1. Counseling Interventions
G532, Group Counseling

2. Structure in Group Work
Bednar, Melnick, & Kaul (1973)
New groups get little work done
Low group cohesiveness
Environment threatening
Members can’t anticipate responses to their messages
Meaningful messages perceived as risky
Members “chit-chat” instead

3. Structure . . . Provides context for therapeutic messages
Reduces risk by reducing responsibility for message outcomes
Members produce more meaningful messages
Cohesiveness grows
More rapid group development
Less need for structure

4. Two Types of Structure
Cognitive structure provides a conceptual rationale for therapeutic messages
Includes
Pre-group preparation
Early group didactic explanations
Written and taped material
Discussion of concerns about therapeutic behaviors and how to alleviate those concerns

5. Behavioral Structure
Provides opportunities to view ad rehearse therapeutic behaviors
Includes
Exercises
“Ice-breakers”
Role-plays

6. About Structure Most helpful early in a group
Most helpful to high risk takers
Less helpful as group cohesiveness builds
Too much structure hinders group development
Structure continued too long hinders group development

7. Types of Interventions (Corey, 2001)
Facilitating
Processing
Challenging

8. Facilitating Interventions
Reflective listening
Questioning
Drawing out
Drawing together or expanding discussion )
Self-disclosure
Supporting/siding
Blocking/ redirecting (verbal and nonverbal

9. Processing Interventions
changing questions to statements
Feedback
Role-playing
Process illumination
Linking
Interpreting
Addressing anecdotes

10. Challenging Interventions
Individual and group confrontation
Evaluating
Suggesting

11. Working With Stories in Groups
Address the feelings behind the story
Address the point of the story
What does person want others to learn about him from the story?
These interventions bring stories into the “here and now”