66th Annual Conference

Thursday, February 19

Afternoon Workshops

2:30 - 5:00 P.M.

Workshop 32

Keeping the Flame Alive: Semi-structured Process Groups for College Counseling and Other Agency Settings

Presented under the auspices of the AGPA College Counseling Centers and Other Educational Settings SIG

Chair:

Chad Johnson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Oklahoma, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Using experiential and didactic methods, this workshop will address how to utilize structured activities during the initial and final stages of time-limited groups to promote cohesion, skill development, and interpersonal learning. This model may be useful in college counseling centers or other settings that emphasize short-term process oriented group psychotherapy.

demonstration-experiential-sharing of work experiences-didactic

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Identify challenges to leading short-term interpersonal process groups in college counseling centers and agency settings.

2. Assess the developmental level of group members to determine the degree and frequency of structured activities.

3. Learn and apply structured activities in the initial and final stages of group to promote cohesion, skill development, and interpersonal learning.

4. Learn and apply strategies for transitioning from facilitator-led structured activities to a more client-driven group process during the middle phases of group.

Course References:

1. Corey, G., & Corey, M.S. (2006). Groups: Process and practice (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.

2. Johnson, C.V. (in press). A process-oriented group model for university students: A semi-structured approach. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy.

3. Fehr, S.S. (Ed.) (2008). 101 Interventions in Group Therapy. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press.