03 Feb 7. You must not lead a psychother

HSCO 511

Group Leading Proposal Instructions

You will lead a 1–2-hour group session in your local community. The purpose of this assignment is for you to gain experience planning and leading a group with attention to group dynamics, group process, ethical and effective group facilitation, and leadership responsibilities. The group must have between 5–12 adult participants present (not online), excluding yourself and any co-leader.

· You may use a group that you already lead.

· You may lead a session for a group that you are a member of (with the leader’s approval).

· You may “guest lead” an existing group (with the organization’s and leader’s approval, as applicable). However, you may not lead the same group you are attending for the Support Group Attendance assignment.

· You may organize a 1-time group meeting for the purpose of this assignment. The group must not consist only of your own family members.

Note that you must submit this Group Leading Proposal and check Blackboard and your email for approval/changes/feedback from the instructor prior to leading the group. While there is some flexibility allowed in the type of group and its purpose, these important parameters must be met:

1. All group members must be engaged and participate orally.

2. The session must give opportunity for all group members to share meaningful, personal information openly.

3. You will practice the group leader skills described in the Jacobs et al. text, including:

a. Opening the meeting in a way that engages and provides necessary information;

b. Guiding and keeping the group on task and purpose;

c. Holding, shifting, and deepening the focus;

d. Using active and empathetic listening;

e. Reflecting, clarifying, and summarizing;

f. Asking effective and appropriate questions;

g. Linking, cutting off, and drawing out members; and

h. Closing the meeting within an agreeable timeframe.

4. The meeting may take place in a church context, but the focus must not be Bible study/discussion or prayer with little or no time for or emphasis on sharing personal information. Possible topics could be grief, anger, time management, parenting, etc.

5. While there may be a psychoeducational component of the meeting, it must not be mainly a lecture, presentation, sermon, etc. The majority of time must be spent in group interaction.

6. As the leader, you must model appropriate behavior by cultivating a caring, supportive, safe, encouraging, and accepting environment. You must closely observe members and facilitate effective processing of the meeting’s content while managing your own emotions and reactions.

7. You must not lead a psychotherapy session, unless you hold the necessary license and liability insurance (if so, you must furnish the instructor with copies of these documents).

Note that any exceptions to these parameters must be discussed with and approved by the instructor at his/her discretion on a case-by-case basis. Also note that in order to receive credit for leading, the group and the meeting must be consistent with your approved proposal.

Your Group Leading Proposal must provide the requested infor