Group Counseling

GROUP COUNSELING
By: AMAR FARUQ, S. Pd

A. Understanding Counselling

 
According to Shertzer and Stone (1981), Group Counselling is a process in which a counselor is involved in a relationship with a number kolen at the same time. Gazda (1984) suggests a sense of group counseling as a dynamic interpersonal process by focusing on awareness of thoughts and behaviors, as well as therapies based on functions that are oriented to give freedom a reality, catharsis, mutual trust, nurturing, understanding, and supportive. Therapeutic function is manifested in small groups through the exchange of personal issues with other members and counselors. Groups of clients can use group interaction to enhance the understanding and acceptance of values ​​and objectives and to learn certain attitudes and behavior. Furthermore, Gazda said that group counseling can be used to help complete the developmental tasks in seven areas. Namely psychosocial, vocational, cognitive, physical, sexual, moral, and affective.

According to Rochman Natawidjaya (1987:14) states that group counseling is assistance to individuals in order to provide convenience and the growth of (preventive) and can also be healing (curative). Marle M. Ohlsen (1970) states that group counseling is a relationship between counselor and one or more clients a full sense of acceptance, trust and a sense of security. In this connection, the client learn to deal with, express and control feelings and thoughts that bother him and is a problem for him. They develop courage and confidence to ourselves, to practice what is learned in changing behavior.

Meanwhile, according to Aryatmo Siswohardjono (1980), argued in a counseling group problem solving carried out in group situations. Members of the group usually includes people who have the same problem or obtain mamfaat of participation in group counseling. The intensity and nature of the interaction in the counseling process in accordance with: (1) the type of counseling, (2) purpose, (3) members of the counselor's personal

B. The need for group counseling foundation

 
High school students (junior / senior high school) being in adolescence and one of the characteristics of adolescence is a high komformitas against friends, especially peers. In the peer group, adolescents can improve self-concept and identity diriny. In the process of group counseling, peer group dynamics can imanfaatkan in order to help him and his friends to achieve progress.

Rochman Natawidjaya (1987:16) stated that the group counseling should be given to all students, even if they do not show symptoms of a serious difficulty. He further stated that the provision of counseling as a counseling group tanpak ordinary course and not only made up of individuals who have a serious problem.

C. Responsibility Group Counseling Penyelenggraan

     1.Counselor Responsibilities

Knowledge, skills, and skills of counselors is a key to the success of the counseling group. Counselor experiences in conducting individual counseling is often used as in determining the implementation of group counseling. Responsibilities of counselors in the counseling group in parallel with the responsibility of individual counseling situations.

Opinions and views the client as a whole is obtained from the counselor and member of the group interaction by providing the broadest opportunities to members to express himself according to his own in group activities.

George R. Bach (in Shetzer & Stone, 1981), suggested a few things that should be done and should not be done counselor Counselor who may be performed as follows:

a.     Trying to deepen the level of emotional clients in reflecting on her experiences.
Gives warning on a group of clients especially those concerned with constructive action, which is a manifestation of the capacity of aid to all people, of which he would be willing to grow and develop.

b.     Providing a service that is praised members of the group.

c.      Pay tribute to his leadership responsibilities, namely in the form of hope and promise or a threat to the group.

d.     Group contributed directly or keitidakmampuannya and democracy in clinical leadership, simply by giving advice which are all related to self-understanding.
Together to do what he wanted to know or understand, also his personal feelings, experiences, and values ​​in the group.

e.     Assisting clients in the group to warn of tolerance to different individuals, which they have enormous influence in the exercise

f.           Trying to measure precisely and correctly, SERT largely reflects the consensus group with a variety of topics.

g.     Learn the difference between the group's influence with the influence of individuals.
Have the authority to solve the problems that can be confusing or things that are puzzling.
Looking for a way out in achieving the goals of counseling, the welfare of each individual.
Reflect and strengthen the natural habits of a latent interest kelompok.tetapi usually has an influence that is consistent with the awareness of all the elements involved in the group.

h.     Researching, mengamatin, and respect for the constructive policy which is a manifestation unnoticed by the client himself.

i.       Accept its role to protect terapiutik which causes distress and can find other forms of communication with explicitly.

j.       Formulate a clear therapeutic objective to be achieved and hoped for, and likely to be achieved.

k.      Provides information about the structure of a steady personality, and the frequency of distrust, and continuously trying to make every client terapiutik selection, diagnosis and prognosis with a real need in the intenif psychotherapy.

l.           Accept the principles of social interdependence in the human personality.

m.    Conducting the assessment, recording and exchanging ideas with coworkers.

While the counselor should not be done, namely:

a.     Underestimating the client with a view to encouraging the unconscious and the motives of the client.

b.     Behave spontaneously in group therapy, especially for clients who have distortions of social behavior in group discussions.

c.      Encourage or reinforce the tendency of the habit of clients by directly using the authority and powers to heal the client.

d.     Liver disappointing clients with complex problems pathology (pathological denial), and normal relations with conformity.

e.     Allowing clients tend to have high spirit to suppress reality.

f.           Giving impetus to the client to conduct communications with the power, to suppress a whole group or society in general,

g.     Contributed to or act as a father in the group.

h.     Forgetting clients who have ended hubunan counseling.

     2. Responsibility of the client

Some of the role of group members in an effort to grow, develop, and turn the group are as follows:

a.     Encourager, which is encouraging, praising, approving, and accepting his ideas, show an attitude of warmth and solidarity of the group members.

b.     Harmonizer, which is mediating the conflicts that occur between members of the group, and tried to merge the differences of opinion, and reduce the tension group.

c.      Compromiser, ie trying to liquefy the conflicts in the group related to the problem of the position and status within the group. Admitting mistakes is done and willing to give up his position in the group Unk.

d.     Gatekeepers and expediter, which encourage and facilitate participation in other group members, open to remain as a good listener, and close and react to a problem.

e.     Standard setter or ego ideal, which standardize the expression of the group in trying to assess the quality of group process.

f.           Group observer and Comentator, which made a record of all activities and processes within the group contributed data to make interpretations of planning and evaluation group in accordance with proper procedure.

g.     Follower, which follow the activities of the group is continuously but passive. Serves as a good listener to what was raised by group members.

 
Some of the roles that should be avoided by members of the group, namely the role that is antio or damage tewrhadap group. Negative role are as follows:

a.     Aggresor, namely lowering the status of others, denounced what dieksprsikan someone else, divide the group, showing a sense of envy, and so on.

b.     Blcker, which is being stubborn, cranky, and to oppose anything that does not fit with the desire but not logically.

c.      Recognition sekeer, namely trying to get attention from other people for himself by his own pride, give information, details about his personal circumstances and his personal prowess.

d.     Self-Confressor, namely the group to express themselves utilizing personal, non Grou orientation, good feelings, insights, ideological or otherwise.

e.     Playboy, the one that showed kekurangterlibatan in cooperation with the group. Actions may be said to be shaped or cynicism, playing games, and behave rude and brutal.

f.           Dominator, the person who tried to use the authority and power to manipulate the group or some individuals in the group, licking and demanded to gain status.

From the above description, it appears that counselors as group leaders should be able to direct the group members in order to perform the duties and roles so well in the counseling group activities can be implemented and achieve the expected goals.

D. Destination Group Counselling

The goal of counseling groups according to Gibson & Mitchell (1981) objective is the achievement of a group counseling fulfillment purposes, and providing an experience of value for each group member. Meanwhile, according to Munro & Dinkmeyer summarize the goals of counseling groups are:

1. To help each group member to know and understand him, to assist with the search for identity.
2. As a result of self-understanding, to develop self-acceptance and personal feelings of worth.
3. To develop social skills and interpersonal skills that enable people to cope with developmental tasks in the field of personal and social.
4. To develop the ability to self-direction, problem solving, decision making and to transfer those skills into social contact and school.
5. To develop sensitivity to the needs of others and recognition of responsibility for their own behavior. To become more capable in identifying the feelings of people in addition to developing greater ability to be empathic.
6. To learn to be an empathetic listener who listens not only what is said but also the feelings that accompany what is said.
7. To be exact with him (being yourself = be your self)
8. To help each member to formulate specific goals that can be measured and observed for himself, to make a commitment towards the achievement of these goals.

E. Implementation of group counseling

Basically there are no fundamental differences in the implementation of individual counseling and group counseling. However, in certain cases there are several considerations that must be considered in conducting counseling groups, namely:

1. Selecting group members

Members of the group who will participate in group counseling should be considered and chosen carefully so that its implementation can be run in either. The members should have the common interest and an issue, a homogeneity in clustering seen from age, social maturity, pengalamandan forth. Besides, the client should be thinking about keingina for assistance, have the willingness to put forward an issue and the situation himself, and willing to participate in group

2. Group size

The number of group members can affect communication and interaction between them. Therefore, counselors should take into account the number of members in relation to the effectiveness of interaction in it. Usually between 5 to 8 members can be considered quite adequate. However, its implementation depends on the process and content of counseling

3. Old and frequency of meetings

Counselors hendeaknya into account how long and how often meetings take place. Usually ranges between 30 minutes to 1 hour samapi for each meeting, and can be done once a week or twice a week or two weeks.

4. The nature of the relationship

It should be noted right kind of relationship in the counseling process. What is the relationship terapiutik lies in the interaction between the members or by members of the counselor. There are two models with respect to the relationship, namely: the relationship centered on the members, and relationship-centered counselor

5. Develop and maintain relationships

In the implementation of group counseling, the counselor should be able to create and develop relationships between members of the counselor and between group members. The members should be cultivated in order for counseling each member may: (a) listening in depth, (b) helping others to speak, (c) discuss the problem, (d) to discuss feelings, (e) mengkonfrontisasi, (f) plan of action. .

6. Counselor responsibilities

Skills and confidence counselor is basically the key to success counseling group. Experience in counseling individuals can form the basis for the smooth working in groups. According to Kottler (Shertzer & Stone, 1980:369) counselor in group counseling skills include: (a) diagnosis, which found the problem and its background, (b) recognize, describe, and interpret the meaning behind the behavior of clients, (c) communicate with the members, (d) use humor and innovative strategies and to keep it interesting meeting, (e) varying the method for refreshing the needs of its members, and (f) dealing with members who do not behave accordingly.

7. Responsibilities of group members

In the counseling group members have specific responsibilities in the formation of groups, growth groups, implementation of group activities, and overcome the obstacles the group.

8. Having a group technique

Several groups of techniques that can be used in group counseling should be considered carefully, especially in the accuracy of the selection and implementation. Group techniques that can be used in counseling groups: (a) play a role, (b) change of role

F. Form of group counseling

1. T-Group

T-Group originally formed in 1947 by The Basic Skill Training of The Nation Tr aining Laboratory to develop interpersonal skills and sensitivity komnukasi. Participation in the T-group involved in an experience to learn from their own behavior. T-group was formed consisting of 10-12 people is structured to emphasize the patterns of interpersonal relationships and behavior.

There are three characteristics of the T-group, namely:

a. T-group as a learning laboratory

b. T-group to focus on how learning

c. T-group emphasis on ideas, feelings and reactions that immediately arise

2. Personal growth group

There are some other names for these types of groups designed to foster personal, namely: encounter, sensitivity, human awareness, and human potential. This group usually terbentu of 10-12 members and focused on members of the group by considering its implications for behavior outside the group. The purpose of this group is to provide assistance for personal growth, meningkatkankepekaan individual feelings and other people, and increase self awareness.

3. Consultation group of families

A form of counseling group called the consultative group of families (family group consultation) was formed to assist individuals who have an issue with family issues. In this consultation Taga or four counselors, a meeting place for interaction and communication between members of the family group to exchange information and experiences.

4. Group therapy

Group therapy is usually defined as the application of the principles terapiuti to two or more individuals simultaneously to clarify the psychological conflict so that they can return to normal. This therapy is usually directed to individuals who experience serious personal problems.

G. Group Counselling Processes

Prayitno suggested four stages of development in a counseling group that has certain characteristics, including: (a) Phase formation, (b) Phase transition, (c) Phase the implementation of activities, and (d) Phase termination

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1. Phase Formation

Establishment phase begins with efforts to foster interest for the formation of groups which includes providing an explanation of the group in question, the purpose and benefits of the group, an invitation to enter and follow the activity, and the possibility of opportunity and convenience for organizing the group in question.

Activities in formation stage are:

a. Recognition and disclosure purposes

In this stage the group leader needs to:

§   Describe the general objectives to be achieved through the activities of the group and explain ways that would be passed to reach goals

§   To put forward about yourself which is roughly the activities necessary for the group as well terselenggarakannya

§   Displays behavior and communication that contains the elements of respect for others, sincerity, warmth and empathy

 
b. The formation of togetherness

 The group leader must be able to cultivate an attitude of togetherness and perasaansekelompok, if initially the majority of group members are not willing to take the role and responsibilities in the involvement group, the task group leader is to stimulate and excite the whole group to be able to participate responsibly in group activities

c. Activity group leaders

The group leader needs to focus its efforts on:

§   An explanation of the purpose of activities

§   growing sense among the members know each other

§   growth of mutual trust and acceptance

§   Commencement of discussions about the behavior and atmosphere and the feeling in group

2. Phase transition

Having formed the group atmosphere and group dynamics has begun to grow, group activities should be under even further by the leader of the group headed into the actual activities ..

At this stage includes the following activities:

a. Atmosphere Activities

Before you go any further into the actual stage of group activities, group leaders explain what will be done by members of the group at this stage of further activities in this phase of group activity, that is the core activity of the whole activity. At this stage the leader explains the role of the group members in the group in question. Then the group leader asked if the members are ready to initiate further activities.

b. The mood imbalances

The mood imbalances in particular can color this intermediate stage, often a conflict or even a confrontation between members of the group leader. In these circumstances many members who feel depressed or anxious that cause their behavior is not as usual. In the face of such a group leader should not be off balance

c. Is a bridge between phase 1 and phase 2

3. Stage of implementation of activities

This stage is the actual life of the group. In this stage the group is really being led to the achievement of goals. This group is trying to produce something useful for its members. The group leader must be able to see well and can determine exactly the direction of every conversation.

Activities in this phase include:

a. Pengemukaan problems

Activities at this stage began with the problems suggested by group members. Each member of the group are free to express what is felt inappropriate or need to be discussed with the group.

b. Election issues

After all the problems contemplated together, the next activity is to discuss each problem one by one. The task group is to determine which issues will be discussed first.

c. Discussion of problems

 Once the issues to be addressed have been defined, the next step is to discuss the issue. Discussion carried out freely and dynamically. Pembahsan undertaken by all members should always be advanced and constructive.

4. Termination phase

At the time the group entered the stage of termination, kegaiatan group should focus on discussion and explanation of whether the members of the group will be able to apply the things they have learned in a group in real life everyday. Kelompiok leadership role here is to give reinforcement (reinforcement) on the results achieved by the group.

H. Evaluation

To determine the success of group counseling, group leader / assistant can perform the three stages of assessment:

1.     Assessment immediately (laiseg) is memperhstiksn bsgsimsns participation and commitment of each member in the group undergoing the process activities.

2.     Short stride assessment (laijapen) by considering the various changes in the behavior of each member of the group after one or two weeks.

3.     Long-term assessment (laijapang) with respect to a change in attitude and behavior or other capabilities at the end of the quarter or the end of the semester.

Study Library

Brammer, LM and LS Everett, 2001, Terapiutik Psycology: Fundamentals of Counseling and Psychology, EnglewoodCliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall Inc.

Carey, G and Corey, MS, 2001, Group: Process and Practice, Monterey, Calif.: Brooks / Cole Co.

Gazda, GM. 1999, Group Procedures with Children: A Developmental Approach, In Ohlsen (ed.), Counseling Children in group: A Forum, New Jersey: Prectice Hall

Nursalim Mochamad, 2001. Application of Group Counseling To Handle Problem Students in junior and SLTAdi surabaya, research report (unpublished), Institute Unesa research.

Prayitno, 1987, Professionalization of Counseling and Counselor Education, London: P2LPTK