group therapy in practice

Value: 10%
Due: End of Week 8
The following assignment requires you to read and demonstrate your understanding of the material in Chapter 7 of the text (Hanser etal, 2011). The primary focus of this assignment is in the required reading for this module. There are several stages in the assignment.
Setting the Scene
You are a correctional counsellor, well established in a men’s institution. Although you are new to group work, you are skilled in addictions counselling and you have extensive training in domestic violence. You’ve decided to start a group counselling session for up to five inmates, focused on abuse. Other counsellors have provided you with a list of possible names. The candidates, with brief biographies, are listed in the following table. They all have issues with drug or alcohol abuse, and have recorded domestic assaults as part of their past. All have previous records of violence, and all have voluntarily agreed to be part of the group.
Name
Offence/Sentence
Other Comments
Sammy G.
Robbery with violence, 10 years, release date May 2016
Known gang member suspected of being an enforcer. Average intelligence, no known relatives, physically intimidating, and loud boisterous manner.
Ron F.
Assault W/Intent, 6 years, release date May 2015
Multi-addiction (drugs, alcohol, and gambling). Makes living by gambling. Possible Aryan Nations member
Jake S.
Assault (3 counts), 5 years, release date Sept. 2015
Quiet, watchful man, almost timid. Somewhat reluctant to participate but knows he must to get a chance at parole. First Nations.
Karl Q.
Manslaughter, 18 years, release date, January 2020
Longest record of any group member, escalating from petty theft to current offense over a life of crime. Suspected of muscling in the institution; others seem afraid of him.
Les L.
Discharge firearm with intent to injure, 6 years, release date December 2014
Attempted to shoot himself and his girlfriend at the tail end of a long period of drunkenness. First violent offense.
Questions
Complete the assignment by answering the following questions. Please provide as much detail as you can. You may use the text as your primary reference, but at least one other reference is required. Reference your sources in the text of your assignment, and provide a bibliography at the end of the assignment. The answer to each question is worth 5 marks.
From what you know about this setting and the group members, what concerns and issues might you have about this group?

Define the group. How will you structure it? What will be it’s purpose? How long will it run? Provide a rationale for these decisions

In the initial meeting, your first task will be to educate the participants about the group purpose. What will you tell them in this orientation, and how will you explain what is going to happen

What rules will you establish for this group? List at least 5 ground rules. How will you establish them?

What conflicts might you expect from the makeup of this group?

By the second session, you notice that Jake S. has pulled his chair back a few inches so he is not quite part of the circle. He says little, and his expression gives nothing away. He deflects questions addressed to him. How will you address this in the group?

From the outset, Sammy G. dominates the group. He interrupts, talks over other group members, uses scorn and sarcasm. You can see others discretely rolling their eyes when he gets going. How will you deal with this?

Describe your role in the group. Be specific.

Assuming the group reaches the final session successfully, what will you say or do to terminate the group in a constructive way?

Provide a Bibliography of references for this assignment. (0 marks for only the text, 3 marks for one additional reference, 5 marks for 2 additional references)

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