Energizing Your Counseling Groups!

1. Energizing Your Counseling Groups! Bob Carty, LCSW, CADC, CCJP ICB Fall 2019 Conference

2. Introductions • Participants’ poll • Years of clinical experience • Types of work settings • Types of groups you facilitate • Any particular challenges in leading groups?

3. Learning Objectives • Understand group process via Yalom’s curative factors • Explain the importance of stage-specific group exercises • Define the concept of “container” • Describe the purpose of ice-breakers • Identify various experiential group exercises for each stage • Allow yourself to have fun!!!

4. Brief Review of Group Dynamics Process versus Content Yalom’s Curative Factors Stages of Group Growth

5. Content Versus Process • Important for group counselors to track both • Content: what is said in group, including key topics discussed and comments made by specific group members • Process: how group acts as a whole and how members interact with each other; may include: • Patterns of communication between members • Degree of trust and vulnerability • Responses to the counselor’s interventions • Emotional climate (example: how does the group deal with conflict)

6. Yalom’s Curative Factors • Instillation of hope: often individuals come into treatment with a sense of hopelessness; encouraging them to envision some hope can help motivation • Universality: early rapport-building in group opens the way for members to see their commonality • Imparting of information: considerable education occurs in group in various ways, such as details regarding recovery tools • Altruism: receiving by giving to others; members tend to experience a sense of fulfillment in helping other members

7. More Curative Factors • Corrective recapitulation of the primary family group: interaction of a group may closely resemble that of a family, offering members an opportunity to work out old, unresolved issues • Development of socializing techniques: people who are new to recovery usually need to learn how to listen to others, to express themselves, to learn empathy, and more • Imitative behavior: as clients try to understand the changes they need to make to sustain sobriety, they are gifted with many different models of thinking and acting; they may try what they observe to see if it will work for them

8. And Last Few Factors • Interpersonal learning: group is a microcosm; member learns about how s/he functions in life by examining how s/he functions in group • Group cohesiveness: as the group continues to develop, there is a connection among its members; a sense of unity • Catharsis: this expression of emotion occurs in cohesive groups that have developed enough trust to allow individuals to open up deeply and powerfully • Existential factors: occasionally the group explores basic issues of personal responsibility, of one’s core values, and of one’s legacy

9. Group Growth • Groups do not automatically function in ways that promote honest sharing, self-exploration, and ongoing recovery • Numerous models of group growth • We will examine this 4-stage model • Acquaintance • Groundwork • Working • Termination

10. Acquaintance • Also known as pre-affiliation; little or no sense of connection • Members do not know nor trust each other yet • Sharing primarily done on a superficial level • Individuals look to the counselor for direction, and most communication goes through the counselor • Importance of developing safety in the group as anxiety may be the predominant emotion

11. Ground work • Sometimes known as power and control • As certain people connect, sub-groups may form, creating some distress and possibly conflict • Personal differences within the group may be highlighted • Some members compete to control the group’s direction (monopolizing group time or excessive joking) • Counselor may become a target for the group’s dissatisfaction, questioning his/her authority and competence • Frustration becomes the dominant emotion

12. Working • A sense of cohesion takes place • Individual differences are seen as a strength, not a liability, as these offer various perspectives in problem-solving and offering feedback • Renewed attention upon group goals; members become better at keeping the group on track; less reliance on the counselor to do so • Much more peer-to-peer communication • Deeper trust leads to deeper sharing and even more trust • Conflict still arises; but members are more able to resolve it; increased sense of unity and mutual caring

13. TERMination • As key group members prepare to leave, a new threat emerges -- anxiety about the group’s future • Regression is common; members may disengage, others may revert to more superficial sharing • Individuals with abandonment issues may find themselves triggered by the pending discharges • Counselor may need to resume an active role, directing the group by highlighting accomplishments by members and the group itself

14. DISCUSSION Question • What is the importance of group developmental theory, especially regarding how you facilitate your counseling groups?

15. Essential Qualities and Skills

16. Therapeutic Qualities • Effective group counselors exhibit many qualities, such as… • Empathy • Genuineness • Flexibility • Patience • Sense of humor • Others?

17. Group Skills • Effective group counselors exhibit many skills, such as… • Communication skills • Observation skills • Conflict resolution skills • Teaching skills • “Improv” skills • Others?

18. Offering EXPERIENTIAL Learning Building a Container Ice Breakers Stage-Appropriate Exercises

19. Building A Container • Importance of creating a certain climate for group work • Includes a sense of safety and seeing the group as a sacred space – both are necessary to encourage members to interact on a meaningful level • Examples • Identifying group boundaries • Brief mindfulness exercises • Reading from a daily meditation book • Visualizing a source of strength/support

20. ICE Breakers • Used primarily to increase energy within the group, especially one that tends to be passive and low-key • Examples (with demonstrations…any volunteers?) • Fun question during check-in • Gratitude Circle • Oo-Ah Energy • La Machine • What ice breakers have you used?

21. Pre-Affiliation Stage • Since the group is mostly a collections of unconnected individuals, exercises can be used to get to know one another better • Looking for a mix of universality and fun • Examples • Sharing one’s story • Name Game • Group Stew • Trust exercises

22. Ground-Work STAGE • Sub-groups form in this stage, which may block the group from moving toward its goals • Numerous exercises may help to re-align relationships • Exercises • Dyads interviews • Wall-to-wall opinions • Group sculpting

23. Working Stage • Once the group is unified and feels safe, experiential learning can take many forms • Typically centers on specific issues • Golden connections • Role-playing stressful situations • Relapse lottery • Empty chair work

24. TERMINATION STAGE • When a group member leaves or when the group as a whole terminates, certain exercises serve as closing rituals • Can help to solidify the accomplishments of the individual or the group • Examples • Coin ceremony • Wisdom circle • Third-person reporting

25. Bonus Tracks Gender-specific Groups Stages of Change and Group Work

26. Gender-Specific Groups • What experiences have you had in facilitating gender-specific groups? • What are pros and cons of these groups compared to co-ed groups? • Examples of experiential exercises • Male stand-up • Female stand-up • Finding our wounds • Father-son circle • Mother-daughter circle

27. Stages of Change • Trans-theoretical model includes 5 stages of change • Pre-contemplation • Contemplation • Preparation • Action • Maintenance • Early recovery groups tend to have members in the first two

28. Discussion Questions • If most members of your group are in Pre-contemplation, what group interventions may promote movement into Contemplation? • How to you promote movement from Contemplation to Preparation? • In each example, how can group members, who are further along in the stages, help those who are stuck in either Pre-Contemplation or Contemplation?

29. Closing Comments • In treatment centers, there is an emphasis on providing clinical services in groups • When counselors are knowledgeable about group dynamics and skillful in their interventions, they can tap into the group’s energy and produce powerful, therapeutic experiences that promote ongoing recovery

30. Contact information • Email: bobcarty67@gmail.com • Phone number: (224)456-5147 • Thanks for being here today!