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Ten Tips for Successful Small Group Counseling (or, Herding Cats and Loving It)

8/4/2017

15 Comments

 
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     While a lot of school counselors are intimidated by the idea of running small groups, I LOVE them. Group services are the most effective use of my time, and kids are always relieved and happy to find that other students have many of the same struggles. I fill most of the direct service slots on my schedule with small groups.
     In my 25 years in a school setting, I’ve learned a lot about what works (and even more about what doesn’t). Here are my top ten tips for setting up and running your counseling groups.

1. Group students by issue. Twenty-five years ago, all my groups were simply called “social skills” (translation: we’d play games and practice good sportsmanship). For ease of  scheduling, I grouped kids according to their homeroom or grade. Now that I’m actually trying to teach a range of social-emotional skills, I group kids by what they need to work on. My most common groups are: emotional regulation, anxiety management, Social Thinking©, and “social superheroes.” Once I determine who needs which type of group, I try to combine personalities that will work well together.

2. Consider co-ed or multi-grade groups. They provide opportunities for interaction between kids who wouldn’t normally spend time together. This is almost always a good thing.

3. Create your overall group plan before the first session. This isn’t hard if you’re using a purchased curriculum. If you’re more of the “spontaneous” type who likes to wing it from one week to the next, make sure you take notes so the next time you run this kind of group you already have a head start. The one thing you don’t want is to be running around 10 minutes before you pick up the kids, going, “Crap, what are we going to do today?” Disorganization is the enemy of a successful session!

4. Limit the group to 6, 8, or 10 weeks instead of having it last the whole school year. It forces you to be more deliberate with your limited time together, and a rotating schedule gives you a chance to service more children in a small-group setting. You can always roll high-needs kids over into the next round of groups.

5. Try to avoid lunch groups, unless they are purely social or a way for you to establish relationships with particular students. You cannot teach skills like emotional regulation, or do writing or craft activities with kids who are trying to eat their lunch.

6. Include role model students. Plural. If your group is four or more (and I never have more than 6 in a group; four is my preferred number), I include at least two role models. If it’s a group targeting students on the Autism spectrum, I include more. Listen to the voice of experience here: everyone, including you—especially you—will enjoy themselves much more if the entire group doesn’t sink to the lowest common denominator.

cowboys herding cats
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These last four should be self-evident, but I’ll lay them out anyway:

7. Make sure you obtain signed permission for every student you plan on taking. If you’re recruiting a child as a role model, write it on the permission slip (as well as how long the group lasts, when it will meet, etc.). Parents are always flattered that their child is considered a role model for others; I’ve never had one deny permission. I also ask for permission to photograph and video students.

8. Set up some quick and easy way of communicating to teachers and parents what you did each week and how each student did. That way they can reinforce concepts outside of the group setting. Keep a copy for yourself too.  Because data.

9. In your first session, let students know that sometimes you might have to miss a group because of a meeting or an emergency. I always assure them that I will never “forget” to pick them up, that I’ll try and let their teachers know beforehand if I’m going to miss or be late, and that I’ll add another week on the end so they will still get their allotted number of sessions.

10. HAVE FUN! I can’t stress enough how important this is. If you’re excited about the day’s activity and think it’s fun and interesting, the kids will too. Engaged children are happy and cooperative children who will devour everything you try to teach them and clamor for more.

Did I miss anything? What is your top tip for successful small groups?
15 Comments
Tanya
8/10/2017 09:16:58 am

Hi Laurie,
I attended ASCA in Denver this summer and it was suggested to include leaders in groups there, too. So I will be doing that for the first time this year! A few questions I hadn't thought to ask in the session I attended, though, so I'm hoping you can help.
* Do you tell the "leader" students that they are there in that capacity? If so, do you have guidelines such as they not "brag" that they are there as a leader? How is this prepared for and handled?
* Do you have them participate just as the needier students do, or use them to model skills first and then of course everyone would practice them
Thanks in advance if you have any suggestions. I want to make this as effective as possible!

Reply
Laurie
8/10/2017 11:48:00 am

Good question, Tanya.

I don't tell the youngest kids. I do, however, usually tell the older kids. When I'm passing out the permission slips, I pull them aside. Privately, I explain what a role model is and ask if they want to play that role in the group. They're very flattered, and I've never had a kid who didn't take the responsibility seriously. If there's ever a time when they start to go off track during a session, all I have to do is raise an eyebrow to remind them why they're there.

That said, during group sessions I treat them just like everyone else. I may have them do a role play or answer a question first if necessary, but that's about it. *They* know they're role model students, but the other kids don't.

Hope this helps.

Reply
Bob link
6/28/2019 05:16:39 pm

I love your counseling tips. My son is getting bullied at school. I'll have to send him to a therapist to feel better.

Reply
Reanna
12/8/2019 11:57:15 am

I am a new school counselor and a little confused on what you mean by role models. What if you are running a group for students with a particular need, and there is not really one who stands out as a "role model?"

Reply
Laurie Mendoza
12/8/2019 02:30:36 pm

Hi Reanna,

I ask teachers to suggest one or two students who can act as role models (and then get permission from their guardians). For emotional regulation or social skills groups, I'm looking for a student who's already pretty good at those skills. For other kinds of groups, like a changing families group, I do want someone who has that issue but is maybe further down the road of getting through it with some success.
I hope this makes it a little more clear.

Reply
Bob link
9/17/2020 11:56:44 am

I like what you said about trying out group counseling with 6 people. I need to get my son into therapy soon since he has severe depression. I just want him to feel like he has a network.

Reply
Laurie Mendoza
9/17/2020 02:50:35 pm

Hi Bob,
I can't tell you how powerful it is for a kid to know that other kids are going through some of the same struggles. Even if they don't gel with every other member of the group they still benefit tremendously. I hope you find a group for your son!

Reply
Agatha P link
12/20/2020 04:44:59 pm

Appreciate yourr blog post

Reply
Laurie Mendoza
1/5/2021 07:24:33 pm

Thanks, Agatha!

Reply
Tex Hooper link
5/25/2022 06:24:12 pm

I like your therapy tips. I need to get a counselor. My depression is getting worse.

Reply
Laurie Mendoza
6/4/2022 04:38:38 pm

Hi Tex,

I'm sorry that you're struggling. I know there's a real shortage of mental health services right now because so many people are suffering from depression and/or anxiety. I hope you can find a clinician or some sort of support group near you soon!

Reply
Jackie
8/26/2022 11:12:50 am

As a first year counselor about to facilitate my first group, I found your post very helpful!

Reply
Laurie P Mendoza
8/28/2022 06:00:46 am

I'm thrilled to hear that, Jackie! This is a tough time to enter the field and I wish you smooth sailing for your first year.

Reply
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    Laurie P. Mendoza, 
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    I've been an elementary school counselor in Massachusetts for almost 20 years, so have a lot of opinions on everything!

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  • Program Planning
  • Counseling Activities
    • Activities for Kids on the Autism Spectrum
    • Anger Management Activities
    • Activities for Anxious Kids
    • Girl Power
    • Zones of Regulation/Emotional Regulation Activities
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