Group Services
University Counseling Services provides confidential group counseling. Group counseling is an important mode of service at UCS and there are a variety of small group experiences available for students. Groups afford students the opportunity to learn and change through interaction and provide a support system for members. Groups usually meet for 80 minutes once each week.
GROUP COUNSELING: WHAT IS IT AND WHAT CAN I EXPECT?
As you consider or prepare for membership in a counseling group you probably have a number of questions. These few paragraphs are designed to answer some of those questions.
Just what is group counseling anyway? Like traditional one-on-one counseling, it has a specific function. In group counseling, approximately 5-8 individuals meet face-to-face with a trained group counselor. During the group meeting time, members take responsibility for their situation by talking about what is troubling them. Members are also encouraged to give feedback to others. Feedback includes expressing your own feelings about what someone says or does. Interaction between group members is highly encouraged and provides each person an opportunity for learning more about the way they interact with others. Your group counselor helps provide direction for the individual members and the group as a whole. Your group counselor will also help process the interactions among members.
Is it confidential? What makes group unique is that it is a closed and safe system. People who join groups are instructed that the content of the group sessions is confidential. What people talk about or disclose in groups must remain among the members of the group. It is not appropriate for a group member to disclose events of the group to an outside person. While it is fine to talk about your feelings and experiences in group with friends you trust, it is important to remember that other people in group may not feel comfortable sharing even that they attend group with another person. So, for example, if you see another group member walking down the street with a friend you may approach them and say, “Hi,” but it’s not a very good idea to say “How ‘bout that group last week....?” It is important to remember that group confidentiality is dependent on its members and the group counselor cannot control whether or not someone violates this trust. If the group counselor learns that a member is breaking confidentiality that individual may be required to leave the group.
What if I'm afraid? The first few sessions of group usually focus on the establishment of trust. During this time, members usually work to establish a level of trust that allows them to talk personally and honestly. Group trust is enhanced when all members make a commitment to the group. (This is why we ask you to make a commitment to group and come for at least four weeks even though you may feel uncomfortable.) The first few weeks -- when group is scary and there is not a strong feeling of trust and safety -- can be very hard. Usually we find that if you can stick it out for the first four weeks group gets easier after that and feels more like it’s helping.
Why does group counseling work? There are a number of reasons why group counseling works. It is important to note several of those: (a) When people come into a group and interact freely with other group members, they usually recreate those difficulties that brought them to group counseling in the first place. Under the facilitation of a group counselor, the group is able to give support, offer alternatives, or gently confront the person in such a way that the difficulty becomes resolved and alternative behaviors are learned. (b) The group allows a person to develop new social techniques or ways of relating to people. (c) During group counseling, people begin to see that they are not alone and that they can be helped. Many times people feel very unique in their problems. It is encouraging to hear that other people have a similar difficulty or have already worked through a problem that deeply disturbs another group member. (d) Another reason why group counseling works is that with this climate of trust, people feel free to care about and help one another.
What do I talk about when I am in group counseling? Talk about what brought you to University Counseling Services in the first place. Tell the group members what is bothering you. If you need support, let the group know. If you think you need confrontation, let them know this also. It is important to tell people what you expect of them. In addition, you will probably be most helped and satisfied if you talk about your feelings. Unexpressed feelings are a major reason why people experience difficulties. When feelings are unexpressed, they tend to debilitate us. For instance, unexpressed anger or guilt often become depression. The ‘psychological safety’ of the group permits the expression of those feelings which are often very difficult to express outside the group.
How much should I share? When we talk about revealing our feelings, we are talking about self-disclosure. Self-disclosure is an important part of group and relates very much to how well people get helped. How much you talk about yourself depends upon what you are comfortable with. Group is not a place where people are forced to tell their deep and intimate thoughts. You are ultimately responsible for how much you share. However, remember that if group is working then you should feel mildly uncomfortable, as change is generally not comfortable at first. If you never take risks, even small ones, the group can’t be as helpful for you.
Are there any ground rules for my participation in the group? There are six standard rules; your group may develop additional guidelines:
1. It is expected that you commit to the group and come to group every week unless there is some emergency that prevents you from attending.
2. If you are going to miss a session, it is your responsibility to let the group facilitator know.
3. If you have decided that you have gained as much as possible from the group or that the group isn’t the most appropriate form of treatment for you, then we ask that you come to the group and say good-bye. We also ask that when you first come to group you give the group four weeks before you decide whether you want to stay or not.
4. It is the responsibility of each person to talk about his/her reasons for being in the group. Talking about present or ‘here and now’ feelings is usually the most helpful way to solve problems.
5. One thing that helps people is the knowledge that having a feeling and acting on it are two different actions. The way we most respect ourselves and others is by experiencing feelings and then allowing ourselves to talk about them. Acting the feelings out (for example, getting violent) is not acceptable in the group.
6. Group is most helpful when there is a feeling of trust and safety. Group members are asked not to disclose the contents of group sessions in order to maintain this trust. Breaking confidentiality is a reason for dismissal.
We encourage you to try a group experience and see if it is right for you.
This material is adapted from a similar piece written by Jack Corazinni, Ph.D. of Virginia Commonwealth University.
6/96, revised 8/07