Group Counseling: Pre-Group Planning
[Peer Reviewed Article-Planning and Implementing Group Counseling in a High School] (https://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=psyh&AN=2001-09030-009&site=eds-live&scope=site) This article offers strategies for successful planning and implementation of group counseling. Understanding the students’ needs is the first step in planning a group. The groups need to be assessed on the maturity and development of the high school students. Factors for implementation and planning include needs, scheduling, educating faculty for the purpose of support, and avocation. Once these strategies are implemented, the school counselor may then move forward.
Reference:
Ripley, V. V., & Goodnough, G. E. (2001). Planning and implementing group counseling in a high school. Professional School Counseling, 5(1), 62–65. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=psyh&AN=2001-09030-009&site=eds-live&scope=site
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A needs assessment is a systematic approach to collecting the determine and understand what the students in a high school setting need in order to create an action plan within the group setting. It is importnat to understand what the students need in order to be successful in the target area.
Reference: Screen Students-ASCA Ethical Standards A.7.c The ASCA Ethical Standard A.7.c states the following, Screen students for group membership. It is imperative that the school counselor screen students for specific needs in regards to the topics within the group. Students age, development, willingness to participate, and other factors are important to the makeup of the group. These and other factors will allow the group to run without any added trauma or issues for the other group members.
ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.org/school-counselors-members/legal-ethical
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This image depicts an example of a working group. The students are gathered in a circle so they are able to connect and not feel isolated. When working with groups, it is important for every member to work as a collective.
Blog- Counselor Keri- (https://www.counselorkeri.com/category/small-group-counseling/)
Counselor Keri is a blog centered around school counseling. Keri is a former mental health counselor who is now a school counselor. She writes the blog in order to provide resources for the school counselor. Within the blog, topic such as age and grade level appropriate techniques and group counseling can be found. This is a great resource for school counselors looking for innovative ideas. There is a specific tab for group counseling with targeted resources.
Peer Reviewed ArticleAssociation for Specialists in Group Work: Best practice guidelines 2007 revisions. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work
The Association for Specialists in Group Work created Best Practices guidelines. Within the guidelines, the ASGW created sections for planning and performing. These guidelines help the school counselor looking to facilitate groups by applying the ACA Code of Ethics to the field of group work.
Reference:
Thomas, R. V., & Pender, D. (2008). Association for Specialists in Group Work: Best Practice Guidelines 2007 Revisions. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 33(2), 111–117. https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1080/01933920801971184
Reference: Sink, C. A., Edwards, C., & Eppler, C. (2012). School based group counseling. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole. Create group focus/theme and set general goals p.73 School Based School Counseling*Creating a group focus/theme and setting general goals helps to create a focus when developing the group. Counselors should base the group theme on the results of the needs assessment. The counselor should not only use the needs assessment, but also be in conjunction with recommendations form teachers, administration, and parents. The theme of the group should follow with the three developmental domains including: academic/educational, personal/social, and career/vocational.
Reference:
Sink, C. A., Edwards, C., & Eppler, C. (2012). School based group counseling. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Photo - This photo depicts how different environments can help to build positive relationships during the group counseling process.
Guys Group
Lessons and Activities - Building self-confidence; Setting measurable goals; Managing our emotion and attitudes; Strengthening relationships with others; Developing positive study habits.
Purpose: Specific to 9th-grade boys in high school. It would be essential to pre-screen teens Forming this kind of counseling group may help boys feeling challenged entering high school, building peer relationships, and changing attitudes.
This picture comes from a slide show explaining the first steps for school counselors to create groups. Setting up the group and identifying students needs. Then getting parent permission and last planning the 8 week process.
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Team Bonding Games – The Characteristic Game #5 (Video)
Positive peer relationships can be formed in high school counseling groups to help stimulate students to have an open and honest discussion with each other. The Team Building game helps to break down the wall people may have up when sharing information. It allows students to choose positive characteristics about each other.
Team Bonding Games - The Characteristic Game
(Peer Reviewed Article)
As African American boys’ transition from their youth grades to high school, the need for stronger connections is important. This article highlights key features of advancing into the teens as an African American. The main points of the group include positive peer connections and support, examining gender roles, understand school identities, school engagement, and future planning.
Reference:
Pérez-Gualdrón, L., Yeh, C., & Russell, L. (2016). Boys II Men: A Culturally-Responsive School Counseling Group for Urban High School Boys of Color. Journal of School Counseling, 14(13). Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ1126013&site=eds-live&scope=site
ASCA - School counselors have a responsibility to groups to be competent in how to operate the group and help students as needs. The ASCA helps to provide guidelines to assist counselors.
Reference:
ASCA. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/PositionStatements/PS_Group-Counseling.pdf
(Reference) ASCA - The School Counselor and Group Counseling
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(Peer Reviewed Article): It can be a challenging task as a counselor to lack the knowledge on how to help others reach their greatest potential. African American males needing counseling services outnumber counselors that are equipped to help from a cultural viewpoint. With there being more Europeans and females within the field of counseling, there is a lack of cultural connectivity for African Americans males. In an effort to properly assist high school students, this article evaluates a 12-week program directed towards African American males and hosted by European American female counselors.
Reference:
Muller, L. E. (2002). Group Counseling for African American Males: When All You Have Are European American Counselors. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 27(3), 299. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edb&AN=11656179&site=eds-live&scope=site
(Peer-Reviewed Article) Because Polland has become a high-risk area in regard to the consumption of alcohol and psychoactive substances amongst high school students and similar behavior has resulted in significant youth deaths within developed countries, there is an urgency to find ways to minimize such occurrences (Suwala, 2014). Through an ecological assessment, counselors are able to analyze the intervention needs of high school students addicted to alcohol and other substances.
Reference:
Suwała, M. (2014). [Alcohol and other psychoactive substances addiction risk assessment among chosen high school students test group]. Przeglad Lekarski, 71(11), 620–623. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=mnh&AN=25799857&site=eds-live&scope=site
This video gives samples of how to start group meetings. There are 8 different ice breakers that can be helpful at getting students to start talking. Using ice breakers can make it easier for students to open up when the counseling session begins.
Photo: This photo shows a pyramid that resembles the size differences in group counseling, individual counseling, and classroom counseling.At the bottom is classroom, in the middle it represents small groups, and the top is individual counseling.
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Blog: Defining Group Counseling and creating groups.(http://schoolcounselorstephanie.com/2018/01/16/group-counseling-101/)
In this blog, school counselor Stephanie shares her ideas and plans for group counseling. She runs 4 different group counseling sessions each quarter or semester. These include a Social Skills Lunch Bunch, Culture Explorers (two separate sessions for different age groups), and a Boys Group.
(Additional resource)
This High School has created a group "We Dine Together".
Students are making sure nobody sits alone at lunch. This helps students expand their social groups, and is great for the new students.
This group also meets weekly to discuss various issues that adolescent students struggle with, such as friendships, anti-bullying strategies, conflict resolution, the masculine stereotype, and more.
(https://www.wedinetogether.org/)
(https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KxQg3GVl0P37LuJkRQ0kiHSIhPXQsnFmEmSeVbRSbEQ/edit) This is an example of a group prep list. This was shared in a blog. (http://schoolcounselorstephanie.com/2018/01/16/group-counseling-101/)
(Class Reference)
This is ASCA sharing the major objectives when it comes to group counseling. "School counselors have a responsibility to screen potential group members and address informed consent, purpose of the group, goals, limits to confidentiality and voluntary participation."
As school counselors we can try and help groups of students overcome their issues and problems, but we cannot take on the role of a therapist and do long-term group counseling. If a students need long-term counseling for mental health, disorders, or other severe issues, those are not a part of group counseling. School counselors need to remember to work with outside resources.
(https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/PositionStatements/PS_Group-Counseling.pdf)
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