Group Process in Counseling



Counseling 543

Group Process in Counseling

Fall, 2008

Shamshad Ahmed, Ph.D.

Office Phone: (570) 348-6211 x2319

E-Mail: sahmed@es.Marywood.edu

Office Location: 1020 McGowan Center

Office hours

It is important to me to be readily available to each of you. My preference is to schedule appointments and to set an agenda in advance–this procedure allows me to be of most help. However, you can meet with me whenever my office door is open or during the times listed below:

Mondays: 11:45 AM -12:45 PM

Wednesdays: 11:45 AM -12:45 PM

Thursday: 11-3 PM

Textbooks

1. Theory and Practice of Group Counseling (6th Edition, 2004).

2. The Theory and practice of Group Psychotherapy (5th Edition), Yalom

Description

This is a graduate level course. This course will investigate the basic issues in group work, the process by which you conduct groups, as well as explore various perspectives and personal styles applied to group work. A combination of discussions, demonstrations, videos, experiential opportunities, and practice in co-leadership will be utilized in the classroom. Including both didactic and experiential components, this course combines academic and personal learning. The intention of the coursework is to lay a framework upon which to design and conduct groups of your own. Emphasis is on developing skills and applying theories combined with various techniques to actual group situations. Related legal and ethical issues will be discussed.

Teaching methods will include lecture, reading, class discussion, class activities, videos, case reviews and peer presentations.

Objectives

1. Review and understand basic theory and principles of group process.

2. Review exclusion criteria when starting a group.

3. Explore the ethical, “slightly unethical”, legal, and “boundary” issues when recruiting

group members.

4. . Be able to identify and practice managing “critical incidents”.

5. Be able to identify, understand, and utilize the “antigroup” to avoid group deterioration and promote the progress and depth of group work.

6. Learn important skills which increase the potential to utilize “critical incidents” and the

“antigroup” for transformation.

7. Explore transference and countertransference issues as they frequently develop in groups.

8. Review and deepen leadership skills which facilitate group focus on current, in- group, here-and-now process.

9. Review the different group leadership styles for inpatient vs. outpatient populations.

10. Discuss group design and leadership styles with other special populations: elders, children, the culturally diverse, etc.

11. Be able to design and develop a group for your setting.

Requirements

1. Class participation and attendance (15% of grade): This is a discussion-oriented class. Thus, the quality of the experience depends heavily upon each of you participating. Because each of your contributions are important, any unexcused absences will result in a significant lowering of this grade, as will two or more excused absences. Half of the grade will be for attendance and the other half for class participation.

Very good participation-12-15% A

Good participation - 8-11% B+

Average participation 4-8% C

Poor participation below 4% F

Criteria for Class Participation

Grade

A = 90+

Student actively participated in discussions in >80% of class sessions; nearly all

comments were thought provoking and incorporated material from the assigned

readings

B = 80 – 89

Student actively participated in discussions in >80% of class sessions; most of the

comments were thought provoking and incorporated material from the assigned

readings

C = 70 – 79

Student participated in discussions in >70% of class sessions; comments/questions

demonstrate a surface level understanding of course topics

F = ................
................

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