Unit 11: Groups In Counselling

Question 1

Groups that focus on task accomplishment and on interpersonal relationships. Group members are likely to learn from the experience how one’s behaviour in a group influences others behaviour and vice versa. Similar to some forms of family counselling in which the emphasis is both on how the system operates and on how an individual within the system functions

Answer 1

T-group or training group

Question 2

An extended, one-session group experience that breaks down defensive barriers that individuals may otherwise use. It usually lasts for a minimum of 24 hours. Have been used successfully in working with substance abuse or’s and rehabilitation programs and well-functioning individuals another group counselling settings.

Answer 2

Group marathons

Question 3

Groups that are organized by an established, professional helping organization or individual. Focus on a particular concern or problem and centre around topics that are physical, emotional, or social

Answer 3

Support groups

Question 4

Groups that originate spontaneously and stress their autonomy and internal group resources. They usually develop spontaneously, Centre on a single topic, and are led by a layperson with little formal group training but with experience in the stressful event that brought the group together. Basically work to help their members gain greater control of their lives

Answer 4

Self-help groups

Question 5

Defined as two or more people interacting together to achieve a goal for their mutual benefit

Answer 5

Group

Question 6

Identify five advantages of using groups in counselling

Answer 6

1. Instillation of hope: Assurance that treatment will work for example
2. Universality: The realization that one is not alone, unique, or abnormal
3. Imparting of information: instruction about mental health, mental illness, and how to deal with life problems for example
4. Altruism: example, sharing experiences and thoughts with others, helping them by giving of oneself, working for the common good
5. Development of socializing techniques: example, interacting with others and learning social skills as well as more about oneself in social situations
6. Imitative behaviour
7. Interpersonal learning
8. Group cohesiveness
9. Catharsis

Question 7

Identify five disadvantages of using groups in counselling

Answer 7

1. Some client concerns and personalities are not well-suited for groups
2. The problems of some individuals may not be dealt with in enough depth within groups
3. Group pressure may force a client to take action, such as self-disclosure, before being ready
4. Groups may lapse into a groupthink mentality, in which stereotypical, defensive, and stale thought processes become the norm and creativity and problem-solving or squelched
5. Individuals may try to use groups for escape or selfish purposes and disrupt the group process

Question 8

Describe a case a situation where it would be advantageous to use a group, and a case situation where it would be inappropriate to use a group

Answer 8

Advantageous: for persons who have sustained heart attacks to help them deal better with stressors in their lives because they can learn how other people are dealing with the problem and feel like they are not alone

Inappropriate: A person who has just suffered a sexual assault and is not yet ready to open up in a group setting.
Or, a person whose personality disorder causes them to be very disruptive of others and may disrupt the group process

Question 9

A mentality in which stereotypical, defensive, and stale thought processes become the norm and creativity and problem-solving are squelched

Answer 9

Groupthink

Question 10

These boobs are sometimes known as guidance or educational groups and our preventative and instructional in nature. Their purpose is to teach group participants how to deal with a potential threat, a developmental life event, or an immediate life crisis. Often found in educational settings, such as schools, but are increasingly being used in other settings such as hospitals, mental health centers, social service agencies, and universities

Answer 10

Psychoeducational groups

Question 11

These groups are sometimes known as interpersonal problem-solving groups, and they seek to help group participants resolve the usual, yet often difficult, problems of living through interpersonal support and problems. And additional goal is to help participants develop their existing interpersonal problem-solving competencies so they may be better able to handle future problems

Answer 11

Counselling groups

Question 12

These groups are sometimes known as personality reconstruction groups, and are set up to help individual group members remediate in-depth psychological problems. Because the depth and extent of the psychological disturbance is significant, the goal is to aid each individual to reconstruct major personality dimensions

Answer 12

Psychotherapy groups

Question 13

These groups help members apply the principles and processes of group dynamics to improve practises and accomplish identified work goals.

Answer 13

Tasks/work groups

Question 14

Compare and contrast the general types of counselling groups

Answer 14

Group counselling and psychoeducational groups are hard to distinguish. Group counselling is more direct than a psychoeducational groups in attempting to modify attitudes and behaviors. Group counselling is conducted in a small, intimate setting, whereas a psycho educational group is more applicable to room-size environments. They sometimes overlap.

There is overlap sometimes in group counselling and group psychotherapy, but the emphasis on major reconstruction of personality die mentions in psychotherapy groups usually distinguishes the two.

Question 15

What are the five stages of group process?

Answer 15

Forming, storming, norming, performing, mourning

Question 16

In this stage of group development, the foundation is usually lay down for what is to come and who will be considered in or out of group deliberations. Members express anxiety and dependency and talk about non-problematic issues

Answer 16

Forming stage

Question 17

In this stage of group development, considerable turmoil and conflict usually occur, as they do in adolescents. Conflict at this time forces group members to make them basic decisions about the degree of independence and interdependence in their relationship with one another. Group member seek to establish themselves in the hierarchy of the group and deals especially with issues concerning anxiety, power, and future expectations

Answer 17

Storming

Question 18

In this group development stage, the group often generates enthusiasm and cohesion, goals and ways of working together are decided on

Answer 18

Norming

Question 19

In this stage of group development, group members become involved with each other and their individual and collective goals. This is the time when the group is productive

Answer 19

Performing/working

Question 20

In this stage of group development, the group comes to an end, and members say goodbye to one another and the group experience

Answer 20

Mourning/termination

Question 21

Which stage do you consider the most critical for establishing group success and why?

Answer 21

I think the storming stage is the most important because if the group cannot get over this stage they won’t move on to norming and performing. Group members get used to one another and the hierarchy is established during the stage sets the context for the rest of the stages.

Question 22

A group in which members are more alike then unalike

Answer 22

Homogenous groups

Question 23

Groups in which members are more unalike than alike

Answer 23

Heterogeneous groups

Question 24

These groups admit new members after they have started

Answer 24

Open-ended groups

Question 25

These groups do not admit new members after they have started

Answer 25

Closed-ended groups

Question 26

When what has been said within the group setting will not be revealed outside

Answer 26

Confidentiality

Question 27

When a group has 2 leaders. One leader can work with the group while the other monitors the group process

Answer 27

Co-leaders

Question 28

A multidimensional process that consists of group members responding to the verbal messages and nonverbal behaviors of one another. Helps group members gauge the impact of their actions on others and attempt new behaviours

Answer 28

Feedback

Question 29

A leadership quality that includes clarifying, explaining, and providing a cognitive framework for change

Answer 29

Meaning attribution

Question 30

Describe the issue of selection and preparation of group members

Answer 30

Selection and preparation of group members: A leader must decide which individuals to include in a group because some members are not appropriate candidates. A leader can conduct pre-group interviews and training. During a pre-group interview, Group members should be selected who’s needs and goals are compatible with the established goals of the group and who will not impede the group process and who’s well-being will not be jeopardized by being in a group. Pre-group training in which members learn more about a group and what is expected of them, provides important information for participants and give them a chance to lower their anxiety.
Before the group begins, group members and leaders should be informed as much as possible about group process or how group member interactions influence the development of the group. Providing a set of expectations for participants prior to their initiation into a group improves the possibility of members having a successful group experience.

Group leaders must model the behaviour as they wish to emulate

Group leaders must know how to handle challenges to their leadership and resistance from individual group members or the group as a whole

Question 31

Describe the issue of group size and duration

Answer 31

A group size is determined by its purpose and preference. Large groups are less likely to spotlight the needs of individual members and therefore there is an optical number of people that should be involved, usually 6 to 8 group members, but if there are longer durations, up to 10 people may productively be included.

In general, the group should have enough people to afford ample interaction so it doesn’t drag on and yet be small enough to give everyone a chance to participate frequently without losing the sense of group

Question 32

Describe the issue of open versus closed groups

Answer 32

Open-ended groups are able to replace lost members rather quickly and maintain an optimal size. Closed ended groups, although not as flexible in size, promote more cohesiveness among members and may be productive in helping members achieve stated goals

Question 33

Describe the issue of confidentiality in groups

Answer 33

Groups function best when members feel a sense of confidentiality, that what they say within the group setting will not be revealed outside. To promote a sense of confidentiality and build trust, a group leader must be active and should bring up the subject of confidentiality during the prescreening interview and stress it’s importance during the first meeting of the group and on a regular basis thereafter

The group leader should also protect its members by clearly defining what confidentiality is and the importance and difficulty of enforcing it

Question 34

Describe the issue of physical structure in groups

Answer 34

The setting where a group is conducted is either an asset or a liability. there is a need for a physical structure that ensures the safety and throat of group members. The furnishings of the space should be attractive and the way the group is assembled, preferably in a circle, can facilitate the functioning of the group

Question 35

Describe the issue of co-leaders in groups

Answer 35

It is not necessary, but such an arrangement can be beneficial especially if the group is large. 1 leader can work with the group while the other monitors the group process, may also be beneficial when an inexperienced leader and experienced leader are working together and the inexperienced leader can learn from the other.

Successful, experienced coleaders should possess a similar philosophical and operational style, have similar experience and confidence, establish a model relationship for effective human interaction, be aware of splitting and member loyalty ties to 1 L or the other and help the group deal with this, and agree on counselling goals in the process is to achieve them so that power struggles are avoided.

Should sit opposite each other so that leader responsibility and observation are maximized

Question 36

Describe the issue of self disclosure in groups

Answer 36

Self disclosure is dependent on the trust that group members have for one another and builds on itself. During the first stages of the group, it may have to be encouraged. Leaders should use self disclosure in the beginning sessions of a group to serve as a model for others and promote the process

Question 37

Describe the issue of feedback in groups

Answer 37

When given honestly and with care, group members can gauge the impact of their actions on others and attempt new behaviors. Feedback should be beneficial to the receiver and not serve the needs of the giver, more effective when it is based on describable behavior, in the early stages positive feedback is more beneficial and more readily accepted the negative feedback, most effective when immediately follows a stimulus behaviour and his validated by others, greater benefit when the receiver is open and trusts the giver

Question 38

Describe the issue of follow up in groups

Answer 38

Used in a group to keep in touch with members after the group has terminated to determine how well they are progressing on personal or group goals. Often group leaders failed to conduct a proper follow-up especially in short-term counselling groups. Helps group members and leaders assess what they gained in the group experience and allows the leader to refer a group member for help, if appropriate. Should be conducted about three months after termination

Question 39

What are four leadership qualities that have a positive effect on the outcome of groups if they are not used excessively?

Answer 39

1. Caring: the more, the better
2. Meaning attribution: includes clarifying, explaining, and providing a cognitive framework for change
3. Emotional stimulation: involves activity, challenging, risk-taking, self-disclosure
4. Executive function: entails developing norms, structuring, and suggesting procedures

Good group leaders also behave with intentionality, are committed to self-improvement to become effective as human beings. Personal qualities that are related to effective group leadership are presence, personal power, courage, willingness to confront oneself, sincerity, authenticity, enthusiasm, sense of identity, and inventiveness/creativity.
Effective group leaders are also well educated in group theory, practice, and techniques

Question 40

A group experience in which members enact unrehearsed roll-please, with the group leader serving as the director. Other group members are actors in the protagonist place, give feedback to the protagonist as members of the audience, or do both. This type of group is popular with behaviorists, Gestaltists, and affective-oriented group leaders who have adapted it as a way of helping clients experience the emotional qualities of an event

Answer 40

Psychodrama

Originator was Jacob L Moreno