group counseling
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coun5254assgn7GroupCounselingPlan.doc
GROUP COUNSELING PLAN 4
Group Counseling with Children and Adolescents
Group Counseling With Children and Adolescents
The following paper will describe a proposal for two group counseling plans in the Middle Valley Counseling Project. One counseling group will be focused on younger children and the other will focus on High School age adolescents in the same program. The groups are separated due to the difference in age and the many different age mattered subjects that may arise. The two groups will address challenges of the client’s growth and development, which will also be growth and goal orientated. Each group proposal will consist of a background sketch for the two prospective clients and the reason for referral. The paper will also include the client’s ecosystemic context. It will include the topic of the group, theory, and rational; as well as the objectives, plan, and a sample group exercise. Lastly, it will address legal and ethical issues within the plan.
Group Counseling Proposal for Child Clients: [Hypothetical Name of Group]
Prototypical Group Member
Here, summarize the background sketch for your adolescent client, including developmental, academic, family, social, and ecosystemic information about the influence of community, family and school systems as stressors and supports. Additionally, include the reason for referral to the group and your preliminary diagnosis that you developed in previous discussions.
Group Topic and Rationale
Explain here why a group on this topic needed. Describe how will your hypothetical client benefit from being in this group? (See Table 18-2 in your text for possible small group topics for children and adolescents.)
Theoretical Orientation and Rationale
Which counseling theory will provide the best support for the clinical needs of the group (including your focus child or adolescent)? See Table 18-1 in your text for goals that are typical for each theoretical Orientation.
Group Practicalities
Assume that you will be allowed to use the stage area at one of the schools in the Middle Valley project to conduct your groups. How long will each group be? How often will you meet? How many sessions will you have? (Consider developmental stages when planning the frequency and duration of the groups.)
Group Objectives
What specific, measureable, and reachable objectives will you have for the group members, given your time frame? One or two goals are appropriate.
Sample Group Exercise and Rationale
Describe one group exercise or technique you will implement that is developmentally appropriate, practical for your setting, and consistent with your chosen theory. After describing the exercise, discuss your rationale for how it fits these criteria.
Group Evaluation
At the conclusion of the group, how will group members and the group leader evaluate progress?
Legal and Ethical Issues Plan
Briefly articulate a legal and ethical issues plan that presents the steps you will take to establish an ethical group counseling relationship with your child clients. Identify the key potential ethical and legal issues that could arise with your groups and describe how you will handle each of these, referencing specific laws and ethical codes.
Group Counseling Proposal for Child Clients: [Hypothetical Name of Group]
Prototypical Group Member
Ally is a 16-year-old female in tenth grade at an all-girls private school. She is currently an only child but has a baby sister on the way. Ally is raised by her parents who have been married for the last 18 years. Her mother is a well-known architect who travels immensely, and her father is a Lieutenant Colonel in the air force with hopes to retire. Around seven months ago, Ally’s father was killed in a car accident. Since then, Ally’s grades have started to decline, she’s been very avoidant while at school and often isolates herself. Some of these same avoidant and isolated behaviors are also present at home when her mother and grandmother try to interact with her. Before the accident, she was a very bright, talented, and social student. She made straight A’s throughout her time in school and always tried her best. Ally’s attitude now is very stubborn and hopeless. Ally’s referral to this group is due to the changes in her behavior after the loss of her father. A preliminary diagnosis for her would be Major Depressive Disorder (296.32 (F33.1).
Group Topic and Rationale
Why is a group on this topic needed? How will your hypothetical client benefit from being in this group? (See Table 18-2 in your text for possible small group topics for children and adolescents.)
Theoretical Orientation and Rationale
Which counseling theory will provide the best support for the clinical needs of the group (including your focus child or adolescent)? See Table 18-1 in your text for goals that are typical for each theoretical Orientation.
Group Practicalities
Assume that you will be allowed to use the stage area at one of the schools in the Middle Valley project to conduct your groups. How long will each group be? How often will you meet? How many sessions will you have? (Consider developmental stages when planning the frequency and duration of the groups.)
Group Objectives
What specific, measureable, and reachable objectives will you have for the group members, given your time frame? One or two goals are appropriate.
Sample Group Exercise and Rationale
Describe one group exercise or technique you will implement that is developmentally appropriate, practical for your setting, and consistent with your chosen theory. After describing the exercise, discuss your rationale for how it fits these criteria.
Group Evaluation
At the conclusion of the group, how will group members and the group leader evaluate progress?
Legal and Ethical Issues Plan
Briefly articulate a legal and ethical issues plan that presents the steps you will take to establish an ethical group counseling relationship with your child clients. Identify a few key ethical and legal issues that could arise with your groups, and describe how you will handle each of these, referencing specific laws and ethical codes.
References
(Include at least five sources that you used in your assignment. You may include your textbook. The reference below provides an example citation for an article.)
