Group Counseling

Process and Technique

Kevin A. Fall

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2013
• ISBN:
  9781136158452
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Psychotherapy
• Index: Psychology

The subtleties of counseling are very difficult to accurately express in written form alone. This is particularly true in the case of group work, where the interpersonal dynamics expand geometrically. A good group counseling textbook, such as the fifth edition of Group Counseling: Concepts and Procedures (2013), can provide a solid foundation, but video demonstrations can illustrate the nuances of the group experience in ways that words alone cannot. To provide just such a video, Kevin A. Fall has filmed a series of segments of a group in which he acts as leader with six participants and demonstrates the stages of a group as it moves from first session through termination. Fall offers regular sections of audio commentary, analysis, and processing on each segment, totaling a 120-minute program. The companion workbook provides additional information to fill in what is not shown on the film and includes exercises, activities, and discussion questions related to each video segment. The video and workbook are designed to work seamlessly with the Berg, Landreth, and Fall text, but they can also be used alongside any other group counseling textbook.

SEGMENT 1

First Group

Introduction

This segment represents a typical first session. Every group must begin, so every group you facilitate will require you to develop a way to get the group started. It is logical to assume that every group will begin in the first phase of the precommitment stage of development. This means that your group will likely be anxious and will be wondering if this group is right for them. They will be hesitant to share deep, meaningful aspects of self because an atmosphere of trust and safety has not yet formed. Your task as group leader is to welcome them to the group, to orient them to the process, and to get the ball rolling. Respect the group’s nervousness and do not try to push them too deep, too fast. Take your time and help them find some commonalities and their own reason for being in the group.

When people get together in groups, most of the people are most afraid of being different and thus, being excluded from the process. Due to this fear, the group will attempt to connect in any way possible. This general group dynamic is known as identification. Think about hanging out at the Student Union coffee shop. A person who is interested in you comes up to your table to try to spark some conversation. What topics will they bring up? If you answered, “Anything to do with college,” (“What’s your major?” “Studying for exams?”), then you are on target. They will ask that because the question has a high probability of connection. Identification is a wonderful dynamic for group leaders to be aware of because your group will naturally connect if you give them space to do it. It is important to note that the topics will likely be superficial, but that is normal. The beginning points of identification will lay the foundation for deeper connection later on in the group.

Preview Reflection Questions

• Discuss some of your expectations of the first group session. How will group members be feeling? How will you feel as a group leader?

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• How would you open the session? How would you close the session?

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• What is your role as group leader in the first session? What skills will you use to facilitate the group?

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Verbatim

DR. FALL: Good morning everybody and welcome to our first group. The whole purpose of the first group is to spend some time getting to know each other and figuring out what it is we want to get out of group and why we are in the room so we can prepare for our future meetings together. So in that spirit, what Iwould like to do is spend some time going around and Iwould like you to say your name and talk a little about what you would like to get out of group and why you are here. Who would like to start?

What is your impression of this opening? How would you open differently?

AMANDA: I’ll start. I haven’t been in group before but I have been in counseling. I’m at a stage in life where Iam trying to find the balance between stepping into professional roles, leaving graduate school, and balancing that with who Ialways thought I was. I’m struggling with how to navigate and blend those two: who Ineed to be in work and who Ifeel Ireally am.

DR. FALL: Ireally like that word “balance.” You are trying to find balance in your life but it is becoming difficult because you are moving into a transition. So this is a great time to explore that because you are actually experiencing that lack of balance as you make that transition. So Ithink that would be an excellent thing to try and coordinate here in this group. Thank you, Amanda. Who’s next?

Here, Dr. Fall responds to the first group member by validating and summarizing the member statement. He also reflects the word “balance.” Finding balance is a universal theme that often appears in group, and he is hoping that this might be something the other group members can relate to, thus increasing the feeling of universality. He also notes that the stated issue is something that can be worked on as the group continues the work. This moves the session along so it is less likely to turn into individual counseling in a group setting.

KURT: Hi, my name is Kurt. I was married for a while and recently we got divorced. Ifound out she was seeing someone else and since that point, I have been having problems building trust in relationships and trusting others in general. Iguess what Iwanted out of group was to see what a trusting relationship looks like, how people relate and maybe take something from that and use it in my life.

DR. FALL: So you have experienced a painful transition. It’s a little bit different than what Amanda is going through but the same desire to regain a sense of balance. You say you want to work on trust issues in group. You are now in a room of strangers so Iwould guess that would produce a bit of anxiety for you.

KURT: Yes it does. I was hoping to see where this goes and hoping to meet some people here in group and learn to trust.

DR. FALL: Iappreciate your desire to reach out even though you are experiencing that pain from being betrayed and hurt. Ithink a lot of people would have a tendency to withdraw so Ithink this group is a courageous first step for you.

KURT: Iam looking forward to it.

Kurt’s issue is different from Amanda’s, but Dr. Fall attempts to link the two issues under the theme of “transitions.” He also reflects the issues of trust and mentions the group situation as possibly anxiety-provoking. Once Kurt responds, Dr. Fall provides encouragement and frames Kurt’s group attendance as a healthy choice.

At this point, two members have shared. What would you have done different at this stage?

CHALI: Iguess I’ll go next. My name is Chali, and I have been in groups before and Ireally enjoyed the experience and learned a lot about myself. I was able to work on different skills interpersonally. Ithink continuing that self-awareness and learning more about myself and getting to know how Iinteract with people is what Iam looking to get out of group.

DR. FALL: You are looking for that sense of self-exploration. As you listened to Amanda and Kurt, was there anything there that you could relate to?

I (KAF) have to admit I was a little lost with Chali’s statement. I was having a difficult time connecting her to the others, so I relied on the tools that are always available to every group leader: reflection and clarification. The reflection conveys understanding, while the clarification question has the greatest probability for getting the information required. In other words, instead of guessing on the link, why not just ask the group member? What would be another way to respond to Chali’s information?

CHALI: Ithink with what Amanda was saying about balancing different parts of her life. That’s something Ideal with too. I have a professional identity and an identity with my family and friends. You have different roles with them and it’s balancing these roles that can be difficult. Irelated to that.

DR. FALL: That’s an important part of the group process. In our pre-group interviews, Ilearned about each person’s therapy experiences, and many of you have had individual counseling. One of the ways group counseling is different is finding those connections. Learning about yourself, which is your stated goal coming in, but you can actually do that by listening to others. Ithink you just demonstrated that. Great! Thank you, Chali.

Chali does a nice job connecting herself to Amanda. Dr. Fall makes a process observation about the importance of connecting to others in the group and that learning while listening is an important part of group counseling. This helps teach the members about group and gets them to see the work they are doing as a multifaceted process.

Also, notice that Dr. Fall is repeating the name of the person sharing as a transition to the next person. Saying a person’s name helps with the group getting to know one another and also helps each member feel like they matter. There is something personal about remembering someone’s name.

CROLINE: I’ll go next. My name is Caroline. This is my first time in counseling. I’m nervous. Iam here because I have a lot of stress recently. awhole lot on my plate and a whole lot going on. Iam trying to figure out how to handle that well and it feels so overwhelming at this point. That is why Iam here.

DR. FALL: Isaw a lot of head nods as she was talking about that stress. What are some areas of your life that are most stressful for you?

Dr. Fall makes a process observation that notes the nonverbal connection that other members are making to Caroline. This helps members become aware of how they link with one another even when they are not talking or actively working on their own issue.

CROLINE: It’s not necessarily any one thing. It’s just that there are a lot of things and a lot of expectations. Iam going to school full-time, working two jobs, in a serious relationship, trying to maintain friendships, spend time with my family, about to start a new career, finish up graduate school, and a job search. It’s just a lot things that Icould handle one at a time, but all at once is just ugh!

DR. FALL: Just that “ugh.” You said, “ugh!” That stress release. It sounds like you are stretched really thin.

CROLINE: Oh yeah! Unbelievably thin.

DR. FALL: Anyone relate to that?

GROUP: [All laugh and nod.]

DR. FALL: My guess is that when Amanda was talking about balance, trying to spin all those plates and feeling like you can’t add one more …

Here, Dr. Fall chose to link Caroline with Amanda on the topic of balance. The group as a whole was responding to the theme so he could have gone with a wider group connection. If you were the group leader, how would you have facilitated a broader group response?

CROLINE: Ialmost don’t like that word because it gives me something else to stress out abou...