Flashcards and Answers – Group Dynamics Analysis

a. A major difference between group therapy and group counseling lies in the goals of the process. i. Counseling groups focus on growth, development, enhancement, prevention, self-awareness, some remediation. ii. Therapy groups focus on specific issues needing remediation (correcting an issue), treatment, and personality reconstruction.

Counseling Groups Psychotherapy Groups a. A major difference between group therapy and group counseling lies in the goals of the process. i. Counseling groups focus on growth, development, enhancement, prevention, self-awareness, some remediation. ii. Therapy groups focus on specific issues needing remediation (correcting an issue), treatment, and personality reconstruction. Psychoeducational Groups-- a process of reeducation that includes both conscious and unconscious awareness and both the present and the past. Task Facilitation Groups- Task groups are groups of individuals brought together to accomplish a specific action or produce a product. Designed to address the application of principles and processes of group dynamics that can foster accomplishment of identified work goals. iii. Often created for organizational purposes or to meet certain needs of clients. iv. Goals v. Develop and implement programs vi. Increase community organization vii. Study - study groups

Paraphrasing what has said to clarify. Don't just repeat word for word what the client is saying.

expressing concrete and honest reactions based on observation of members' behaviors. Helps increase a client's self-awareness.expressing concrete and honest reactions based on observation of members' behaviors. Helps increase a client's self-awareness.

offering possible explanations for certain thoughts, feelings, and patterns of behavior. Hopefully, this will encourage deeper self-exploration, to provide a new perspective for considering and understanding one's behavior

being able to appraise the ongoing group process and the individual and group dynamics.

opening up clear and direct communication among members; helping members to assume increasing responsibility for the group's direction.

to help members develop alternative courses of thinking and action.

Communicating the understanding of the content of feelings. This lets members know you are hearing and understanding them.

fostering trust in the therapeutic relationship; communicating understanding and encouraging deeper levels of self-exploration. Understanding beyond the level of words. ...

grasping the essence of a message at both the feelings and thinking levels; helping members sort out conflicting and confused feelings and thoughts.

preparing the group to close a session and to prepare members to assimilate, integrate, and apply in-group learning to everyday life.

offering possible explanations for certain thoughts, feelings, and patterns of behavior. Hopefully, this will encourage deeper self-exploration, to provide a new perspective for considering and understanding one's behavior

Promoting participation and introducing new ideas or direction to the group - the goal of this skill is to prevent needless group floundering and to increase the pace of the group process.

To avoid fragmentation and give direction to a session; providing continuity and meaning.

warning people of possible risks in group participation; to reduce these risks.

demonstrate desired behavior through action; to inspire members to fully develop their potential. If they can see how you are modeling healthy behaviors - they can become more capable of taking part in healthy behaviors as well.

Group leaders are expected to protect confidentiality of members by: Clearly defining what confidentiality entails "As a leader, you are required to keep the confidences of group members, but you have the added responsibility of impressing on the members the necessity of maintaining the confidential nature of whatever is being revealed in the group" (Corey, 2012). Explaining to members why it is important Discussing the difficulties involved in enforcement

A discussion of the rights and responsibilities of group members A clear statement regarding the purpose of the group A pre-group interview Information about the training and qualifications of the group leader

The ability to provide an emotionally safe environment for clients while challenging them. An ability to deeply enter the world of another without losing a sense of self. The ability to accept feedback about themselves without becoming destabilized by this feedback. The ability to give of self to others while being able to nurture and take care of themselves.

Personality and character - You are who you are but use your strengths in personality and character to enhance the group not destroy the group. If you have the inability to be a positive force - then work on it. If you tend to dominate conversations - practice letting others speak. Presence - "be there" - don't check out on the group. Show that you genuinely care and try to enter their psychological world. Show the members that you are moved by the joys and pains they are experiencing. Leave whatever has you distracted in the office or the car! Personal power - being aware of your influence and having a healthy level of self-confidence. You have to feel empowered to show your clients how to feel empowered. Don't foster dependency but allow the members to tap into their own power. Courage - Don't hide behind your role as the counselor. Take risks, be willing to challenge members in respectful ways. Forge ahead in spite of your imperfections. Admit your mistakes. Willingness to confront oneself - Be self-aware - take a look at yourself, question yourself. What personal conflicts do you have? What are your defenses and weak spots? What are your own vulnerabilities? Make sure you are able to responsibility for your own reactions. Inventiveness and creativity - Don't be stuck in a routine. Bring new ideas, break up the monotony! Be inventive, search out new ways to open each group session. Don't let boredom set in! Creativity often makes members want to return. Sincerity and authenticity - being willing to appropriately disclose oneself and share feelings and reactions to what is going on in the group. Sense of identity - Have a clear idea of who you are. Know what you value and what motivates you, don't just be what others expect you to be. Know your limitations, needs, fears and strengths. Be aware of your cultural heritage, your ethnicity, your sexual identity, and your religious beliefs. Belief in the group process and enthusiasm - a group can not succeed if the leader does not believe in the group process. The enthusiasm group leaders bring to their groups can have an infectious quality. The lack of enthusiasm sets the stage for a stale, unsuccessful group.

-Informed consent - a process that begins with presenting basic information about group treatment to potential group members to enable them to make better decisions about whether or not to enter and how to participate in a group -Clients should be told that informed consent is an ongoing process at the very outset of the group.

Privileged Communication - a legal concept known as the right of the therapist to keep confidentiality within the helping relationship even when requested by the court or subpoenaed. The legal concept of privileged communication is not recognized in a group setting unless there is a statutory exception.

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