Download Per_Char_of_Effective_Counselors_Lecture_1

Personal Characteristics of
Effective Counselors
Group Counseling
Personal Characteristics of the
Effective Counselor
 Courage
 Willingness to
model
 Presence
 Goodwill and
Caring
 Belief in the Group
Process
 Openness
 Nondefensiveness
 Personal Power
 Stamina
 Willingness to seek
new experiences
 Self-awareness
 Sense of humor
 Inventiveness
Reasons for Leading Groups
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Efficiency
Experience of Commonality
Greater variety of resources and viewpoints
Sense of belonging
Skills practice
Vicarious learning
Real-life approximation
Commitment
Feedback
Feedback…
Participants gain an
unusual and
cherished
opportunity to
receive honest and
constructive
feedback- a
mirroring of their
attitudes, beliefs,
values, biases and
behaving.
Importance of Groups
 As the importance of our groups go,
so goes our quality of life.
 Do you believe this?
Importance of Groups
 A knowledge of group dynamics is central
to effective businesses and industries.
 A knowledge of group dynamics is central
to education.
 A knowledge of group dynamics is central
to viable families.
 A knowledge of group dynamics is central
to the long-term maintenance of
psychological health.
 Knowing group dynamics theory and small
group skills can change your life.
Misconceptions about groups…
 Groups are for brainwashing.
 Groups are places where people are
attacked and defenses are torn down.
 Groups make people more miserable and
unhappy, because their problems surface.
 Groups tell people how to be.
 Group pressure forces people to lose a
sense of identity.
 Only people who are emotionally disturbed
join groups.
Impact Therapy – Four Core Beliefs
 People don’t mind being led when
they are led well.
 Counseling should never be boring.
 Counseling should be clear and
concrete.
 The counselor is primarily
responsible for the therapy but not
ultimately responsible for the
outcome.
Leadership Styles
 Interpersonally
oriented
leader…emphasizes
the here and now, the
interactions among the
members, the group
as a whole, the
ongoing group
dynamics and the
obstacles to the
development of
effective interpersonal
relationships within
the group.
Intrapersonally
oriented leader…
focuses primarily on the
needs and concerns
of the individual
members.