One of the most significant understandings we want you to grasp about group counseling is that it is not enough for the group leader to respond with empathy or to ask, “Who else in the group has felt like group member X?” Instead, a critical piece of what makes group counseling truly unique from individual counseling is that what happens within group is often a microversion of how that group member acts outside of the group. For example, you may refer to Gray and Rubel’s 2018 article, “‘Sticking Together’: The Adolescent Experience of the Cohesion Process in Rural School Counseling Groups,” and the overarching critical need for a sense of belonging both in groups and in life. Describe how you will ensure that when you are working as a group counselor, you will remember to connect what has happened in the group to the outside takeaway for group members. Be as specific as possible as you reflect on this critical aspect for the course.
