Page 200 - DEDU502_GUIDANCE_AND_COUNSELING_ENGLISH

Guidance and Counseling

Notes • 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.
• 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.

• 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.

• 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.
• Consolidation and Termination : Termination is not simply the ‘stopping’. In fact, it is an
integral stage of the process of “group counseling”. It is usual in group counseling to fix a
termination date in advance.
• Advantages: (a) It is economical in many ways. In group counseling a large number of
individuals are helped at the same time by a counselor. This saves time and money; (b) It helps
individuals to socialize their attitudes, habits and judgements; (c) It provides multiple stimuli
for each member to work through and approximates real life situation. By frankly and honestly
sharing their thoughts and feelings members develop a feeling of group cohesiveness and
singleness of purpose that helps them to progress.
• Some individuals who cannot be reached through individual counseling can be reached through
a group counseling.

• Group counseling is not suitable for all individuals. Some individual finds the group situation
too threatening. Moreover some individual have a very low level of tolerance and will not be
able to adopt their behaviour to the demands of the group.

18.8 Keywords

Induction : The process of introducing somebody to a new job, skill, organisation etc.
Exploratory : Done with the intention of examining something is order to find more about it.
Transition : The process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another
Consolidation : The process to make a position of power or success stronger so that it is more
likely to continue

Termination : The act of ending something
18.9 Review Questions

1. What is the meaning of group counseling ?
2. Explain the structuring of groups.
3. Describe the process of group counseling.
4. What are advantages and limitations of group counseling ?
5. Give the similarities and difference between individual counseling and group counseling.

Answers : Self Assessment
1. (i) b (ii) a (iii) c

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