GROUP COUNSELING - Research Paper Example

Group Counseling Introduction Counseling is simply a process that is learning-oriented occurring in a set of interactive relationship, having the objective of assisting a person know more about self and be able to put to use that kind of understanding into practice so as to become an effective societal member. The person helping needs to exercise some considerable care and have genuine concern towards the person experiencing the problem and be able to give him or her required facilitation for change and growth through the imparted self-knowledge (Winsome, 2010).

Group counseling entails people who share some common problems or similar issues, where they meet in the same session and solve their issues without having a professional leader (Winsome, 2010). In some cases, the group leader might just be called in shortly to offer guidance and get the group on its feet. This paper uses the technique called Rational Emotive Group Counseling technique and this is usually given in response to some problems that are already in existence in young people and has specific aims or objectives (Moore, 1997).

Adolescent group This is a group of youngsters who have started experiencing biological changes that do affect their emotions, personal and peer based behaviors. These body changes come with the onset of teenage and these groups of people are prone to various risks since they are curious about the changes occurring in their bodies and are attracted by many things within the environment (Wilde, 1994). Topic: Reproductive health Participants: a group of 10 school going people aged between 13 to 19 years.

This is the age bracket for adolescents. The stage My group counseling session will take place at the St. John Church New York. This is because it is accessible to many schools that are surrounding the location and would also need change of environment for the participants since they spend most of their time in school than church environment. Rationale or purpose of the group counseling Adolescents experience paradoxes. They strive to have closeness but fear the aspect of intimacy and do away with it.

They are unable to deal with the demands of most social settings. This group is likely to experiment with sexual matters and end up messing their lives through acquisition of diseases and pregnancies. It is important for them to be counseled in groups so as to share issues and learn about themselves. Presentation of the exercise I would orient the group members to get acquainted, get to know each other by names, and helping them set their personal goals of what they would want to achieve from the session.

I would teach those ways of being a productive group and giving guidelines. I would then introduce the topic of discussion, which in this case is reproductive health. During the introduction, I would make the following statement: “Our topic is concerned with your sexuality. The sexual act entails two people, male and female, sleeping together and engaging in the act of sex. Who among you knows what sex is? Well, I will give you a brief description.” Then I would vividly explain and tell them not to be shy to talk about it.

This process will be followed by a prepared guide where each member would be given a copy. This will guide them in their discussion. Professional counseling manuals for reproductive health knowledge to adolescents are available. I would then leave the group to start their emotive thinking and rationalize their own ideas by each person presenting to the group while I am seated at a distance to in an inactive mode to listen to the points they raise and only stepping in whenever I feel there is a deviation.

Possible group member responses that would lead to stopping the session Responses, which use vulgar language with the intentions of disrupting other group members from contributing to the topic; those that deviate from the set topic of counseling; and the ones that elicit personality degradation. Questions to ask the group at the end of the session I would seek to know from each member if he or she has known anything new from the session; Ask if the session has been good and challenging; Ask about their personal experiences they would want to share with the group as far as the topic is concerned; Seek to know if they would want to have more of such sessions in future.

Observations I would share with the group at the end of the session Free expression of individual ideas to the members; Full participation in the group session; Tolerance where a member is putting across a point that other members feel it is not true or do not conform to it. They should let the person speak. Point out some of the important points made by the members; Elaborate some points to make them clear. Conclusion Group counseling technique is an important part of individual development and should be effective if well applied.

Sharing of information in a group setting with other members is one sure way of imparting knowledge to a group of people who share some things in common and are therefore in a better position to help them. This is one of the assumptions that are made when it comes to group counseling. References Moore Budd A. (1997), The Efficacy Of Group Counseling Interventions Employing Short- Term Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy In Altering The Beliefs, Attitudes, And Behaviors Of At-Risk Adolescents. Washington County Evening High School Wilde, J. (1994) the Effects Of the Lets Get Rational Board Game on Rational Thinking, Depression, and Self-acceptance in Adolescent: Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, Marquette University, and Milwaukee, WI.

Winsome Gordon (2010) Counseling, UNESCO/Winsome Gordon, France