeling with the group. Inviting discussion is an important role of the group leader, since there would be “moments of silence and awkwardness” (Corey, et. al., 2010, p. 133). Clients also learn