Group Counselling Practices

This course provides students with an overview of the contemporary theories of group dynamics and group process which are required to provide effective group counselling services in an addictions or mental health treatment setting. In particular, skills will be developed in group psycho-education and mutual support groups. Throughout the course, a variety of theoretically grounded counselling techniques which enhance the therapeutic potential of a counselling group will be discussed and demonstrated. These techniques will be integrated with those being explored and developed in the co-requisite course, Introduction to Counselling Practices [ADDC1508]. The course also has a significant experiential component, which will provide students with the opportunity to experience the group process both as group members and as co-facilitators of a group psycho-education session. Throughout the course, students will be asked to reflect on the impact of the ‘self' on therapeutic relationships and group process.