Groups: Process and Practice
by Corey, Marianne Schneider; Corey, Gerald; Corey, Cindy, 9th Edition

Read Chapter 5 then answer the following questions.

Imagine that you are a middle school counselor assigned the task of starting a group for children from divorced homes.

You will need to recruit members, conduct pregroup screenings, and plan for each group meeting. In addition, you will need to be sure that you obtain permission from the children’s guardians or parents.

How will you go about forming this group? What support or consultation will you need?

What personal and or professional experience have you had working with this population, and how do you anticipate you will join with group members?

What issues of credibility might you face with group members, and how will you address these?

What possible clinical and ethical issues do you anticipate being of importance in forming your group?

How might you go about educating yourself in the areas necessary for you to effectively lead this group?

School Counselor

Name

Institution

Course

Instructor

Date

School Counselor

Most schools have counseling programs to respond to and address various students’ needs. In group counseling, a counselor deals with many different concerns, development issues, and topics that determine the type of group to be formed (Corey, Corey, & Corey, 2013). As a result, there are many varieties of groups that can be created to suit clients’ diverse needs. Counselors have to understand such diversities and form groups suitable for various categories of children. This paper will discuss the various aspects of group counseling related to children from divorced homes.

Forming the Group

Adequate details and information concerning the type of group to be formed and the target participants must be obtained before creating a group. To do this, counselors must follow specific procedures to develop an appropriate group. The first step is generally the needs assessments, where the counselor will try to understand the diversity of students making the school population and their needs (Corey, Corey, & Corey, 2013). The counselor will seek to understand the needs of teachers, parents, guardians, and the student. A needs assessment can be done via interviews and focus group discussions.

Event scheduling follows the assessment of needs to mark the actual formation of the group. This comes after understanding the needs, recommending the best therapy, and identifying the students with divorced parents. Here events, meetings, and activities that will help these students through the process are planned appropriately. The counselor will have to use the school calendar to ensure that activities do not clash or interfere with other programs (Corey, Corey, & Corey, 2013). They will then remind the relevant parties about the training, requirement, dates, and venues and start the group.

My Personal and Professional

As a school counselor, I have the desirable qualifications that make me fit for this job. I have a master’s degree in school counseling and a bachelor’s degree in learning and behavior disorders. I underwent a compulsory graduate supervised internship experience during my master’s degree that has prepared me for the job. After passing the required certification exams, I have been certified and licensed by the state to practice counseling. Moreover, I am a member of the American School Counselor Association External link (ASCA), which gives regular training and additional certification for school counselors. Previously, I worked at St. Paul Orphanage in Houston as a counselor for the orphans for five years. I have developed to be patient, understanding, and empathetic with people and their various needs. I have learned to listen to people, manage groups, and respond appropriately. I expect these students not to be any different, and I will join them in a friendly and professional manner.

Credibility Issues

In any group counseling, the counselor should explain to the parties involved the potential values and realistic limitations of the therapy (Corey, Corey, & Corey, 2013). For instance, in the school case provided, the administration may be concerned about parent complaints and potential lawsuits that might arise. A counselor should understand these concerns and address them by speaking directly about the relevant ethical and legal issues with the relevant stakeholders. Having a clear memory of these issues proves the credibility of the counselor and the process and ensures success. Counselors should not screen and select participants based on personal feelings but should be objective with the choices (Corey, Corey, & Corey, 2013). Diversity within the group should also be adequately considered and embraced in group counseling to dispel misconceptions and stereotypes about one another.

Possible Clinical and Ethical Issues to Anticipate

Group counseling is associated with many clinical, ethical, and legal issues that counselors must consider to endure success. Informed consent is one of the ethical issues that counselor will have to give to their clients. The counselor provides complete details about the group to the relevant parties to make decisions from the point of knowledge (Corey, Corey, & Corey, 2013). Termination of the therapy, particularly when the client is not ready, also brings frictions in the group and can be addressed by conducting pre-termination counseling. Confidentiality and privacy are critical ethical issues that must be respected. Participants must ensure not to share confidential matters outside the therapy class. The need for beneficence and non-maleficence must also be maintained during therapy. Justice will ensure that all eligible candidates are attended to equally without discrimination (Corey, Corey, & Corey, 2013).

Personal Education

Counselors should keep learning and continue their education even as they work. In my case, I do this by joining additional education and specialization programs organized by the American School Counselor Association External link (ASCA) since I am a member. Additionally, I can go for further studies to do my Ph.D. as I continue practicing. There are some short courses and seminars organized by various organizations and agencies that I can also join to learn more about leadership and counseling. Furthermore, I do extensive reading of related books and articles to educate myself.

Group therapy is essential in any setting with a diversity of people. Organizing a successful group therapy in a school is a complex process that requires counselors to understand the whole process. Counselors must also possess the necessary qualifications and experience to ensure their success in offering group counseling. Both ethical and legal considerations go a long way to ensure the success of group counseling. Counselors should seek professional and academic development and advancement for better success.

References

Corey, M. S., Corey, G., & Corey, C. (2013). Groups: Process and practice. Cengage Learning.