Unit 2

Unit 2: Readings & Tasks

Topics

 Group Counselling Skills

 Group Facilitation Techniques
 Types of Groups

Required Content
Textbook
Jacobs, E. E., Schimmel, C. J., Masson, R. L. L., & Harvill, R. L. (2016). Group counseling: Strategies
and skills (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

 Chapter 6
 Chapter 7
 Chapter 8
 Chapter 12
 Read one of the following Chapters:
o Chapter 9, or
o Chapter 10, or
o Chapter 11, or
o Chapter 13, or
o Chapter 14, or
o Chapter 17

Note: All of these are great chapters, so if you have time, you are encouraged to skim through each of
them!

Unit Notes
Unit 2 Notes: The Middle Stage

Discussions

Please review the Discussion Assessment in the Course Syllabus before posting to the forum.

 2.1. Essential Skills for Group Counsellors

o The last post is due by end of Sunday of Unit 2.
 2.2. Tips for Avoiding Common Mistakes in Group
o The last post is due by end of Sunday of Unit 2.

Assignments
Due Group Preparation: Backgrounder, Outline, and Readings
  Value: 20% of final grade.
 Due:
o on or before 11:55 p.m. AT on Sunday of Unit 2.
o on or before 11:55 p.m. AT on Wednesday of Unit 1, identify your co-facilitation team
o on or before 11:55 p.m. AT on Friday of Unit 1, sign-up for your preferred type of client
group (child, adolescent, or adult) and post your topic

Last modified: Wednesday, 23 November 2022, 11:01 AM

Unit 2: The Middle Stage

You can print the complete Unit Notes or individual Unit Notes by clicking on the "Print book" or "Print
chapter" options located under the "Administration" block.

The focus this unit is on skills and techniques that contribute to successful group counselling, as well as groups
for different counselling purposes and in diverse settings.

As you read Chapter 6, notice the similarities and differences between the skills you have been learning for
individual counselling and the skills you will need for facilitating groups. Pay particular attention to the
prompts provided in the DVD boxes within this chapter. The videos are an essential element of the course as
they allow you to see group counsellors in action; reading about groups simply can’t adequately convey the
complexity of counselling more than one person at a time! The text examines some of the issues in group
counselling, beginning with the advantages and disadvantages of co-leading – this is a section that all of you
may benefit from reviewing prior to the beginning of the group you’re co-facilitating in Unit 4 or 5!

Chapter 7 helps to explain the important role that group leaders play in terms of “focus.” This, too, is
especially important to watch on the videos.

In Chapter 8, the focus is on two other essential group facilitation skills: cutting off and drawing out. Similar to
Chapters 6 and 7, this is exceptionally important to see in action on the DVD. The prompt on p. 177 for video
segment 8.1 is well worth pondering. One of a group counsellor’s key roles is to keep individuals within the
group safe; abdicating your responsibilities as a leader (i.e., letting your group run wild) may do harm instead
of good.

Chapter 12 is also required reading this unit. It provides practical tips and techniques for leading the middle
stage of groups.

There are many other wonderful chapters in the text. Recognizing your time constraints, however, please
choose at least one of Chapters 9 – 11 (introducing a variety of activities and exercises for groups), Chapter 13
(which discusses how a variety of counselling theories fit with group counselling), Chapter 14 (with a focus on
therapy groups), or Chapter 17 (highlighting work with specific populations across ages and life stages).

There are two required discussions in this unit. As you prepare for Discussion 1, observe the skills you
intuitively use in your day-to-day interactions with others. In Discussion 2, examine how your own beliefs
about conflict may impact your ability to facilitate counselling groups. Support each other in setting goals for
stretching beyond your comfort zones – perhaps even as soon as the groups coming up in Units 4 and 5. In
Discussion 3, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from others` mistakes (and, of course, your own). Knowing
our own tendencies can help us to avoid common mistakes and proactively plan for more effective group
facilitation.
Unit 2 Activities:

1. Read text, Chapters 6 – 8, 12, and at least one of 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, or 17, ideally before the unit
begins.
2. Watch the accompanying DVD – at minimum review all segments referred to in the required
chapters of the text.
3. Add to your journal reflections, using some of the video reflection prompts from this unit`s
readings.
4. Work with your co-facilitator to prepare the Group Preparation assignment.
5. Actively participate in Discussions 1 – 3.
6. Continue to contribute to the “Types of Groups” Wiki – revisit the Wiki throughout the unit,
aiming for 100+ distinct entries (avoid redundancy!)
7. Optional: Continue to browse through Fehr’s (2010) 101 Interventions in Group Therapy
(Rev.).

Gentle Reminder:

Group Preparation assignment: One assignment per team of co-facilitators is due at the end of this unit. As
soon as you have your schedule worked out, reach out to your group members (see sign-up Wiki in Unit 1) to
confirm that your schedule works for everyone; adjust as necessary. Keep in mind that participants will need to
fit in two groups, so scheduling “live” groups in an online meeting may take a bit of negotiating to find times
that work for all. Be sure to leave at least one hour free on either side of each online meeting session to allow
sufficient time to get set up and test equipment before starting and to save the recording and completely close
the session afterwards.

2.1. Essential Skills for Group Counsellors

Monday, 28 November 2022, 7:22 AM
Fourteen basic group leadership skills are listed on page 131 of the textbook; many of these skills are similar to
the skills used in individual counselling – the authors call them “basic human relationship skills.” In your day-
to-day interactions this week, any time you are in a group (e.g., work, family, social situations) take the time to
notice how these skills contribute to the interactions. In this forum, share what you noticed that worked well
and that didn’t, and try to explain why. Experiment a bit with some of these skills – share how using them
intentionally impacted the group dynamic.

 The last post is due at the end of Sunday of this unit.

Reference

Jacobs, E. E., Schimmel, C. J., Masson, R. L. L., & Harvill, R. L. (2016). Group counseling: Strategies and
skills (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.

2.2. Tips for Avoiding Common Mistakes in Groups

Monday, 28 November 2022, 7:22 AM
In Chapter 12 of the textbook, eight common mid-group mistakes by leaders are identified and several
strategies are listed for avoiding those mistakes. Reflect on your own group experiences, as a leader and
facilitator. Share examples of strategies that you’ve observed to work well – and examples of problems that
could have been avoided through better group facilitation. Look ahead to groups you expect to lead, in your
practicum and beyond. What mistake do you believe you’ll have the greatest tendency to make? What
strategies will you intentionally use to compensate?

 The last post is due at the end of Sunday of this unit.

Reference

Jacobs, E. E., Schimmel, C. J., Masson, R. L. L., & Harvill, R. L. (2016). Group counseling: Strategies
and skills (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.

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