Synopses & Reviews
Reflecting the author's vast experience as teacher, researcher, and practitioner, Shulman's DYNAMICS AND SKILLS OF GROUP COUNSELING delivers a current, comprehensive, and practical introduction to methods for effective group counseling. Concepts come to life with vivid cases that include "Record of Service" reports and dialogue from actual groups. These illustrative examples connect solid theory to the latest practices as they address the day-to-day realities of leading counseling groups. In addition, the book offers a clear format on how to run a group built around four phases of work: the preliminary (preparatory) phase; the beginning (contracting) phase; the middle (work) phase; and the ending and transition phase. It also demonstrates how these lessons can be applied to a wide range of settings.
Synopsis
Drawing from the author's vast experience as teacher, researcher, and practitioner, Lawrence Shulman's DYNAMICS AND SKILLS OF GROUP COUNSELING offers solid coverage of methods for effective group counseling--giving clear guidance to clinical group workers across the helping professions. Guided by theory, empirical research, and his own group practice, Shulman brings concepts to life with vivid cases that include Record of Service reports and dialogue from actual groups. These illustrative examples connect theory to current practice while addressing the day-to-day realities of leading counseling groups. Extremely practical, the book presents a clear format on how to run a group built around four phases of work: the preliminary (preparatory) phase; the beginning (contracting) phase; the middle (work) phase; and the ending and transition phase. It also shows how these lessons can be applied to a wide range of settings.
About the Author
Lawrence Shulman is a professor, as well as a former dean, in the School of Social Work at the State University of New York, Buffalo. A social work practitioner educator for more than 40 years, he has done extensive research on the core helping skills in social work practice, supervision, and child welfare and school violence. Dr. Shulman has published numerous articles and monographs on direct practice and is the author or coeditor of nine books. He also was the co-editor of the Journal of Clinical Supervision and serves on five other editorial boards. In addition, Dr. Shulman is the co-founder and co-chair of the International and Interdisciplinary Conference on Clinical Supervision sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the Haworth Press.
Table of Contents
Introduction: What is This Book About? PART I: THE CORE DYNAMICS AND SKILLS OF GROUP COUNSELING. 1. Underlying Assumptions About People, Groups and Group Counseling. 2. Mutual Aid Processes in the Group. 3. Group Formation. 4. The Beginning Phase with Groups. 5. The Middle Phase of Group Counseling. 6. The Middle Phase Skills. 7. Working with the Individual in the Group. 8. Working with the Group as the "Second Client". 9. Endings and Transitions with Groups. 10. Open-Ended, Single Session, Activity and On-line Groups. 11. The Impact of Diversity on Group Practice. 12. Models of Group Counseling. 13. The Impact of Values, Ethics and Legislation. PART II: THE VARIANT ELEMENTS IN GROUP COUNSELING: SETTING, POPULATION AND PROBLEM. 14. Group Counseling in Substance Abuse Settings. 15. Group Counseling in the Schools. 16. Group Counseling in Marital and Family Settings. 17. Group Counseling in Community Mental Health Settings. 18. Group Counseling in Job and Career Settings. 19. Group Counseling in Medical and Rehabilitation Settings. Appendix A: Research Methodology and Selected Findings. Appendix B: Resilience Theory and Research. Appendix C: Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW) Best Practice Guidelines. Appendix D: Links to Associations, Practice Guidelines and Codes of Ethics. Glossary. References. Index of Case Examples. Name Index. Subject Index.