Unit 1

Topics

 Introduction to Group Counselling

 Planning and Preparing for Groups
 The Beginning Stage

Required Content
Textbook
Jacobs, E. E., Schimmel, C. J., Masson, R. L. L., & Harvill, R. L. (2016). Group counseling: Strategies
and skills (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.

 Chapter 1
 Chapter 2
 Chapter 3
 Chapter 4
 Chapter 5

Unit Notes
Unit 1 Notes: Introduction, Pre-Group, and Beginning Stages

Discussions

Please review the Discussion Assessment in the Course Syllabus before posting to the forum.

 1.1. The Beginning Stage Forum

o The last post is due by end of Sunday of Unit 1.
 1.2. Introduction to Group Counselling
o The last post is due by end of Sunday of Unit 1.
 1.3. Group Facilitation Partners (Optional, for Assignments 1 and 2)

Assignments
New Group Preparation: Backgrounder, Outline, and Readings

 Value: 20% of final grade.

 Due: on or before 11:55 p.m. AT on Sunday of Unit 2.

New Group Facilitation and Reflections

 Value: 35% of final grade.

 Due:
o on or before 11:55 p.m. AT on Sunday of Unit 4 or 5 (as scheduled).
o on or before 11:55 p.m. AT on Wednesday of Unit 1, identify your co-facilitation team.
 o on or before 11:55 p.m. AT on Friday of Unit 1, sign-up for your preferred type of client
group (child, adolescent, or adult) and post your topic.

Notes:

o Submit only 1 assignment for each team of co-facilitators.

o The related assignment (Group Preparation: Backgrounder, Outline, and Readings) is due
by the end of Sunday of Unit 2.

New Group Observation, Participation, and Reflections

 Value: 30% of final grade

 Due:
o on or before 11:55 p.m. AT on Sunday of Unit 4 or 5 (as scheduled).
o on or before 11:55 p.m. AT on Sunday of Unit 1, sign up to participate in two groups during
the unit you are not facilitating.
o Begin reviewing the DVD and writing your journal reflections now, aiming to finish that
component by the end of Unit 3, so that you can focus on your group participation and
reflection during the unit this assignment is due.

Last modified: Wednesday, 23 November 2022, 11:01 AM

Unit 1: Introduction, Pre-Group, and Beginning Stages

You can print the complete Unit Notes or individual Unit Notes by clicking on the "Print book" or "Print
chapter" options located under the "Administration" block.

This course combines self-directed learning (DVD and readings), self-reflection (Group Facilitation and Group
Observation assignments), interactive discussions, and experiential learning (preparation for your group
[Group Preparation assignment] and co-facilitation of and participation in groups for the Group Facilitation
and Group Observation assignments. Although there are no major papers to write and the readings are applied
rather than technical or philosophical, you will find it very important to spread your participation and activities
throughout the unit (i.e., this course is not designed to cluster nicely into a single day at the end of your unit).

As you read the Jacobs, Masson, Harvill, and Schimmel (2015) textbook (which will be referred to throughout
the rest of this course as simply “the text”), reflect on various groups that you’ve participated in (or perhaps
facilitated) in the past and consider when a group approach might be an effective option for your future clients.
Anchor your reflections as the beginning of your journal for the Group Observation assignment.

Throughout the text, you’ll notice a computer screen icon; this refers to the companion DVD. You may choose
to watch and reflect on one specific section at a time as the topic fits with what you’re reading (e.g., at the end
of Chapter 1, the Group Counselling Skills box on p. 34 points you to video segments 1.1 and 1.2). However,
you may also find it helpful to block out time this unit to watch the video segments from start to finish,
recording your preliminary impressions in your journal. Then you can revisit specific sections at relevant
points in the course. You’ll likely find the prompts and questions provided in these boxes helpful as you create
your DVD learning journal.
Please note: The narrator uses a subjectively unprofessional term in section 3.3 of the DVD. It is possible that
a group member used this term in a segment that we do not see, and sometimes it is helpful to use group
members' terminology. However, replacing the term with "complaint" might be more appropriate.

In Chapter 1 of the text, you’ll find six group counselling skills described on pp. 26 – 27. Reflect on your
current competencies in these areas as you join Discussion 1 and share your learning goals for this course. On
p. 32, you’ll find a brief section on Legal Issues – it’s important to understand the unique considerations of
working within groups rather than with individual clients; your mandate to “do no harm” is complicated with
other folks in the mix under your supervision!

Chapter 2 of the text describes broad stages of groups: beginning, middle or working, and closing or ending.
Read pages 35 – 39 for details about other common models of group stages, including Tuckman’s famous
“forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning” stages. The textbook authors, however, make an
important point – not all counselling groups need to storm! As you read about group stages and group process,
consider what types of groups you expect to lead. Later in Chapter 2, the authors describe a variety of group
dynamics (pp. 41 – 45), therapeutic forces (pp. 45 – 54) and process and content issues (pp. 54 - 55). This
chapter provides a solid foundation as you begin to think about the groups that you will facilitate in Units 4
and 5 (Assignments 1 and 2).

Chapter 3 emphasizes the importance of understanding the purpose of groups. Aside from overall purpose,
each session (like each unit in a course) requires a specific purpose, too. As you work with your co-facilitator
to plan your upcoming group, consider your overall purpose but also what you hope to achieve during each
session. A unique group structure, single-session groups, is described on p. 67. As you join Discussion 2,
reflect on why a counsellor might choose to offer (or refer a client to) group counselling vs. individual
counselling. Also contribute to the “Types of Groups” Wiki – let’s see if this section of the course can identify
100+ topics and/or approaches! The section on evaluation (pp. 67 – 70) is very important, particularly as
funders are increasingly asking for evidence that our interventions as counsellors are making a significant
difference in our clients’ lives. As you review this section, consider how you might put an effective process in
place to evaluate your upcoming group in Unit 4 or 5.

You’ll find Chapter 4 particularly relevant as you look ahead to Assignment 1: Group Preparation. Four
session plans are provided as examples. If you purchased the recommended text, Fehr’s (2010) 101
Interventions in Group Therapy (Rev.), now would be a great time to browse through it. You may identify
some interventions that would work well in your upcoming group. Join Discussion 3 to reflect on “mistakes in
planning” that you have experienced, as well as how ethical and legal considerations differ between individual
and personal counselling.

Chapter 5 provides tips and techniques for getting a group started, beginning with 19 distinct concepts to
consider during the group’s first session. Revisit Discussion 1 with this chapter in mind – share your
observations about what types of “interventions” have contributed to deepening the discussion and/or created a
sense of safety and support?

With your group co-facilitator, agree on a topic for your group –post that topic on the sign-up sheet by Friday.
To complete the sign-up process (and prepare for the Group Observation assignment), select two groups in
which to participate in the unit you’re not facilitating your own group. Note: the professor reserves the right to
shift participants if required for even distribution (i.e., we want all group sizes to be quite similar for
Assignments 2 and 3).

This unit has quite a few “housekeeping” activities, which is very typical of the pre-group and initial stages of
group counselling. You will find that getting started early in the unit and systematically moving through the
readings, activities, and discussion forums will keep you on track – none of the activities will take much time.
It is quite normal for students to feel a bit overwhelmed during Unit 1 of this course as the structure is quite
 different from other courses in the program. However, using the Course Map and systematically following the
posted Activities for each unit will keep you on track. The expectations are very straightforward and past
students have confirmed that they appreciate the practical, applied nature of this course. Just take it one step at
a time.

Unit 1 Activities:

1. Read text, Chapters 1 – 5, ideally before the unit begins.

2. Review the course site and set specific learning goals for this course. Post in Discussion 1.
3. Create a journal in a Word document (you will pull segments from this for Assignment 3). For
your first entry, reflect on various groups that you’ve participated in (or perhaps facilitated) in
the past and consider when a group approach might be an effective option for your future
clients.
4. Watch the accompanying DVD – at minimum review all segments referred to in Chapters 1 – 5
of the text, but you may also find it helpful to watch the whole DVD through once, then go
back to specific segments as you use the reflection prompts to structure your journal entries for
the Group Observation assignment.
5. Select a co-facilitator for the Group Preparation and Group Facilitation assignments. By
Wednesday, sign up on the Wiki provided.
6. With your co-facilitator, by Friday use the sign-up Wiki to post a topic for your group and
identify your preferred type of client group (e.g., child, teen, adult).
7. Review the group topics for the unit you are not co-facilitating. By Sunday, use the sign-up
Wiki to select two groups to participate in.
8. Actively participate in Discussions 1 – 3. Carefully review the grading criteria for Discussion
Questions. To maximize your participation grade in this course, distribute your posts
throughout the unit, creating a rich graduate-level discussion.
9. Contribute to the “Types of Groups” Wiki – revisit the Wiki throughout the unit, aiming for
100+ distinct entries (avoid redundancy!)
10. Optional: Browse through Fehr’s (2010) 101 Interventions in Group Therapy (Rev.).

Gentle Reminder:

Group Preparation assignment: One assignment per team of co-facilitators is due at the end of Unit 2.

1.1. The Beginning Stage

Monday, 28 November 2022, 7:22 AM
Just as you have been assigned to a section of this course, many group participants have little or no choice
about who the other members of their group will be. Similar to here, some participants will know each other
while others are completely new to the group. Some may have previous exposure to counselling groups (so
come to the group with an understanding of the process); others don’t. Use this forum to introduce yourself to
the group, share your learning goals for this course, and identify whether your primary focus as a counsellor
will involve working with children, teens, or adults. As the unit progresses share your observations about
responses and contributions that keep the conversation going, facilitating group safety and rapport. Looking
ahead to facilitating your own groups in Units 4 or 5, what can you do in the Beginning Stage of your group to
ensure that your group will be built on a solid foundation?

 The last post is due at the end of Sunday of this unit.

1.2. Introduction to Group Counselling

Monday, 28 November 2022, 7:22 AM
From your readings and personal experience, use this forum to discuss the purpose of group counselling vs.
individual counselling (i.e., if both options were available, when might you recommend a group and why?).
Within the textbook, “clarity of purpose . . . [is considered] the most important aspect of group leading” (p.
57). Thinking ahead to your practicum and beyond, what types of groups do you anticipate leading? Why will
it be important to be crystal clear from the beginning about the purpose of each group?

Aside from your contributions to this discussion, also add to the “Types of Groups” Wiki – let’s see if we can
list 100 different group topics and/or approaches.

 The last post is due at the end of Sunday of this unit.

1.3 This forum is available for partners to use throughout the course as you plan for co-facilitating your group
during Units 4 or 5.

 Open a new thread for your partnership (use your names as the title)

Your professor won’t be monitoring this forum so be sure to use the Ask Questions About the Course forum
to ask any questions about these assignments.