Theoretical Case Study and Group Therapy
When referring to groups, there are several different types, not all are psychotherapeutic groups, there are various types of groups that do not include counseling (Jacobs 2016). Jacobs describes seven different categories of groups, including: education, discussion, task, growth and experiential, counseling and therapy, support, and self-help (Jacobs, 2016, p. 6). A brief review of a theoretical situation will be discussed to evaluate how a counseling and therapy group may benefit the individual in this case study.
The evaluation is that of a man in his mid 30’s who is challenged by retaining employment. He also has difficulties with respect for authority figures; his typical response is that of
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A therapeutic group could provide a safe place for him to express his frustrations and process these frustrations into a more productive response that can facilitate his true-life desires.
References
APA. (20130522). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5®), 5th Edition. [Bookshelf Online]. Retrieved from https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780890425572/
Bradley, E. L. (2014). Choice Theory and Reality Therapy: An Overview. International Journal of Choice Theory and Reality Therapy, 34(1), 6-13. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.library.capella.edu/docview/1625136609?accountid=27965
Jacobs, E. E. (2016). Group Counseling: Strategies and Skills, 8th Edition. [Bookshelf Online]. Retrieved from https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781285227887/
Wubbolding, R. E. (2015). The voice of william glasser: Accessing the continuing evolution of reality therapy. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 37(3), 189-205. Retrieved from
counseling, where the co-leader can take a few minutes work on some better communication methods so that the client can learn some new and healthier methods to communicate. When the co-leader does not have a client to work with, the co-counselor can be part of the counseling process with the leader of the group. When attracting group members, most counselors are attract group members by using printed materials and websites to attract group members. Counselor can also attract clients by word-of-mouth. By asking counselors if they would know people that would benefit from counseling (Corey, Corey, & Corey, 2014).
Peer Supervision Reflection I had peer supervision with Jess Zottoli Andrews on March 23, 2016. Jess and I discussed the benefits of group therapy, along with specific issues experienced at our practicum sites. I explained to Jess how I experienced resident from a teen resident that I interviewed. I explained to Jess how this resident has some difficulty with automatic thoughts and coping skills.
The purpose of this group proposal is to treat veterans with depression who have served in the last five years. The group will be a voluntary closed group of veterans who have served and suffered from a traumatic combat experience. The goal of the group is to help the veterans with their depression by giving them therapy, a safe zone to talk about what they experienced, and to give them tools they can use to deal with their depression once the group ends. Organizing the Group With more and more veterans deploying to combat zones, these deployments are taking a toll on the service members. As reported by Ikin et al., (2015) veterans who have deployed tend to experience more severe depression than other military members.
The text book, The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy by Irvin D. Yalom with Molyn Leszcz begins with the preface of the fifth edition. In the preface, Irvin D. Yalom introduced Molyn Leszcz as his collaborator and how they met at Stanford University in 1980. He then discussed how they both worked hard collaboratively to combine old and new material to make this edition. Their goals for this edition were to prepare student therapists for the present-day workplace and to keep the current methods from decaying, so that students can gather wisdom and techniques of the field when they get the opportunity to utilize those methods as therapists. Yalom briefly talked about what each chapter in the text would discuss.
The tone of the group leader was calming and encouraging; his voice felt reassuring and affirming that ultimately empowering by simply sharing his stories. The open format felt genuine in nature and the group appeared cohesive. Reoccurring themes for most speakers were difficulties in identifying their feelings, perceive themselves as completely unselfish and dedicated to the well-being of others. Listening to others sharing their struggles, I began to access my life and codependent tendency that I may exhibit.
Additionally, the counselor will encourage the client to work on her own personal struggles (i.e., private experience). Session 5 consists of the brief value assessments in the various domains of her life (e.g., intimate/family relationships, friendship, vocational activities). The value assessment will be administered to identify the costs of cognitive rigidity and avoidance. Session 6 deals the legal crisis related to her financial problems. Session 7 consists of (a) ACT creative hopelessness and (b) brief introduction of control as the problem.
According to Virginia Brabender, co-author of Essentials of Group Therapy, this form of treatment involves “a small group of members and one or more therapists with specialized training [verbally communicating among each other] …it is designed to promote psychological growth” (Brabender 15). In practice, this method has been proven to be quite successful in treating psychiatric patients: “review studies…consistently reveal that group therapy is effective in producing positive changes” (Brabender 161). Furthermore, it has been determined that group therapy allows patients with different forms of mental disorders, including severe anxiety and PTSD, to see benefits in their esteem, satisfaction in life, and behavior (Brabender
In 1962, he has presented a lecture on “reality psychiatry”, this lecture drew attention to groups of professionals such as educators, social workers, counselors, and correctional workers, and drew few interests to psychiatrists. Glasser
Willing participation for mandated members will be harder to establish because of the circumstances surrounding their membership. They are usually reluctant and unsure about the goals of the therapy group, the processes, the rules and limitations pertaining to confidentiality (Jacobsen, 2013). Group members usually come with biases including cultural beliefs, behaviors, and value systems that group leaders must be willing to challenge to allow them to undergo substantive changes. Part of the participation process is to understand the real reason behind members reluctance and allow them to have an open discussion about how they feel, about being mandated to attend. This will allow the group leader valuable information on how much support each member needs.
Chapter One: Irvin Yalom & his Existential model of therapy 1.1 Biographical Background Irvin D.Yalom psychiatrist, psychotherapist and bibliotherapist and a major influence in Jewish existentialism, was born in Washington D.C in 1931, the only child of Jewish parents, who left Russia shortly after World War I. His parents were not well educated and worked long hours in their grocery store, to survive financially. Their neighbourhood was poor and unsafe and so Yalom sought solace in books. His relationship was his father was close, “And Sunday mornings were mellow times, etched clearly in my mind. Usually I played chess with my father" (Yalom, 2001, p. 303) but his relationship with his mother was ambivalent, "never, not once, do I remember
Many theories of group counselling have borrowed ideas and approaches from psychoanalysis. The primary aim of the analytic process is reorganize the client’s personality and character structure. This aim is attained by making unconscious conflicts conscious and analysing them. Wolf (1963, 1975) developed group applications of fundamental psychoanalytic approaches such as working with transference, free association, dreams, and the historical factors of existing behaviour. The group leader relates understanding to the family-like relations that emerge among the members and between the members and the therapist.
Introduction To date I have completed three classes and one group facilitation exam for this semester. The aim of this assignment is to demonstrate my personal and professional learning for the duration of the module. It will discuss the definition of group work; how I planned for my group exercise; it will outline my learning as a facilitator and observer for a thirty minute exercise. I will use Bruce Tuckman 's five stage group development model to outline the stages of the group process.
However in individual counseling, the client would not get much feedback or comments from other members only from the counselor. The client would need to be responsible in having to commit his/her self to the therapy sessions and to make an effort in wanting to change their beliefs. If the client is not commited in wanting to change for the better, therapy group does not help and he/she will only disrupt the session and waste the counselor time. This applies for both individual and group counseling. Individual sessions may not seem as interesting and engaging as group counseling sessions.
Much discussion is devoted to the literature regarding group work as it remains an integral part of the social work field. Group work is important as “the need to belong is one of the most basic and powerful human needs as well as the most social” (Ashford, & Lecroy, 2008, pg. 140). Group work is found to be an effective intervention and has become a major treatment modality in the mental health services (Knight, 2017; Clements, 2008). This intervention has been found just as effective as an individual intervention (Knight, 2017). Groups have played an instrumental part in transforming how the social work field thinks about the helping process for clients.
Livneh, Wilson, and Pullo (2004) also agree with Johnson and Johnson's findings. They explained that group counseling gives counseling gives individuals the opportunity to learn from one another and counseling individuals the opportunity to learn from one another and a chance to generate solutions together. Groups also provide a safe place for emotional release. Within a group setting children can learn that others face similar situations, which helps to lessen anxiety or fears that they may have. Groups also are the perfect environment to practice social skills building and allow children to build a social network.