Group Counseling: Theory and Practice

SC-607

A Graduate On-Line Course

Course Description

Group Counseling: Theory and Practice is designed to provide the school counselor with a theoretical foundation for group counseling. There is an emphasis on the study of group dynamics and major approaches to group guidance and counseling with emphasis on how to start a counseling group, how to effectively lead groups, and how to evaluate results. The student will develop skills of group membership, leadership and working with the processes of group development. This course gives attention to groups for children and adolescents found in the school setting. Special populations are addressed including various minorities, intellectually and physically challenged, perpetrators and victims of abuse and those with chronic or life threatening diseases. Support and self-help groups are dealt with along with the ethical issues that are unique to treatment in a group setting. The course is intended to help students understand the complexity of the group counseling processes.

Objectives-Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs 2009 standards

1. Analyze the history of groups and its relationships to current group practices. (CACREP A.1, A.5., C.1., D.1., D.2., G.1.)
2. Identify, critically compare and evaluate group counseling theories' key concepts, methodologies, strengths and weaknesses as applied to school counseling (CACREP G.3., G.4., I.1., I.2, I.3.,J.1., J.2., J.3.,K.2.,L.1., L.3.)
3. Identify the advantages and disadvantages of group counseling versus individual counseling. (CACREP A.3., B.2., C.1., C.4., D.1.)
4. Apply and practice knowledge of group counseling theories in school-based settings, family meetings, and community involvement. (CACREP M.1., M.2., M.3., M.7., N.1., N.2., N.3., N.5.)

5. Identify and apply therapeutic factors in the theory and practice of group counseling. (CACREP A.3., A.5., B.2., C.2., C.5., D.1., D.2., D.3.)
6. Apply principles of boundary management in the theory and practice of group counseling. (CACREP A.1., A.6., B.2., C.1., C.5., D.3.)
7. Identify issues that counselors as people must deal with to become effective group therapists. (CACREP C.1., C.3., C.5.)
8. Apply principles of ethical standards in group work. (CACREP A.2., B.1., B.2., D.4., E.1., F.2., F.3.,)
9. Apply group leadership principles and practices in group work. (CACREP A.3., C.5., D.4., I.1., 1.2., I.3.,I.5.,J.3., O.1., O.2., O.3., O.4., P.1.,P.2.)
10. Practice specific knowledge and skills for working with diverse, difficult and or special need group members. ( CACREP  A.3., A.4., A.6., B.2., C.3., C.5., C.6., D.1., D.2., D.3., D.4., E.2., E.3., F.3., E.4., G.1., G.2., H.1., H.2., h.3., h.4., H.5.,O.5.)
11. Explore multicultural considerations in group counseling with multicultural populations. (CACREP A.2.,.B.1.,D.1., E.1., E.2., E.3., E.4., F.1., F.2., F.3., F.4.)
12. Demonstrate competence in designing, implementing, managing, and evaluating programs for group counseling skills and transitional activities (CACREP C.2., D.2.)
13. Demonstrate knowledge in record-keeping, goal setting, and evaluating outcomes for group counseling to assist school personnel in the development of curriculum and instruction. (CACREP C.2., D.4., O.3., P.1.)
14. Develop an understanding of the counselor as an educational leader in the school. (CACREP A.3., B.2.)

     

     

    Time Requirements

    This course will be offered over a 15-week period and is a 45 hour 3 credit graduate course. 

     

    Hardware and Computer Skill Requirements

     

    Students may use either a Macintosh computer or a PC with Windows 2000 or higher. Students should possess basic word processing skills and have Internet access as well as an active email account. Students also are expected to have a basic knowledge of how to use a Web browser, such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, etc.

     

    Curriculum Design

     

    This course will emphasize the connection between the role of the school counselor and appropriate application of group counseling theories, practices and school-based interventions. Students will be involved in a variety of tasks for completion of course requirements: readings, reports on readings, journal and reflection entries, projects related to real world learning environments, and development  and practice of instructional counseling strategies for specific content areas. 

     

    Course Materials

     

    Required Texts:

    Theory & Practice of Group Counseling (2008), by Gerald Corey and

    Student Manual: Theory and Practice of Group Counseling (2008) by Gerald Corey. A special note about the student manual. There are specific assignments and readings for most of the modules. The manual also has activities that we will not address specifically and you are encouraged to do at least one or two in every chapter. In the chapters for each counseling theory there is a comprehension check, again you would be advised to complete these. They will not be counted toward your grade, as indicated; the answers are in appendix I. Questions or further clarification of the answers can be emailed to the instructor.

     

    Online readings and Web site reviews, including journal articles and best practices from the body of educational research, will be assigned during the course to enhance learning. These readings will be presented as annotated Web sites within the course content.

     

    Student Performance Requirements:

    Students will complete assigned readings, written assignments, applications/practice/direct observations in the educational setting and forum postings (as required) in each module. Students will complete tests and special projects as listed in the module content  .