Page 194 - DEDU502_GUIDANCE_AND_COUNSELING_ENGLISH

Guidance and Counseling Dinesh Kumar, Lovely Professional University

Notes Unit 18: Counseling Services: Group Counseling

CONTENTS
Objectives

Introduction
18.1 Meaning of Group Counseling
18.2 Assumptions of Group Counseling
18.3 Structuring of Groups
18.4 Process of Group Counseling
18.5 Advantages of Group Counseling
18.6 Limitations of Group Counseling
18.7 Summary
18.8 Keywords
18.9 Review Questions
18.10 Further Readings

Objectives

After reading this unit students will be able to:
• Explain the meaning of Group Counseling
• Discuss the assumption of Group Counseling
• Describe the Structuring of Groups
• Explain the process of Group Counseling.
• Describe the advantages and limitations of Group Counseling

Introduction

Now you know what is counseling, what are the principles governing it, the different approaches
to counseling and the actual process involved. As you have already seen from the definitions,
counseling has generally been considered as a one to one process. However, due to various reasons,
this concept has undergone change. Now, the concept of ‘group counseling’ has gained wide
acceptance. One main reason for this is economic. There is shortage of resources in terms of money
as well as trained personnel. Therefore, if a group of individuals can be helped at the same time, it
is a great advantage. There are other benefits also. In a group setting, the individual tends to loose
his identity and therefore responds more naturally. Moreover group interaction helps to change
some attitudes, beliefs, feelings, needs, etc. Also special groups like alcoholies, abused and other
groups can profit more from group counseling.

18.1 Meaning of Group Counseling

Group counseling is an extension of individual counseling. In group counseling a number of
individuals work together with a professional counselor to learn to resolve personal and interpersonal
concerns. The primary goal of group counseling is the creation of an interpersonal climate which

188 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY