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Unit 18 : Counseling Services : Group Counseling

situation in group counseling. As a result the counselor may sometimes find himself seriously Notes
impeded in establishing good working relationship with members.
Therefore, the counselor has to take into consideration all these factors and decide whether group
counseling is suitable for particular individuals and type of problem.

Self Assessment
2. Fill in the blanks :
(i) Group counseling has all three dimentions of individual Counseling, remedial, ______ and
.................... .

(ii) The most frequently used procedures for selection and induction of members for group
Counseling is a ........................... .
(iii) Role playing, psycho-drama, assertiveness training etc are frequently used techniques of
..................... .
(iv) Counselor at ............ confronts the group members with their behaviours and insist that they
challenge each other to convert insights, they have gained in the group into action.

18.7 Summary

• 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 helps each individual lo develop an insight into himself.
• Group counseling has all the three dimensions of individual counseling viz. remedial preventive
and developmental.
• Group counseling is based on certain assumptions. The first assumption is that individuals
possess the necessary talent capacity to trust and to be trusted by other group members. They
should exhibit a basic concern for others in the group.
• The second assumption is that each individual has the potential to take responsibility for self
change. On the other hand the individual feels that his life is controlled by others, he will not
be left with any alternatives but take recourse to disruptive behaviour.
• Selection and induction of members : The most frequently used procedure for selection and
induction of members for group counseling is a personal interview, prior to assignments to
group. The initial interview gives the counselor an opportunity to establish identification with
the member so that feelings of respect, acceptance and assurance is experienced from the
beginning.
• Size of the group : For group counseling the size of the group should be relatively small.
Although it is difficult to recommend a specific number as a rule of thumb, about six to ten
members could be there in a group. Big groups become unmanageable.
• Composition of the group : There is controversy regarding the composition of groups for
counseling. Opinions differ as to whether the group should be homogeneous or heterogeneous
with respect to problems, education, intelligence, age, sex and so on. Hinckeley and Herman
recommend heterogeneous groups made up of members with ‘various’ complaints and
symptoms.
• Frequency and duration of meetings : Various recommendations have been made regarding
the frequency of meetings. The population and the sittings in which group counseling occurs
determine the frequency and duration of meetings.
• Physical setting : Physical setting is less important in comparison with emotional atmosphere
and the skill of the counselor.

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