Textbook: Introduction to Group Counseling, 2nd Edition
Capuzzi & Gross (1998)

The course is intended to assist students in understanding the various theoretical approaches to group work; to provide practical experience in those theoretical approaches, and to stimulate thought on basic ethical and professional issues typically encountered by group leaders.

Course Knowledge and Skills Objectives:

1. To enhance students' knowledge of the characteristics of interpersonal relationships in small group settings.

2. To enhance students' knowledge of the principles of group dynamics including group process components, developmental stages, and group members' roles and behaviors.

3. To develop and enhance students' group leadership styles and approaches, including characteristics of various types of group leaders and leadership styles.

4. To delineate and critique theories of group counseling.

5. To enhance students' knowledge of group counseling methods including group counselor orientation and behaviors, ethical considerations, selection criteria, process methods, and evaluative techniques.

6. To develop and enhance students' skills in forming, facilitating, and terminating basic counseling groups.

7. To enhance students' ability to develop individual plans for group activity based on clients' needs.

8. To develop and enhance students' skills regarding how to handle various problems that may arise in group counseling situations.

Course Requirements

(1) Class Presentations. Each student will be placed in a small group for the purpose of developing a presentation and handout over material in the texts as assigned by the instructor. Presentations should include a critique of the primary points made by the author and last approximately one-half of a class period. At the conclusion of each presentation, the instructor will provide the presenters with feedback concerning their performance.

(2) Process Groups. Each student will be placed into a process group consisting of class members. All students are expected to participate in the activities of the group. For each group session, one student will serve as the designated group "leader" and another student will serve as the designated group "observer". Observers are not expected to participate in that session's activities; rather, they should make notes and provide the rest of the group with feedback at the conclusion of the session.

(3) Reaction Reports. Each student is expected to write a brief description/analysis of the group session for which they served as (a) group leader, and (b) group observer.

The report composed as a result of your group leadership experience should include what your group activities were, your rationale for their selection, how successful you feel you were as a group leader, what you would do differently in implementing this activity again, and your reaction to the feedback provided by the group observer.

The report composed as a result of your group observation experience should include your analysis of the overall effectiveness of the group leader in promoting group participation, the level of involvement and dedication exhibited by individual group members, what you would have done differently had you been the group leader, and your personal feelings about the session.

Reaction Reports should be approximately 2-3 typewritten pages in length and demonstrate a moderate degree of introspection. They should be submitted to the instructor at the class period following the session in which the student served as leader or observer.

(4) Implementation Plan. Each class member will be responsible for developing a plan for the implementation of a group program within an educational/vocational /residential setting of his/her choice; i.e., a school, business, community agency, penal institution, nursing home, etc. The plan should be approximately 5-7 typewritten pages in length and include:

1. A Rationale for the Plan
2. Objectives and Outcomes
3. Process Procedures

(a) selection criteria
(b) activities
(c) techniques
(d) materials

4. Evaluation Procedures

(5) Attendance/Participation. Each student is expected to attend all class meetings and group sessions, and to be prepared to contribute meaningfully to both. As such, each student is expected to read the assignments prior to the class period in which they will be discussed. A positive attitude is essential to the overall success of the class both on a personal and a group level.

Class Presentation ................... 25%
Reaction Reports .................... 30% (15% each)
Implementation Plan ................ 30%
Attendance/Participation ......... 15%