Throughout the course of a Master’s counseling program, moments of doubt, and a lack of working knowledge are bound to play a major role in the confidence a future counselor will posses in effectively implementing interventions early on in the instructional phase of his or her career. Corey (2010) states that an effective group leader, is able to become aware of their own vulnerabilities, and take responsibility in their responses. To become aware of a possible vulnerable area, a counselor must first take a concise look into their personal strengths and weakness, and then decide to actively seek out assistance with working on vulnerabilities. In exploring the roles of an effective group leader, I have realized that within the group process, I most fear the roles of a group leader that pertain to direct confrontation of a client, I also fear that the improper implementation of a intervention could lead to potential harm of the client. Attending to these fears I hold regarding group member confrontation, and intervention implementation is the key to gaining further understanding into how I can become comfortable with these essential functions of a group leader. The current paper will take a closer look into my vulnerabilities, using current research to gain insight into how I can overcome fears, when facilitating a task, psycho-educational, counseling, and psychotherapy group. Corey, Corey, and Corey (2010) describe the main focus of task groups, to be the application of group dynamic principles and processes to improve, practice, and foster the accomplishment of identified work goals. In a task group setting, the members usually work together to complete a specific goal. Corey, Corey, and Corey (2010) describe task group leade... ... middle of paper ... ..., 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. After analyzing my fears regarding group leadership, I have become aware of the many different techniques that are used in helping future counselors develop the skills they need to become a competent group leaders. Although task, psycho-educational, counseling, and psychotherapy groups require a different individual leadership style, there is one thing that they all require of a leader, the competence to administer and conduct the group in a manner that will be beneficial for all its members.
Although there is value in group counseling at school, some of the problems that surface include scheduling issues, teacher resistance, and ethical concerns as well (Pérusse, 2009). Leading group counseling requires highly specialized skills (Pérusse, 2009). It is important for the counselors to have a solid foundation in group counseling theory and practice to be effective (Pérusse, 2009). As with individual counseling, counselors in this setting struggle with issues of confidentiality from parents wanting to know details of what was said but also with the issue of other students breaking confidentiality outside of group (Crespi, 2009).
Every group project provides a teachable experience and this one has been no different. I have learned some things during this Capstone team project, however, more than not, this team project has reinforced or refreshed my memory regarding lessons that I have already learned during the numerous other group projects that I have participated in and lead during my collegiate development here at Davenport University. One of the most significant things that I have learned during my project experiences is that, whether or not one is labeled as the team leader or project / group manger / leader is far less important that how one leads the group. I have, on occasion, lead groups from behind even though I have not been elected or otherwise been placed into a leadership position.
I first encountered the significance of leadership in the tenth grade. Berry College the largest campus in the U.S. was in search of school ambassadors to serve part in a seminar known as HOBY. To get chosen you had to write an essay describing your leadership roles, and at that moment I thought that I did not have any. I literally did not know what it meant to be a leader. I had to brainstorm till I remembered going through one of the most difficult times of my life. The lack of understanding the English language became one of my biggest obstacles, and even caused me to repeat a chapter of my life. However, I did not cease; I continued to fight and strove to help others who were susceptible of following my steps. I used my story as an example, and hoped that it would make a difference in someone else’s life.
He/ She must have certain skills that will help him/her to navigate through group therapy. Schimmel & Jacob (2013) noted clearly that the group leader must have a good knowledge of counseling theories because you can’t do group therapy without having some frame of reference of some theory on which to base your technique/approach after. The leader must be clear on the purpose of why he/ she is leading the group and his/her role as the group leader.
believes group members are not as ready as they should be. Here leadership style focuses on helping these team members develop confidence and trust in their own abilities.
Gadding, S. T. (2012). Groups: A counseling specialty (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education
Great leaders are few and far between, but everyone possesses the power to be a good leader. I have only been in the military for about three and a half years; most of this time has been spent at CMR St-Jean and RMCC. I have yet to be put into any major leadership roles, but from what I have been able to accomplish in regards to leading others and the leaders that I have been able observe over the last few years, I have started to slowly figure out what type of leader I would like to become. According to Johns and Saks (2014) leadership is, “The influence that particular individuals exert on the goal achievement of others in an organizational context” (206). From past experience, influencing others to do something can be complicated at times but can be accomplished by staying focused on the task at hand. The leadership roles I have been able to take part in have brought me to the conclusion that cohesion is the core factor of how I lead.
An effective group leader/ Facilitator has lots of responsibility to consider before the group begins. Including training, clients evaluations/ goal plans, consents and let's not forget discussions and exercises to complete in a productive group.
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 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.
Through the process of this class I have been able to reflect and analyze how I am as a leader as well as a co-leader in a group setting. I believe throughout this process of being part of a group as a member and leader has help me further define the roles that I will play in group counseling in the future. The evolution that I am seeing are an abundance of growth in areas that I thought I was already comfortable in such as being an active listener and co-leading. I see that there are more to becoming a powerful leader and facilitator. There are various aspects of becoming a well rounded group leader as learning the skills to endure especially building your endurance. Also, being able to take risks, being competent and confidence in your ability to lead a group of any sorts. Moreover, I have found that my communication style has shifted especially learning about the process in which you communicate your informal introduction as well as the lingo that is being used as a counselor. Also, the way in which we approach each member of
Engleberg, Isa N. and Dianna R. Wynn. Working in Groups. 6th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2012. Print.
Leadership can take many different forms, depending on the person and the situation in which it is needed. Collaborative leadership is a leadership style in which a leader brings together a large group of people, with a variety of backgrounds, to make a productive decision and act upon it. According to Chrislip and Larson (1994):
One important concept to remember is that as a group leader you need to be prepared to deal with members of different race, religion, and sexual orientation. They also need to be able to understand different perspectives and values. Another concept to remember as a group leader can get involved with legal issues. These issues occur if the leader does not use due care and acts in good faith. Therefore, leaders should always practice within their limits and not be negligent to their specific duties. Lastly, another important concept to remember as a leader is when dealing with the elderly population leads you have to have patience because the elderly patients tend to work at a slower pace. Also, when dealing with elderly patients group leader must be sensitive to certain issues relating to aging, death, and real physical or vital constraints they maybe
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
Concepts In the first chapter, the therapeutic factors that stood out to me the most was instillation of hope. There is research that says most therapies operate through hope and conviction. Group therapists do all that they can to increase the patient’s belief and confidence in group therapy that works effectively. Also, it is important that therapists believe in themselves. The most important is that members learn from others who have similar problems how therapy can work for them in their life.