Ending Group Counseling Peacefully: Leader Strategies - Free Essay Example

Introduction

To ensure that the termination of the counseling is peaceful and productive with the clients in the group, I will consider some skills as the group leader. Firstly, I will ensure that I discuss the issue of group termination in advance to create awareness amongst the members. Secondly, I will ensure that I reveal to the members that the group is currently in alignment with the pre-stated goals, and their achievement is either promising or completed. Thirdly, I will also offer assurances to the group members that in case of future dissatisfaction, they can consider reinitiating or communicating concerning the need to reopen the therapy. Finally, I will take the members, or instead, the clients through a review of the therapy's success and what has been achieved since the process commenced. This will help to convince the members that, that the termination is not premature, but realistic.

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Interventions to Employ During Termination

While terminating the group therapy, it is more likely that several challenges arising from both the side of members and at an individual level as the group leader may arise. However, the most crucial aspect is the ability to implement a set of competent mechanisms or interventions to curb these drawbacks. For instance, some group members are likely to show a sign of dissatisfaction even after making the follow-up or check-ins with the pre-stated objectives. As a leader, it is imperative to understand that this is quite natural because I may not have all the skills to accommodate the needs and expectations of all group members. In that case, I would refer them to another person who is well contented with their concerns, before reaching the official termination. The ability to care for the less satisfied individuals in the group is an extreme factor in therapy. According to some studies, it is feasibly impossible for a leader or counselor to satisfy the goals of everyone, and attempts of a fixed mind that this is possible could potentially lead to the harm of some members. Notwithstanding, group anxiety and sadness are additional consequences that, as a leader, I will be expecting during the termination date. However, this should equally be taken usually because some members become over-reliant on the therapy sessions as their critical drivers to regular activities, or source of happiness. Therefore, emotional, physical, and psychological support is essential. Bringing the termination date in advance, and letting members be ready for it is an effective solution to address this challenge.

Nonetheless, a group leader is not an exception to such challenges. Instinctively, managing the challenges of every member might not be secure. For example, problems such as mental illness, stress, suicidal thoughts, and change of behaviors are dominant. Besides, some members may even engage in bullying activities, and this makes the leader ultimately insecure. Studies have estimated that school counselors in the United States were faced with five most prominent challenges in an attempt to terminate their sessions. These were "mental disorders, stress, bullying, suicidal behaviors and thoughts, and gender-related issues."

Probably, there are several therapy sessions across the world that individual has led and terminated successfully. After a careful review of a few cases such as that of United States school counselors in 2017, among others, I noticed that there are three possible natural methods of termination that could yield different outcomes. These are counselor-initiated termination, client-initiated termination, and counselor-client-initiated termination. Research have postulated that termination procedures, which are either driven by individual counselors or clients, often result in severe mental health challenges on both parties, after its termination process. The author suggested that both the counselor and client should reach a consensus of terminating the group. This balance can only be created when both are satisfied and are no longer being impacted by the pre-existing challenges that the therapy session aimed to address. Applying the same concept, I would ensure that I first set an early date for termination and let all the members aware. This will help both of us to consider any challenges, pending goals, and any other issues during this period so that the termination stage is efficient without sadness and anxiety.

Evaluation of the Group

One of the critical strategies for evaluation that I would implement is the use of pre/post-survey questions. The questions should primarily be directed on the group members since they are the vital beneficiaries of the therapy initiative. Besides, they are the majority; hence their responses can carefully be analyzed to either make relevant corrective plans for the present or future sessions. Pre/Post survey method is majorly used to determine whether the members are satisfied with the achievements, what they feel was wrongly done, and their reformations for corrections. Ideally, this is the best Metrix to use for making the follow-ups using the group members are the principal targets or figures.

The following are survey questions that will act as the tool for measuring the success of the therapy with the group members before and after the session. The pre-survey items will be given on the first date of the meeting during the planning and proposal for goals. The post-survey questions will be handed to the group members between the period of therapy completion and the official termination date. The tool (See appendix below) contains items that need responses from the group members to determine their level of satisfaction with and expectations during the sessions.

References

California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions. (2019). California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions. Retrieved from California Institute for Behavioral Health Solution: Integrating SUD Treatment Skills into the Behavioral Health Curriculum: http://www.cibhs.org substance Use Disorder Curriculum Modules Integrating SUD Treatment Skills into the Behavioral Health Curriculum

Charles County Health Department. (2019). Retrieved from Charles County Health.Org; Local Behavioral Health Authority Role: http://www.charlescounty.health.org/core-services-agency

Corey. (2012). Theory & Practice of Group Counseling (8th ed.). Belmont, California: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2018). Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Retrieved from Center for Substance Abuse Treatment: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Treatment Improvement Protocol: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Substance Abuse Treatment: Group Therapy

Wheeler. (2014). Psychotherapy for the Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse: A HOW-TO GUIDE FOR EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE (2nd ed.). New York, New York: Springer Publishing Company.