Introduction
In the context of a group, it is important to develop a group proposal for various reasons. Group proposal is a document that provides insights about the central elements of group counseling.
It pinpoints the major aspects that a group aims to undertake in counseling and practice. This paper seeks to highlight the importance of group proposal during group counseling.
Importance of group proposal
According to Meyer (2003), group proposal is an important tool that provides the group with an overview of what to expect during the entire counseling session. At the outset, it gives the group leader an opportunity to understand the members of the group and their respective needs.
It introduces the counselor to the major expectations of the members facilitating the ability to ensure that the counseling session is in line with the expectations and needs of group members. It is the group proposal that allows the counselor to streamline his/her objectives regarding the entire therapeutic session.
Corey et al. (2010) articulates that the counselor is able to understand the members whose objectives are similar and as such, categorize them as such.
Second, a group proposal provides vital elements behind the rationale that individuals come together to resolve. It is through the group proposal that the rationale of the entire session comes into the mind of the counselor.
The rationale of the group proposal helps the counselor to understand some ethical considerations to take into account during the entire group therapy. To that end, such issues as creation of rapport and trust are addressed even before the beginning of group counseling.
In addition, the rationale allows the members of the group to manage their expectations which leads to a successful therapeutic sessions.
As elucidated by Corey et al. (2010), lack of uniform comprehension of the entire rationale of group counseling leads to distorted and fragmented expectations from the members making it hard for the counselor to address all issues that may arise during the actual group sessions.
Third, group proposal provides the objectives of group counseling. Objectives of group counseling are important for all the stakeholders since they allow the members and the counselor to understand the needs and the anticipated outcomes of the group.
To that end, it is imperative to highlight that a group proposal also highlights the logistical issues that may emerge within a group and understand the resources that are necessary to carry out the counseling process. It also provides information regarding the group content and evaluation procedure.
According to Corey et al. (2010), evaluation of group performance is important since it measures the extent to which the group has achieved the objectives and goals.
Finally, group proposal outlines the major processes underlying the group counseling process. This implies the group members get a glimpse of the way the counseling process will occur making it possible for them to understand the content prior to the actual group counseling.
Nonetheless, Corey et al. (2010) articulates that the counselor should be wary of group dynamics where members may not necessarily welcome the idea of understanding the content prior to the entire group counseling.
Conclusion
In sum, group proposal is an important tool before establishing a group counseling session. It highlights the rationale, objectives, composition of the group and logistical issues that pertains to the group besides, it provides the content and research questions that are necessary during the evaluation of group performance.
References
Corey, M.S., Corey, G., & Corey, C. (2010). Groups: Process and Practice. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.
Meyer, I. (2003). Prejudice, Social Stress, and Mental Health in Lesbian, Gay, and bisexual populations: conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 129 (5), 674-697.