Overview
Select 2 of your classmates’ threads and interact with the thoughts and ideas. The content of your reply must reflect an excellent knowledge of the coursework and must interact with both the thread and include academic support in the form of at least one scholarly reference. Your replies must also expand on the thread. Finally, each reply must meet the required word count of 300 words and be submitted on time.
Please respond to the following 2 students discussion posts.
1. J. M Posted
One essential point as to why self-development is important for psychoeducational group leaders is that group leaders must work to prevent negative countertransference from impacting group sessions. Countertransference consists of therapists or group leaders unresolved psychological issues presenting and influencing the direction, content, environment, and reaction to group members during a session (Brown, 2018). For example, when I first began providing individual and group services for substance use disorder clients, I cognitively carried my personal experiences from my childhood exposure to alcohol use into sessions unconsciously. Continuing education on self-awareness and individual therapy has helped tremendously with resolving this internal conflict. Another important reason for group leaders to integrate self-development into their vocation is to identify and eliminate self-absorbed behaviors and attitudes from their practice. Examples of this can include a leader using the group for attention-seeking, for gaining a sense of entitlement to be viewed as superior to members, or to use the group to receive admiration for their life accomplishments (Brown, 2018). One way to combat this is to seek consultation, supervision, or recording and reviewing sessions with colleagues to obtain feedback. A third point for stressing the importance of self-development is the need to lead from a culturally competent perspective. As described in Corey et al. (2018), becoming a culturally skilled group counselor can create a comfortable space for clients of diverse backgrounds to participate, and leaders should view cultural competence as ongoing developmental activity for personal and professional growth.
One important group leader characteristic is that of flexibility. This can be viewed as a group leader being dynamic and adaptable in their approach, integrating and modifying activities, as well as being comfortable with the presence of anxiety amongst group members, or within the group leader themselves (Brown, 2018). The group leader’s elasticity within a group can aid the group towards growth by accommodating the changing needs of the group or can hamper the group’s progress if there is so much rigidity that group members do not feel safe or understood (Brown, 2018). Another characteristic of effective group leadership is the willingness and ability to admit mistakes (Brown, 2018). Leaders can model important developmental attributes and demonstrate humility when they acknowledge imperfection within themselves, and how they navigate the situation cognitively, emotionally, and socially within the group. This can also reflect to the members that the group leader is willing to accept members for their shortcomings (Brown, 2018). Related to the topic of modeling, leaders can also do well in demonstrating self-confidence in group. Learning and growth can be accomplished via leaders exhibiting confidence in themselves, and encouraging member self-confidence through recognition, appreciation, and other positive interactions (Brown, 2018). Leaders can grow in self-confidence through training, supervision, and experience.
One important characteristic where I can experience growth is the concept of developing an appropriate sense of humor. I recognize that I can often get consumed by ensuring the content, environment, and flexibility of the group is intact, and miss the opportunity to be more lighthearted and less serious during groups. After reflecting, I can see myself working to “loosen up” a bit by beginning or ending a group with a humorous ice breaker or neutral non-threatening joke. As mentioned by Brown (2018), I can do well to take myself less seriously and integrate laughter to reduce tension within the group.
After reviewing the leader characteristics, each of them is consistent with the character of Jesus. For example, Jesus demonstrated flexibility simply in offering each of his disciples, and many others, the opportunity to follow him (English Standard Bible, 2001, Matthew 4:19, Matthew 8:21, Mark 8:34) without force or extensive persuasion. Although Jesus did not make mistakes or need to admit fault, he demonstrated humility, which is at the core of admitting mistakes and personal responsibility. Despite his status of king of all, he decided to serve others as opposed to being served (English Standard Bible, 2001, Matthew 20:28). Regarding self-confidence, the sacrifice of Jesus was the ultimate demonstration of knowing and living one’s purpose. To give up one’s life due to their unwavering belief in who God is unparalleled evidence of self-confidence. Not only did Jesus display this on the cross, but he also built up his disciples through encouragement, modeling, and bestowing of gifts (English Standard Bible, 2001, John 14:1, Luke 4:38-41, Luke 10:19). As group leaders adopt a servant-leadership model, it is important to consider how one’s intentions and behaviors are modeling that of Christ and can be replicated by members of the group (Keebler, 2018).
Brown, N.W. (2018). Psychoeducation groups: process and practice, (4th ed.). Routledge.
Corey, M.S., Corey, G., & Corey, C. (2018). Group process and practices, (10th ed.). Cengage.
English Standard Bible. (2001). BibleGateway. www.biblegateway.com
Keebler, D. W. (2018). Leadership of Jesus revealed in the Gospel of John. Journal of Biblical Perspectives in Leadership, 8(1), 89–98.
2. D.M Posted
`Self-Development in Psychoeducation Group
Self-development is a multifaced perspective that is used in multiple settings. The term self-development can be defined is multiple ways and has multiple meanings depending upon the setting in which it is used. Brown (2018) discusses essential points why self-developments is important for psychoeducational group leaders. Self-development is important to decrease burnout, avoid transference and countertransference with group members, and overall increase the group leader’s confidence in the ability to run the group. When a group leader has a better understanding of the group process, what to do in the group sessions, and is aware of their strengths and limitations, the group leader is less likely to experience burn out. When group leaders are burned out, they react and respond to the group members differently and are less likely to show empathy, attentiveness, and positive regard which is why self-development is important. Self-development also helps group leaders avoid transference and countertransference with group members. Transference and countertransference are not limited to group therapy but occur in everyday life. Jones (2004) states, “Transference and countertransference vary in intensity and are a part of the whole human experience which often times cause them to go unnoticed as it relates to establishing human relationships” (p. 13). Self-development therefore is important as it relates to psychoeducational group leaders so moments of transference and countertransference can be more recognizable. Self-development also helps the group leader remain non bias and establish relationships with the group members that are relative to the group and not past or present personal relationships. Lastly, self-development is important for psychoeducational leaders to overall increase the group leader’s confidence in their ability to run the group. Brown (2018) states, “Confidence can often times be disguised as arrogance” (p. 85). It is important for group leaders be confident in their ability to navigate the group based on their experience or developed skillset, but not to think their skills are superior in the fact that they think they know what is best for all the members in the group. Being developed and confident as a group leader, helps the leader navigate through any shift the group may take as often times group therapy is linear.
As a group leader, it is important to be aware of your leadership styles and characteristics. The leadership characteristic from the text that I identified with were the belief in the group process, the ability to show flexibility, and the importance of self-awareness. Brown (2018) defines belief in the group process as, “Creating a safe atmosphere for the group members the trust the group leader” (p. 93). Often times group members are fearful of the group process because they do not believe the group can help them. As a leader, it is important during the group process, to reassure the group members of their ability to overcome the issues and problems that led them to the group. As a leader, at some point, someone believed that you could get to where you are in life even when you did not believe in yourself, therefore this is important to keep in mind when working with the group leaders. No matter how shaky the process may be, they are capable of overcoming. The group leader must also be willing to be flexible which is very important as it relates to leadership characteristics. Kaiser (2008) says, “As a leader, flexibility is important when unusual events and external changes create an immediate change or crisis” (p. 2). As a group leader, it is important to be mindful that there will be moments when conflict could arise in the group which causes the group leader to adjust and navigate in the moment. While working with people, anything can happen, being flexible is seen as the ability to change and adapt to unforeseen events. Lastly, self-awareness is an important leadership characteristic because it prevents group leaders from bringing their own biases of beliefs into the group. When we are self-aware as leaders, we can grow and change. Often times the change that we want to see around us has to start from within which requires self-awareness.
After reading and reflecting on the leadership characteristics from the text, one area that I need to improve in as it relates to leadership characteristics is being more present in the here are now in the group as a leader. There are often times as a leader that we are required to juggle and manage multiple tasks throughout our day to day lives. Often times we come to group with many things on our mind that lay dormant in our minds even while actively participating and engaging with the group members. The here and now experience relates to focus on what is happening in the current moment, the space that we are currently in. As a leader, it is important to focus on the here and now because often times this helps the group members be present on the group experience as well. Comerford (2015) describes the here and now as, “what is emotionally known in the moment” (p. 14). Focusing on the moment as a leader helps us to disengage from the past and place hold on what is to come in the future. The things that are happening in the moment are important and can be explored deeper when we are present.
As I reflect on the group experience and the multiple group leader characteristics that were identified in the text, I am reminded that the ultimate leader of this world and nation is Jesus Christ. The two group leader characteristics that I believe are consistent with the characteristics of Jesus Christ are the ability to belief in the group process and the courage to take risk. As a Christian, woman of God, and counselor, I believe that in order to promote change, we must first believe that change can occur. When God sent his son Jesus to die on the cross, he believed that we could be free from our sins and the wickedness of this world. 1 Peter 2:9 says, “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (NIV, 2011). Peter identified in this verse that no matter what we think our ourselves, that we must see ourselves how God sees us. Often times our clients do not believe in themselves because of how they view themselves based on their life experiences and circumstances. When Jesus believed in us, he empowered us to live our lives according to the ways and thoughts that he thinks towards us. As it relates to taking risk, the bible mentions in both the Old and New Testament how Jesus, his disciples, and chosen people took risk to win souls, promote change, and draw people closer to Jesus. I am reminded of Abraham and how he took risk to obtain favor from God and man. God told Abraham in Genesis 12:1, “Get out of your country and away from your relatives and from your father’s house and go to a land that I will show you.” (NIV, 2011). As leaders, our risk our measured by our faith and belief that we can create change and have an impact. Often times I have been led by the holy spirit to take risk that I did not understand, but it was my faith in God and my belief that his spirit was with me, that led me to where I am in life today. As leaders, we may not always know the outcome, but we are still encouraged to go forward.
References
Brown, N. (2018). Psychoeducational groups. Process and practice 4th edition. Routledge taylor
and francis group.
Holy Bible (2011). New International Version.
Comerford, P. (2015). Emotion in the ‘here and now’. Volume 15, Issue 1.
Kaiser, R. B. (2008). The importance of flexible leadership. Society for industrial organizational
psychology.
Jones, A. C. (2004). Transference and countertransference. Perspective in psychiatric care.
Research library, p. 13