Group-Type Facilitation: An examination of Strengths and Areas for Improvement My desire to become a counselor is derived from a direct experience with substance abuse and subsequent recovery; therefore, the substance abuse population is the primary population I am seeking to work with as a professional counselor. There are several reasons why group counseling is utilized with the addicted population. These include the ability for one counselor to see multiple clients, due to managed care limitations; the ability for individuals to build interpersonal relationships with others as a means of problem-solving and communication modeling; and, the ability for others to witness both the success and relapses of other members as a part of the learning
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My confidence in the ability to facilitate a support group is high, as I am actively engaged in these groups myself on an almost daily basis. The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (2005) described support groups as safe places, where individuals have the ability to focus on presenting concerns and build interpersonal relationships with others in recovery. Lieberman and Golant (as cited in Schectman & Toren, 2008) identified five dimensions of group facilitator behaviors, two of which were “meaning-attribution” and “support-caring” (p. 218). It was later found that these two dimensions and characteristics were highly integrated with counselors considered most effective leaders (Lieberman, Yalom, & Miles, as cited in Schectman & Toren, 2008). Due to not only experience, but also self-recognition of these traits, I would consider my confidence and competency high in ability to run a support …show more content…
The collaborative process of learning amongst professionals can be never-ending with an open mind and willingness. To become comfortable with psychotherapy, I would not only research and study the therapeutic model, but also sit and observe someone practicing it. Corey, Corey, and Corey (2010) stated that, systematic observation and assessment can become parts of the practice of group work,” (p. 59). This should also correlate to the practice of furthering one’s counseling skills. The ability to observe and watch others, and perhaps participate in the process on an initially small-scale, would potentially ease myself into the psychotherapy orientation for group work. It would allow to watch different intervention skills, and how they are utilized for the benefit of the
My confidence in the ability to facilitate a support group is high, as I am actively engaged in these groups myself on an almost daily basis. The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (2005) described support groups as safe places, where individuals have the ability to focus on presenting concerns and build interpersonal relationships with others in recovery. Lieberman and Golant (as cited in Schectman & Toren, 2008) identified five dimensions of group facilitator behaviors, two of which were “meaning-attribution” and “support-caring” (p. 218). It was later found that these two dimensions and characteristics were highly integrated with counselors considered most effective leaders (Lieberman, Yalom, & Miles, as cited in Schectman & Toren, 2008). Due to not only experience, but also self-recognition of these traits, I would consider my confidence and competency high in ability to run a support …show more content…
The collaborative process of learning amongst professionals can be never-ending with an open mind and willingness. To become comfortable with psychotherapy, I would not only research and study the therapeutic model, but also sit and observe someone practicing it. Corey, Corey, and Corey (2010) stated that, systematic observation and assessment can become parts of the practice of group work,” (p. 59). This should also correlate to the practice of furthering one’s counseling skills. The ability to observe and watch others, and perhaps participate in the process on an initially small-scale, would potentially ease myself into the psychotherapy orientation for group work. It would allow to watch different intervention skills, and how they are utilized for the benefit of the