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Unit 18 : Counseling Services : Group Counseling

(c) Observation (d) Inventory Notes
(iii) In Group Counseling usually run from .................... weeks in schools
(a) 10 to 12 (b) 11 to 13 (c) 11 to 15 (d) 14 to 16

18.4 Process of Group Counseling

The process of group counseling can be divided into different stages. The stages are:
• Initial exploratory stage : In the beginning sessions group members are often strangers. They
may be resistant to talk or only be able to bring up superficial topics for discussion. They may
be shy or fearfully of sounding stupid. They tend to focus on themselves and not on others.
The counselor has to explain his role and also the roles of the group members. He has to set up
facilitative conditions to help develop trust. The counselor can accomplish this by modelling
genuineness, warmth, non-judgemental attitudes to group members and by listening carefully.
Members are encouraged to share their ideas and feelings frankly and freely. The counselor
sets up facilitative and communicative attitudes and skills among participants by demonstrating
and modelling these themselves. When the group members notice the non-judgemental manner
in which the counselor reacts to positive as well as negative feedbacks from the members, they
also readily accept the feedback in a healthy way.
• Transition stage : As the group moves from the initial exploratory stage to the next stage,
group members are confronted with the need to explore more deeply to self-disclose (letting
others know more about oneself, more intensively and to interact more actively with others if
they are to progress. Although some trust has been established by this time, the feeling to still
tentative and the group members are anxious, ambivalent and defensive as they realize that
they are expected to explore more deeply the emotions and feelings that are painful. Some fear
the group will reject them if they reveal too much. Some are even suspicious that the other
members or the counselor himself may ridicule them. This stage is also characterised by conflict
or rebellion resulting from a struggle for power, control or dominance among the members
and with the counselor. The group members tend to criticise each other frequently. They may
even express doubts about the leadership of the counselor.
All these behaviours represent the resistance to exploring painful feelings. Resistance is a sign
that members are getting closer to the care to their problems. Resistance may manifest in
various other forms also like missing sessions, not participating, criticizing others or simply
talking with no mention of feelings. When resistance arise, counselors should encourage group
members to work through conflicts and move toward more authentic self-explorations.
• Working stage : In this stage, the members feel more close to each other and more aware of
others problems. Since trust has increased, they are more willing to take risks in sharing
feelings and thoughts and to give constructive feedback to each other. They are more supportive
and cooperative and hence have more confidence in each other. But at this stage, there is a
danger of this group intimacy leading to a false cohesiveness in which members protect each
other and suppressing negative emotions.
Counselor at this stage should confront the group members with their behaviours and insist
that they challenge each other to convert insights, they have gained in the group into action.
For example, a group can confront a member who says he recognises the need to assert himself
but remains passive in the group and his interactions outside the group.
Slowly the group becomes productive and committed to going deeply into significant problems
and to giving attention to interchanges in the group. There is less dependence on the counselor
and the group begins to focus on working towards specified individual goals and group goals.
The group members feel free to confront each other and are more willing to accept confrontations
as a constructive means to change. As the group interactions bring about attitudial and

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