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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Elements define the essential outcomes
  2. Plan for group counselling
  3. Develop a therapeutic alliance for interpersonal learning and change
  4. Manage the group counselling process
  5. Evaluate and reflect on group counselling

Performance Evidence

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:

planned, facilitated and evaluated at least 3 different group counselling sessions, each with a minimum group size of 5 people

facilitated sessions that individually or cumulatively involve:

sessions with varied goals

participants of different genders ages

participants with different issues and challenges

managed the group counselling process according to established group work principles using the following communication and counselling skills:

challenging

collaboration

conflict resolution

different styles of group leadership

effective non-verbal communication

empathetic responding

focusing

listening

negotiation

paraphrasing

reframing

questioning

summarising

techniques for maintaining group cohesion

completed a structured process of evaluation and reflection for at least 3 group counselling sessions.


Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:

legal and ethical considerations for group counselling work, and how these are applied in organisations and individual practice:

codes of conduct

discrimination

duty of care

ethical dilemmas in practice, and processes for ethical decision-making

mandatory reporting

practitioner client boundaries and implications of unequal balance of power

privacy, confidentiality and disclosure, including limitations

records management

work role boundaries – responsibilities and limitations of group interventions

work health and safety, including:

stress management

supervision requirements for group counselling work

nature of complex interpersonal interactions and relationship, including:

abuse

conflict

power balances

how these play out in group situations

systemic therapeutic group work interventions and their application and evidence base:

cognitive/behavioural

solution focused

systemic approaches

mutual aid model

strengths, limitations, and contraindications of specific group counselling models, including risks of harm associated with models that incorporate assumptions of family dysfunction, pathogenesis, or cultural deficit

how group counselling may be used at the:

individual level

sub group level

whole-of-group level

processes, practices and factors for consideration in selecting participants for group counselling

types of information and supports needed to prepare participants for group counselling

models, theories, principles and practices of group work, including:

establishing agreements about how the group will operate and guidelines for behaviour

different stages of group development

different types of group leadership

uses and abuse of group techniques

responses to disclosures in groups

management of conflict and challenging behaviour

strategies for learning and change

transference and counter transference issues that arise in group counselling and how to manage these

group and individual defences and how these can be managed

communication and counselling techniques and how they are applied in the group process:

challenging

collaboration

conflict resolution

effective non-verbal communication

empathetic responding

focusing

listening

negotiation

paraphrasing

reframing

questioning

summarising

factors that affect the dynamics of a group, including:

attempted sabotage of process

avoidance of discussion of conflict

challenging feedback

conflict between or among participants/ facilitators

group splitting

inappropriate use of behaviour or relationships

manipulation of other participants

challenges and mistakes in leading counselling groups and strategies for how to address and avoid these

methods for measuring effectiveness of group counselling interventions

role of reflective practice and the nature of a counselling reflective practice framework

referral sources for group members in need of additional services

role and importance of self awareness and influence of own beliefs and attitudes.