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Theory and practice of group counseling flashcards
Theory and practice of group counseling flashcards
Ethics in group therapy
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Within the mental health profession, psychotherapeutic group processes have become increasingly popular. In this age of managed care, therapeutic group have proven to be a timely a cost-effective alternative to individualized treatment. Furthermore, group therapy has been shown to be, “as effective as individual therapy in treating a range of psychological and psychiatric problems” (Markus & King, 2003, p. 203). However, just as group treatment can provide powerful therapeutic change and growth when properly facilitated, if poorly planned, it can have the opposite effect. Furthermore, in addition to the conventional ethical dilemmas and concerns posed by individual therapy, group work presents its own unique challenges, which must be taken into consideration (Kottler, 1994). Given the recent rise in group therapy utilization, it has become increasingly imperative for mental health professionals to make themselves aware of these potential challenges, as well as maintain a solid grasp of the ethical standards that guide therapeutic group work. Establishment of Guidelines The American Counseling Association (ACA, 2005) and the American Psychological Association (APA, 2002) established the basic codes of conduct, or ethical guidelines, that are followed by mental health professionals who provide therapy. In 1989, however, the Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW, 1989), a division of the ACA, published a comprehensive set of Ethical Guidelines specifically put forth, “to promote quality group training, practice, and research through enhancing the awareness of ethical issues associated with groups” (Durr, n.d., p. 2). And as a therapeutic group leader, one must be conversant with the contents of these rules and procedu... ... middle of paper ... ... https://portfolio.du.edu/portfolio/getportfoliofile?uid=115716 Gross, B. (2006). Group concerns. Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association, 36-38. Kottler, J. A. (1994). Advanced group leadership. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole. Markus, H. & King, D. (2003). A survey of group psychotherapy training during predoctoral psychology internship. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 34(2), 203-209. National Board for Certified Counselors. (1998). NBCC code of ethics. Greensboro, NC: Author. Roback, H., Moore, R., Bloch, F., & Shelton, M. (1996). Confidentiality in group psychotherapy: Empirical findings and the law. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 46(1), 133-177. Thomas, R. V. & Pender, D. A. (2007). Association for specialists in group work: Best practice guidelines. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 33(2), 111-117.
As a student, practice is crucial to learn group therapy techniques. In order to achieve these practices, I attended 2 support groups of the same topic. Observation and attendance constructs an idea of how group therapy works. Attending this group was important because of the profoundness of its meaning and experiences I have witnessed.
Group counseling is a viable new option emerging in the school setting. It can be effective and cost-effective for the schooling system by addressing a larger number of students and can be used to address a multitude of topics that children often face. One benefit of group counseling in the school setting is that it teaches children important socializing skills with their peers, as students often learn best from each other (Pérusse, 2009). It provides support, assists with emotional and problem-solving skills, and empowers children to be help each other as well as receive help from their peers (Thompson, 2012). The group setting may be perceived as less threatening, it helps bridge the gap in trust for children by providing a safe environment in which children can connect with others, and it allows for interactions that builds on social skills and the development of empathy for others (Thompson, 2012).
Group therapy is a setting among other antisocial personalities. This style allows the patient a different type of incentive to improve some of their disorders.
Moreover, ethical issues are ubiquitous within the field of social work. As such, social workers employed in all facets of the profession, whether it is substance abuse, mental health, among many others encounter ethical issues common and specific to each area. According to the article “Ethical Issues in Addiction Counseling” by Cynthia G. Scott (2000), prominent ethical situations specific to the field of substance abuse include, “confidentiality and privileged communication” (p. 213). In her article Scott (2000) discuss the blurred boundaries of confidentiality with regards to group counseling. The author points out the discrepancy in federal confidentiality laws that prevent the practitioner from sharing confidential information disclosed
Similarly, inferiority feelings may be challenged to offset the negative concepts and values that form the roots of social and emotional issues. Group therapy can facilitate the social context in which the participants may develop the sense of belonging and community. Some of the beneficial dynamics of the group are the identification between group members’ behavior, participants can benefit from others group members’ feedback, ability to help other and receive support from others members. The group enables the possibility of trying new behaviors and encourages the other students to take action over their lives. There are four stages in group therapy that correspond to four goals in counseling: first establishing and maintaining interconnected relationships with another student of the group; the therapy is based on the idea of equality between members, mutual respect, and identical involvement. The introduction of self-rule bases from the counselor, who is the mediator, is important. Both, students and counselor work together in the process to explore and look for positive change during the sessions (Corey,
Goals: the goal of this stage is to explore the feelings of the group members regarding group therapy. This is feedback from the members on the homework assignment that was given to them. Also, during this exploration, the registered counsellor will model ways of being empathetic (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014) This is important as the group members will learn not to
Mandatory ethics is the level of functioning where the counselor is abiding by the basic “do’s and don’ts” of professional counseling. These are definitive codes that will protect a counselor from legal action and professional censure. All mental health professionals will be held accountable by the minimum standards set by state licensure boards and courts of law. Issues addressed by the Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association (APA) include, but are not limited to, competence, human relations, confidentiality and fees. (American Psychological Association, 2002)
Irvin D. Yalom, author of the book The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, has vast knowledge and experience with group therapy and, in this book, imparted it to neophyte counselors in a logical and detailed format. The author carefully explained the therapeutic value of a group, the factors necessary to facilitate change, and the role of the therapist. The author emphasized the here-and-now focus, and how group members create a social microcosm of their life within the therapy group. Yalom advised on practical matters, like the selection of clients and the creation of the group. He then carefully explored the stages that groups move through and some problem members could encounter.
There are many ways to communicate and incorporate therapeutic aspects into dealing with any patient, but this also applies to group therapy as well. Yalom’s therapeutic
Licensed mental health counselors have many ethical and legal issues dealing with interacting with clients in a way that leaves them in a better place. It is crucial that counselors act within the b...
Ethics is important for both group and individual counseling, especially group counseling. Both are beneficial; however, group counseling allows a counselor to work with a small-to-medium size group of people who share similar struggles. Members have the ability to learn from one another. Ethics in group counseling is crucial because the counselor or group leader is not only responsible for one person’s personal struggles, but the struggles of multiple people within the group. Counselors and group leaders must emphasize confidentiality in group counseling sessions, unless what a person is sharing is a danger to themselves or others, or against the law. Group counseling has many positives; however, it is important
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.
The negative aspects of group therapy consist of such patients who are not speaking during a session because they are too shy to share in front of other people. Another reason consists of people simply do not work well in group settings and benefit more in an individual setting. Thirdly, group sessions do not have a flexible time and date set. Any session that is placed by the counselor is mandatory and set. At the end, the patients who may need additional attention for a particular need may get overlooked through the group and there issue can get overlooked and
“Specific interest in this module would be that I am not always an advocate for collaborative / group work so I am hoping to be proven wrong” (Gardner, 2010a).
Often developed for skills training, cognitive-behavioral groups are characterized by the use of practical interventions focused on behavior modification techniques (Wilson, Bouffard, and Mackenzie; 2005). The therapeutic goal of cognitive behavioral therapy in a group setting is to educate group members on how to define or establish the assessment of their behaviors from those of themselves, namely, from their being and their reality (Corey, 2004). Therefore, one of the major tasks of this group’s leader would be to help group members to alter their emotions and actions in order to develop healthier thoughts that can guide members to accept themselves unconditionally. According to Yalom and Leszcz (2005), CBT can be applied in group therapy for various clinical conditions such as acute and chronic depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and panic disorder. Group cognitive behavioral therapy (GCBT) is a form of psychotherapy that is based upon the principles of behaviorism and cognitive psychology that combines aspects of three different therapeutic types: cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy, and group therapy (Rose, 1989). These group sessions should utilize cognitive restructuring for changing negative