1. Who Do We Really Want To Let In?
Patient Selection
Who Do We Really Want To Let In?

2. YAVIS
Young
Attractive
Verbal
Intelligent
Socially Competent

3. SOLEN Socially Distressed Older Loners Emotionally Unattractive
Nonverbal

4. How do counselors select clients for group?
They don’t, clients are selected for them and then deselect themselves out!

5. Exclusion Criteria braindamaged paranoid hypochondriacal
substance addicted
psychotic
sociopathic

6. Focus: Can The Client “DO” Group?
Can the client develop trust?
Can the client develop relationships?
Can the client interact in a manner that is honest and open?
Can the client interact in a manner that will not harm others?

7. Other Contraindications
Crisis- better treated as crisis!
Acute Suicidal- detrimental to other members
nonattenders- zap vitality and motivation

8. Dropouts Less Psychologically Minded More Somatic Complaints
Therapist liking and ability to empathize**
Lower SES?
In crisis- leave when crisis resolves
High deniers- leave when confronted
Isolates who disrupt the group
very angry
withdrawn and nonparticipatory
“They functioned on a different level of communication from that of the rest of the group. They remained at the symptom-describing, advice-giving and -seeking, or judgemental level and avoided discussion of immediate feelings and here-and-now interaction.”
Fear of emotional contagion- voyeaurs are good

9. Criteria for Inclusion
Motivation
Interpersonal concerns for which the client accepts some responsibility
Clients who cannot readily “see” themselves
Ability to disclose and be active= popular

10. Preparing Members for Here and Now Counseling
Unabashedly Stolen from Sklare, Keener & Mas- University of Louisville

11. Active Membership Is Essential For Growth
Membership Criteria and Roles should be well defined
Pre-group Traing reduced anxiety, promotes action, increases self-exploration, cohesion & interpersonal interactions
Increase expectations and Hope
Use written information after 3 sessions to increase “here and now” interaction

12. Create Awareness of Behavioral Expectations
Help members:
focus on present
avoid blaming
avoid making suggestions
avoid dependency

13. Pregroup Meeting Teach about sumbling blocks: Reduce Dropouts
feeling puzzled, discouraged
frustration over sharing time
annoyance with the leader
keeping info secret
subgrouping
Reduce Dropouts

14. Overpreparing?
It is possible to overprepare and therefore “do” some of the work the group needs to do itself

15. Norms of Group Behaviors and Possible Leader Responses

16. “You” Language teach members not to use de-personalizing language
you speech dilutes self-expression
avoids responsibility
allows members to incorrectly speak for others

17. “We” Language discourages individual thinking
inhibits confrontation by creating false “we”
provides support where none may exist

18. Questioning are declarative statements hidden by sender
allows false activity because questioner is hidden
increases defensiveness and resistance

19. Speaking in the Third Person
avoids direct contact and other’s response
signals that person being discussed is somehow deficient
disguises some other issue

20. Approval Seeking
signals self-doubt
member seeking support passively

21. Rescuing
When members are interrupted from expressing thoughts and feelings, chance of resolution is diminished
increases dependency
opportunity for growth is removed

22. Analyzing allows distancing from group
elevates the member to superior position
minimizes member’s own problems
evokes resentment in others