The Power of Groups; Solution-Focused Group Counseling in Schools

by Leslie Cooley

• ISBN13: 9781412970976
• ISBN10: 1412970970
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-05-13
• Publisher: Corwin Pr

Summary

This book shows how to plan, run, and maintain solution-focused groups that build on students' strengths and support them in achieving personal growth goals. While solution-focused counseling is not new, very little has been written about how it works in groups. Using the strengths of solution-focused counseling-data-based decision making, positive behavior change, and sustained outcomes-this resource for school psychologists, counselors, and other interested educators begins with an exploration of counseling models and presents strategies and guidelines for: Getting a group up and runningCreating a safe environmentHelping participants identify what they want to do differentlyAdapting curriculum material to meet the group's needs

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
Acknowledgments	p. xi
About the Author	p. xiii
Creating Change One Group at a Time	p. 1
Facilitating Change	p. 1
An Equation for Change	p. 4
The Importance of a Theoretical Model	p. 6
Choosing a Foundation: An Exploration of Models	p. 9
Practitioner Training	p. 13
Summary	p. 14
Solution-Focused Counseling: A Primer	p. 15
The School as a System	p. 16
The Assumptions of Solution-Focused Brief Counseling	p. 21
Conclusions	p. 33
Summary	p. 35
Turning a Solution-Focused Attitude Into Practice	p. 37
What Happens if I Do Something Wrong?	p. 38
Techniques and Strategies of Solution-Focused Counseling	p. 38
Summary	p. 54
Adapting Group Curriculum Material: General Principles	p. 55
Choosing an Activity	p. 56
Make It Your Own	p. 60
Creating a Safe Environment	p. 61
Summary	p. 66
Adapting Group Curriculum Material: Specific Strategies	p. 67
Group Discussion	p. 68
Goal Setting	p. 74
The Role of Questions	p. 76
Summary	p. 82
From Ideas to Action: Planning and Preparation	p. 85
Getting Referrals	p. 86
Permission Letters	p. 89
Setting Up the Group	p. 95
Pre- and Postevaluation Surveys	p. 100
Handling Pressure	p. 102
Summary	p. 104
From Ideas to Action: Getting the Group Up and Running	p. 105
At the First Meeting	p. 105
Keeping the Group Afloat	p. 111
Successful Ways to End a Group	p. 117
Summary	p. 121
Group Agendas: A Sampling	p. 123
Elementary Level: Making Friends, Sessions 1 Through 3	p. 125
Middle School: Handling Peer Pressure, Sessions 4 Through 6	p. 134
High School: Making Decisions and Life Goals, Sessions 7 Through 9	p. 140
Summary	p. 146
Troubleshooting	p. 147
Potential Snags	p. 147
Intervention Ideas	p. 152
Self-Evaluation	p. 154
Summary	p. 161
The Power of Groups	p. 163
The Students	p. 163
The Process	p. 165
The Leader	p. 167
References	p. 171
Index	p. 173
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