Group Intervention

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Class
SCWK 1305
Examination of the various stages of the group work treatment process with emphasis on roles, tasks, and potential problem areas. Topics include mechanics of group function, structure of groups, communication patterns within groups, effective group facilitation skills, and techniques used to address special population issues and needs.

Student Conduct

Weatherford College has the responsibility and authority to formulate and enforce rules of student conduct that are appropriate and necessary to further the educational goals of the college and its students. Students who enroll must accept responsibility for their behavior and for their ultimate success in higher education. To create a positive climate for learning, Weatherford College expects all students to abide by a Code of Student Behavior. To summarize: Students must maintain high standards of scholastic honesty. Violations of the Code of Student Behavior include but are not limited to cheating on tests of assignments, plagiarism, and collusion; violence or threats of violence; loud or abusive language; and failure to comply with the direction of college officials and instructors.

Course Learning Objectives

  1. In this course the student will study the theory behind the practice. They will learn about group processes, using techniques effectively, and how to develop their own theory of group practice. They will access and discuss their understanding of multicultural perspective. Understanding the group counselor as a person and professional will be discussed and the advantages and disadvantages of co leadership will be presented. The student will learn how to identify and apply ethical and legal issues in group counseling. Lastly the course will offer the stages of a group, starting with forming the group, and then moving into the initial stage of a group, into the transition stage, on to the working stage, and then the final stage which involves the termination of the group.
  2. Introduce the process of group work
    1. Demonstrate how to use techniques effectively
    2. Discuss how to develop one’s own theory of group practice
    3. List the various types of groups
    4. Explain the multicultural perspective on group work
  3. Present the group counselor
    1. Identify the group counselor as a person
    2. Present the group counselor as a professional
    3. Describe the group counselor as diversity-competent
    4. Explain the co leadership model
  4. List ethical and legal issues in group counseling
    1. Discuss ethical issues in group membership
    2. Present confidentiality in groups
    3. Describe the role of the leader’s values in the group
    4. Explain ethical issues in group work with diverse populations
    5. Discuss competence and training issues
  5. Demonstrate how to form a group
    1. Discuss how to attract and screen members
    2. Explain practical considerations in forming a group such as group size, length of a group, place for meetings, and open versus closed groups.
    3. Present co leader issues on forming a group
  6. Explain initial stage of a group
    1. Identify group characteristics at the initial stage such as early concerns, hidden agendas, early conflict, self-focus, and trust issues.
    2. Discuss the importance of creating trust by leader and members.
    3. Present the importance of identifying and clarifying goals
    4. Demonstrate the importance of group norms and group cohesion
    5. Show effective therapeutic relationships
    6. Describe how to help members get the most from a group experience such as avoiding too much teaching, journal writing, and homework.
    7. Explain leader issues at the initial stage
  7. Present the transition stage of a group
    1. Identify characteristics of the transition stage such as anxiety, trust, defensiveness, struggles with control, conflict, and confrontation
    2. List problem behaviors and difficult group members such as lack of participation, monopolistic behavior, storytelling, giving advice, hostile behavior. Acting superior, socializing, intellectualizing, and members becoming assistant leaders
    3. Explain dealing with transference and countertransference
  8. Discuss working stage of a group
    1. Describe leader interventions in working with a member’s fear
    2. List task of the working stage like deepening trust and homework
    3. Explain therapeutic factors that operate in a group such as self-disclosure, confrontation, cohesion and universality, hope, willingness to risk, power, catharsis, commitment to change, freedom to experiment, and humor
    4. Identify co leader issues
  9. Describe final stage of a group
    1. Present talks of the final stage
    2. Discuss termination of the group
    3. Explain co leader issues as the group ends
  10. List application of group process to specific groups
    1. Discuss groups for children
    2. Describe groups for adolescents
    3. Explain applications for adult groups
    4. Identify applications for older adult groups
Required Textbooks
Corey, Marianne Schneider, Corey, Gerald, & Corey, Cindy, Process and Practice Groups (10th ed.), Thomson Brooks/Cole

Recommended Reading

Getting Ready to Test: A Review and Preparation Manual for Drug and Alcohol Credentialing Sep. 2014 (8th ed; TR January 2017), Publisher: DLC, LLC., Title: Substance Abuse Treatment: Group Therapy; A treatment Improvement Protocol TIP 41, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
ISBN-10
9780495600763
Grading Standards

Class Participation will consist of in class and out of class readings and projects. Examples are to attend an outside group and write a paper about the experience and present in class, set-up and lead a group in class, role plays in class, complete open book quizzes, internet papers, glossaries, etc.

Exams will consist of multiple choices, true/false, short answer questions drawn from content of required text and semester study material

Homework 16%
Quizzes 13%
Glossary/Forum 12%
Participation 15%
Test #1 22%
Test #2 22%
Total 100%

Attendance

Your attendance is the biggest predictor of your success. Attendance at every class is expected. If you miss a class it is expected that you will contact your instructor. If for some reason you expect to miss a lot of class it is recommended that you contact your instructor to discuss possible options.

Disabilities

ADA Statement:

Any student with a documented disability (e.g. learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) may contact the Office on the Weatherford College Weatherford Campus to request reasonable accommodations. Phone: 817-598-6350 Office Location: Office Number 118 in the Student Services Building, upper floor. Physical Address: Weatherford College 225 College Park Drive Weatherford, TX.

Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity is fundamental to the educational mission of Weatherford College, and the College expects its students to maintain high standards of personal and scholarly conduct. Academic dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials including unauthorized use of Generative AI. Departments may adopt discipline specific guidelines on Generative AI usage approved by the instructional dean. Any student who is demonstrated to have engaged in any of these activities will be subject to immediate disciplinary action in accordance with institutional procedures.
Hope Statement
Any student who faces challenges securing basic resources such as food, clothing, or housing and believes this may affect their performance in their course of study is urged to contact the Director of Student Resources, Dr. Deborah Cregger, for support at (817) 598-6444. Her office is on the first floor of Student Services. If the student prefers, they may contact their instructor, who can reach out on their behalf. Weatherford College also provides the Coyote Pantry. The Pantry maintains boxed and canned foods for students in need. The location of the Coyote Pantry is two blocks west of the Weatherford campus at the Baptist Student Ministry (118 E. Park Ave., Weatherford). Pantry hours are Mon-Thurs. 8:30 am-4:30 pm and Fri. 8.30 am-12:00 pm (817-599-6586).
Revised
Fall 2021
Last Modified
Tuesday, September 14, 2021, 1:35 PM