Group Counseling: Intentionally Built & Effectively Facilitated
Group counseling services are considered the mainstay of all clinical services. It is essential that everyone leading groups possess effective group facilitation skills. Facilitators skilled in group counseling methods are better prepared to assist group members in practicing communications skills, can effectively role play difficult situations, can give and receive feedback, can identify and name feelings, and provide support, all of which correlate to positive client outcomes.
The goal of this Group Counseling: Intentionally Built & Effectively Facilitated Enhanced Professional Learning series (EPL) is to help group leaders build skills, increase knowledge on evidence-based practices in group counseling, avoid unhelpful or non-therapeutic group activities, and elevate confidence in providing quality group counseling services through feedback and practice. Participants will have weekly learning opportunities to share group counseling experiences and practice group facilitation skills.
This EPL will focus on how to envision and build groups and develop/refine facilitation skills, including knowledge and skills related to:
- Building group cohesion
- Managing conflict
- Redirecting clients who monopolize group discussion or stray off topic
- Managing unhelpful advice given from one member to another
- Eliciting client participation rather than lecturing
- Handling content and process issues
- Awareness of group work versus individual casework within a group
- Using reflection to refine and enhance facilitation skills.
WHEN:
Every Wednesday, July 31 – September 25, 2024 from 2 – 3:30 pm MDT / 3 – 4:30 pm CDT
INTENDED AUDIENCE:
Mental health professionals who are located in the Mountain Pains MHTTC region (HHS Region 8 includes CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, and WY).
PARTICIPANT COMMITMENT & EXPECTATIONS
- Attend a live 1-hour Orientation Session on July 31 at 2pm MDT/3pm CDT
- Commit to 8-weeks of training for 1.5 hours weekly from August 7 – September 25
- Complete 1-hour of weekly self-study learning activities
- Access to appropriate technology to utilize online videoconferencing platform (i.e., an internet connection, webcam, computer/tablet, speakers, and microphone)
- Be prepared and actively engage while on camera during the scheduled series time.
TRAINER(S)/FACILITATOR(S):
- Kate Speck, PhD, MAC, LADC
- Paul Warren, LMSW
- Amy Shanahan, MS, CADC
THERE IS NO COST TO PARTICIPATE:
Registration for this series is limited to 35 mental health/behavioral health professionals who work in HHS Region 8 states on a first come first served basis (Region 8 includes Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming). Once the 35 spots have been filled, registration will be closed. Due to limited enrollment, if you cannot commit to the full requirements, please defer this opportunity to others.
PLEASE NOTE:
Registrants enrolled in this series are required to attend the first two sessions. If you cannot attend these sessions, you will forfeit your space in the series. In addition, it is expected that participants will have access to the appropriate technology to fully participate and be on camera at least 90% of the time. This is not a webinar series and active participation to gain/improve skills are required.
CONTINUING EDUCATION:
The series has been approved for a total of 21 contact hours (20-hours content instruction and 1-hour orientation session). No credit will be awarded for non-attendance. The knowledge and skills learned should be applied within the framework of any applicable Operating and/or Credentialing regulations in your State of practice.
QUESTIONS:
Please contact NFARtec staff at workwise@casat.org.
