MHS 6509 Group Counseling: Theory and Practice
The purpose of this course is to help students develop the minimum
knowledge and skills competencies identified by the Association for Specialists
in Group Work. These competencies are listed below.
"Completion of core group
work training competencies does not prepare
a counseling professional to independently
assume responsibility for conducting any
of the specializations included in the ASGW training standards (e.g.
task groups, psychoeducational groups, counseling groups, psychotherapy
groups). Additional focused training is required for independent practice
in a group work specialty." (from ASGW Training Standards as posted at
http://www.uc.edu/~wilson/asgw/rainbow.htm;
emphasis added).
Core Training Knowledge Competencies
-
Deliver a clear, concise,
and complete definition of group work, of each of the four group work specialties
(task groups, psychoeducational groups, counseling groups, psychotherapy
groups) the distinguishing characteristics of each, the commonalties shared
by all, and the appropriate instances in which each is to be used and for
what specific purposes.
-
Identify the basic principles
of group dynamics.
-
Discuss the basic therapeutic
ingredients of groups.
-
Identify the personal characteristics of
group workers that have an impact on members; knowledge of personal strengths,
weaknesses, biases, values, and their effect on others.
-
Describe the specific ethical issues that
are unique to group work.
-
Discuss the body of research on group work
and how it relates to one's academic preparation in either school counseling,
student personnel education, community counseling, or mental health counseling.
-
Define the process components involved
in typical stages of a group's development (i.e., characteristics of group
interaction and counselor roles.
-
Describe the major facilitative and debilitative
roles that group members may take.
-
State the advantages and disadvantages
of group work and the circumstances for which it is indicated or contraindicated.
-
Identify principles and strategies for
recruiting and screening prospective group members and detail the importance
of group and member evaluation.
Core Training Skill Competencies
-
Encourage participation of group members.
-
Observe and identify group process events.
-
Attend to and acknowledge group member
behavior.
-
Clarify and summarize group member statements.
-
Open and close group sessions.
-
Impart information in the group when necessary.
-
Model effective group leader behavior.
-
Engage in appropriate self-disclosure in
the group.
-
Give and receive feedback in the group.
-
Ask open-ended questions in the group.
-
Empathize with group members.
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Confront group members' behavior.
-
Help group members attribute meaning to
their experience.
-
Help group members to integrate and apply
learnings.
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Demonstrate ASGW ethical and professional
standards in group practice.
-
Keep the group on task in accomplishing
its goals.