REFLECTIVE ESSAY
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
Reflective Essay
Submitted to
Ratha Zeidan-Lukacs
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
EDCO 711-D01
By
Rhonda Lee Wright
July 6, 2025
Reflective Essay
The group scenario selected and facilitated as a group leader was for an Intensive
Outpatient Program ( IOP) and a Supportive Outpatient Program (SOP). The group's focus was
on emotional regulation and identifying cognitive distortions. The group consisted of
approximately six clients, two females and four males. The modality used in this group session
was Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Marsha Linehan, who developed the theoretical
application for DBT. According to Linehan (1994), “Psychotherapy integration uses different
theories and techniques to examine and synthesize to achieve effective therapy and results for
the client to explore and develop” (p. 55). The combined group for the IOP and SOP is held on
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Mondays. The clients in the SOP group have completed IOP and have chosen to step down to a
lower level of care (SOP). The SOP clients attend on Monday evenings from 6 pm to 9 pm once a
week. During this session, the group is observed as being in the norming stage. Some clients
take on the role of the encourager, the supporter, and the recognition seeker. This client makes
jokes and gives out advice to the other clients.
Function of the Group
The group function was cohesive, and all clients were able to engage with one another. A
challenge the client faced was from a new member who shared he struggled over the weekend
with serious cravings for his drug of choice. He had unexpected company who tried to entice
him to relapse by drinking alcohol. The client shared that he struggled with saying no and
leaned on his wife for support. He shared, “I did not have a plan in place, and I am grateful for
my wife because we were able to discuss preventive measures for future events.” As the leader
of the group, I agreed to support the client with developing a preventive plan moving forward.
The clients in the psychoeducational group were able to support the new client by providing
feedback, empathy, and identifying with the client in helping the client understand the
universality of his addiction. The clients in the group were also able to engage in an activity
where they discussed labeling as cognitive distortion. The group was guided into a discussion
where they understood how being labeled can lead to dysregulation of their internal
communication and disrupt how the clients have become emotionally wounded.
In Personal reflection, I see myself as a democratic leader who believes in collaborating
with the client for their development and growth. I am open to feedback, and I value the client's
input. Carl Rogers stated that clients are the experts of themselves. I believe in helping clients
have autonomy for self-discovery. According to (Brown, 2018), Techniques are crucial for the
development of groups, and therapists use a wide variety of formats during the group process.
“Psychoeducational groups employ a variety of formats, making it difficult to name a specific set
of techniques for instruction and learning that apply to all” (p. 77). The role that I played was
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that of the initiator. The group was given instructions, and the group leader stepped back to
allow the group to apply the information. The group became very active and loud, evidenced by
the client laughing, talking, asking questions, and allowing others into their personal space.
Insights gained about myself were that those who struggle with substance abuse need to be
treated as adults and not individuals who are statistically devalued or outcasts.
Three areas where I could improve would be: I need to have more confidence in myself. I
struggle with dyslexia, and having this disability affects how I see myself and how I perceive how
others see me. A second area of improvement is an area of developing skills. When I see other
therapists, I have impostor syndrome. I need to believe in myself, and it is the Lord who is so
kind to me when He has someone call me that I have worked with in the past. Former clients
have called and texted me to share updated progress they have made, and some clients have
reached out to say thank you for being a part of their journey. A third area of improvement is to
be less structured in the groups. I need to step back and allow the group members to lead and
form their group process and content.
A professional disposition for this population would be to help them change their life. I
am a recovering addict, and I have been working with those in recovery for over 10 years. The
Lord changed my life 16 years ago and did not allow me to work with people who were like me
until I had five years of sobriety. The Lord gave me Acts 5:19-22: “But during the night an angel
of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. “Go stand in the temple courts,”
he said, “ and tell the people about this new life” (New International Bible). This scripture
confirmed it was time for me to go and teach about how to live this new way of life. The Lord
Adonai is my professional disposition. I work for Him, and He is the one who gave me this job.
Although I am an ambassador for Christ, the one ethical standard I believe is located in
the ACA A.4. “Avoiding harm and imposing values on others. Jesus never pushed Himself onto
those He ministered. For clients whose religious beliefs do not acknowledge Jesus Christ, the
One I serve and believe in, I will meet them right where they are without imposing my beliefs
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and values on them. The client who acknowledges Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, I will
share biblical scripture with the client about their relationship with the Lord. For those who do
not believe, I allow the Holy Spirit to speak to them through me. Matthew 10:16 “ Here I am
sending you out like sheep with wolves all round you, so be as wise as serpents and yet as
harmless as doves.” (New International Bible).
The three areas where I need to develop my disposition would be to pray more and
draw closer to the Lord. The second area would be to collaborate more effectively with my
peers. The people with whom I work are very prideful and believe they are better at counseling
than those who are working alongside them. I have to remember that Jesus loved Judas so well
that no one knew he was the betrayer. I want to love so well that no one knows who is
betraying me. In this area of development, I will have gained the wisdom to love my enemies,
protect those around me, and stay in alignment with the Holy Spirit. The third area would be
continuing my education. As an older adult, my concern is that the younger generation will label
me incompetent and unable to effectively do the work the Lord has called me to for the building
of His Kingdom and the enlargement of Heaven. I will continue to trust in God, stay in prayer,
seek wisdom, and continue to love well.
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References
Brown, N. W. (2018). Psychoeducational Groups: Process and practice 4th Edition. New York,
NY: Routledge.
Linehan, H. L. (1994). Dialectical Behavior Therapy: An integrative approach to the treament of
boarderline personality disorder. Journal of Psycholterapy Integration Vol. 4, No. 1, 5582.
Saraswati, P. (2025). Comprehensive Review on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). . Journal of
Counselling and Family Therapy, 1-4.
