The Power of Groups

Solution-Focused Group Counseling in Schools
Leslie A. Cooley - California State University Sacramento
The Power of Groups
May 2009 | 192 pages | Corwin
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ISBN: 9781452273518
Available from January 0001
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ISBN: 9781412970976
Available from January 0001

Description

"A valuable addition to the growing conversation about solution-focused practice in schools. Cooley provides the nuts and bolts of solution-focused group work with students of all ages."
—John J. Murphy, Professor of Psychology
University of Central Arkansas

"The book is a pleasure to read, extremely informative, and helpful. The organization and content teaches a skill in a way that makes the reader feel empowered."
—Cynthia Knowles, Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist and Consultant

A fresh, dynamic approach to build on students' strengths and encourage positive mental health.

Solution-focused brief counseling helps students improve their well-being by concentrating on goals and solutions rather than dwelling on problems. This resource shows how to use this highly effective approach for group counseling sessions so that students can dialogue and learn alongside their peers.

Research-based and practical, this unique guide gives school professionals the foundational theory and knowledge to adapt solution-focused group counseling techniques for any topic, curriculum, or grade level. Readers will find:

  • Case studies of real students encountering real problems
  • Forms, permissions slips, and sample letters for starting a group
  • "Do This" and "Avoid This" sections
  • Sample agendas for elementary, middle, and high school levels, complete with activities, session scripts, and discussion questions

Help students address common issues by creating lively, engaging group meetings using this powerful, goal-oriented methodology.

Contents

Preface

Preface

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Author

  • 1. Creating Change One Group at a Time
  • Facilitating Change
  • An Equation for Change
  • The Importance of a Theoretical Model
  • Choosing a Foundation: An Exploration of Models
  • Practitioner Training
  • Summary
  • 2. Solution-Focused Counseling: A Primer
  • The School as a System
  • The Assumptions of Solution-Focused Brief Counseling
  • Conclusions
  • Summary
  • 3. Turning a Solution-Focused Attitude Into Practice
  • What Happens if I Do Something Wrong?
  • Techniques and Strategies of Solution-Focused Counseling
  • Summary
  • 4. Adapting Group Curriculum Material: General Principles
  • Choosing an Activity
  • Make It Your Own
  • Creating a Safe Environment
  • Creating a Safe Environment
  • Summary
  • 5. Adapting Group Curriculum Material: Specific Strategies
  • Group Discussion
  • Group Discussion
  • Goal Setting
  • The Role of Questions
  • Summary
  • 6. From Ideas to Action: Planning and Preparation
  • Getting Referrals
  • Permission Letters
  • Setting Up the Group
  • Pre- and Postevaluation Surveys
  • Handling Pressure
  • Summary
  • 7. From Ideas to Action: Getting the Group Up and Running
  • At the First Meeting
  • Keeping the Group Afloat
  • Successful Ways to End a Group
  • Summary
  • 8. Group Agendas: A Sampling
  • Elementary Level: Making Friends, Sessions 1 Through 3
  • Middle School: Handling Pressure, Sessions 4 Through 6
  • High School: Making Decisions and Life Goals, Sessions 7 Through 9
  • Summary
  • 9. Troubleshooting
  • Potential Snags
  • Intervention Ideas
  • Self-Evaluation
  • Summary
  • 10. The Power of Groups
  • The Students
  • The Process
  • The Leader

References

References

Index

Index

Additional materials

Description

"A valuable addition to the growing conversation about solution-focused practice in schools. Cooley provides the nuts and bolts of solution-focused group work with students of all ages."
—John J. Murphy, Professor of Psychology
University of Central Arkansas

"The book is a pleasure to read, extremely informative, and helpful. The organization and content teaches a skill in a way that makes the reader feel empowered."
—Cynthia Knowles, Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist and Consultant

A fresh, dynamic approach to build on students' strengths and encourage positive mental health.

Solution-focused brief counseling helps students improve their well-being by concentrating on goals and solutions rather than dwelling on problems. This resource shows how to use this highly effective approach for group counseling sessions so that students can dialogue and learn alongside their peers.

Research-based and practical, this unique guide gives school professionals the foundational theory and knowledge to adapt solution-focused group counseling techniques for any topic, curriculum, or grade level. Readers will find:

  • Case studies of real students encountering real problems
  • Forms, permissions slips, and sample letters for starting a group
  • "Do This" and "Avoid This" sections
  • Sample agendas for elementary, middle, and high school levels, complete with activities, session scripts, and discussion questions

Help students address common issues by creating lively, engaging group meetings using this powerful, goal-oriented methodology.

Contents

Preface

Preface

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Author

  • 1. Creating Change One Group at a Time
  • Facilitating Change
  • An Equation for Change
  • The Importance of a Theoretical Model
  • Choosing a Foundation: An Exploration of Models
  • Practitioner Training
  • Summary
  • 2. Solution-Focused Counseling: A Primer
  • The School as a System
  • The Assumptions of Solution-Focused Brief Counseling
  • Conclusions
  • Summary
  • 3. Turning a Solution-Focused Attitude Into Practice
  • What Happens if I Do Something Wrong?
  • Techniques and Strategies of Solution-Focused Counseling
  • Summary
  • 4. Adapting Group Curriculum Material: General Principles
  • Choosing an Activity
  • Make It Your Own
  • Creating a Safe Environment
  • Creating a Safe Environment
  • Summary
  • 5. Adapting Group Curriculum Material: Specific Strategies
  • Group Discussion
  • Group Discussion
  • Goal Setting
  • The Role of Questions
  • Summary
  • 6. From Ideas to Action: Planning and Preparation
  • Getting Referrals
  • Permission Letters
  • Setting Up the Group
  • Pre- and Postevaluation Surveys
  • Handling Pressure
  • Summary
  • 7. From Ideas to Action: Getting the Group Up and Running
  • At the First Meeting
  • Keeping the Group Afloat
  • Successful Ways to End a Group
  • Summary
  • 8. Group Agendas: A Sampling
  • Elementary Level: Making Friends, Sessions 1 Through 3
  • Middle School: Handling Pressure, Sessions 4 Through 6
  • High School: Making Decisions and Life Goals, Sessions 7 Through 9
  • Summary
  • 9. Troubleshooting
  • Potential Snags
  • Intervention Ideas
  • Self-Evaluation
  • Summary
  • 10. The Power of Groups
  • The Students
  • The Process
  • The Leader

References

References

Index

Index

Additional materials

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The Power of Groups

Solution-Focused Group Counseling in Schools

Leslie A. Cooley
Cancel Print

May 2009 | 192 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Paperback 01/01/2025 9781412970976 $40.95
Hardcover 27/02/2023 9781412970969 $80.95
Lifetime 01/01/2025 9781452273518 $37.00

"A valuable addition to the growing conversation about solution-focused practice in schools. Cooley provides the nuts and bolts of solution-focused group work with students of all ages."
—John J. Murphy, Professor of Psychology
University of Central Arkansas

"The book is a pleasure to read, extremely informative, and helpful. The organization and content teaches a skill in a way that makes the reader feel empowered."
—Cynthia Knowles, Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist and Consultant

A fresh, dynamic approach to build on students' strengths and encourage positive mental health.

Solution-focused brief counseling helps students improve their well-being by concentrating on goals and solutions rather than dwelling on problems. This resource shows how to use this highly effective approach for group counseling sessions so that students can dialogue and learn alongside their peers.

Research-based and practical, this unique guide gives school professionals the foundational theory and knowledge to adapt solution-focused group counseling techniques for any topic, curriculum, or grade level. Readers will find:

  • Case studies of real students encountering real problems
  • Forms, permissions slips, and sample letters for starting a group
  • "Do This" and "Avoid This" sections
  • Sample agendas for elementary, middle, and high school levels, complete with activities, session scripts, and discussion questions

Help students address common issues by creating lively, engaging group meetings using this powerful, goal-oriented methodology.


Table Of Contents:

  • Preface
  • Acknowledgments
  • About the Author
  • 1. Creating Change One Group at a Time
  • Facilitating Change
  • An Equation for Change
  • The Importance of a Theoretical Model
  • Choosing a Foundation: An Exploration of Models
  • Practitioner Training
  • Summary
  • 2. Solution-Focused Counseling: A Primer
  • The School as a System
  • The Assumptions of Solution-Focused Brief Counseling
  • Conclusions
  • Summary
  • 3. Turning a Solution-Focused Attitude Into Practice
  • What Happens if I Do Something Wrong?
  • Techniques and Strategies of Solution-Focused Counseling
  • Summary
  • 4. Adapting Group Curriculum Material: General Principles
  • Choosing an Activity
  • Make It Your Own
  • Creating a Safe Environment
  • Creating a Safe Environment
  • Summary
  • 5. Adapting Group Curriculum Material: Specific Strategies
  • Group Discussion
  • Group Discussion
  • Goal Setting
  • The Role of Questions
  • Summary
  • 6. From Ideas to Action: Planning and Preparation
  • Getting Referrals
  • Permission Letters
  • Setting Up the Group
  • Pre- and Postevaluation Surveys
  • Handling Pressure
  • Summary
  • 7. From Ideas to Action: Getting the Group Up and Running
  • At the First Meeting
  • Keeping the Group Afloat
  • Successful Ways to End a Group
  • Summary
  • 8. Group Agendas: A Sampling
  • Elementary Level: Making Friends, Sessions 1 Through 3
  • Middle School: Handling Pressure, Sessions 4 Through 6
  • High School: Making Decisions and Life Goals, Sessions 7 Through 9
  • Summary
  • 9. Troubleshooting
  • Potential Snags
  • Intervention Ideas
  • Self-Evaluation
  • Summary
  • 10. The Power of Groups
  • The Students
  • The Process
  • The Leader
  • References
  • Index

Recent Product Reviews:

“This book provides not only a practical foundation for strength-based, solution-focused group counseling, but also insights that can be generalized to enhance all our interactions with students and staff. For those well seasoned in SFBC and those new to this orientation, it is a exceptional resource for creating change.”
Sandi Miller, School Psychologist, Western Placer Unified School District, Lincoln, CA
"Provides both theoretical grounding and practical instruction, including multiple case examples, sample wording, and forms to help put into practice this strength-based and goal-oriented approach. This is an ideal text for both graduate-level courses in counseling and for the busy professional searching for a text grounded in theory yet brimming with practicality."
Melissa Holland, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Faculty, California State University, Sacramento
"A valuable addition to the growing conversation about solution-focused practice in schools. Cooley provides the nuts and bolts of solution-focused group work with students of all ages. Packed with practical ideas and materials."
John J. Murphy, Professor of Psychology, University of Central Arkansas
“The book does a credible job of covering SFBC foundations and group counseling tenets and then blending the two into a comprehensive and immensely practical resource. A thorough presentation of basics for beginning counselors and a review for experienced counselors.”
Katy Olweilier, Counselor, Lakeside School, Seattle, WA
"Beginning counselors will appreciate the ways to ensure the success of counseling groups and the many examples that illustrate the tenets of solution-focused group counseling. Experienced counselors will add to their repertoires of counseling skills and techniques. Solution-focused counseling provides a positive, proactive way of assisting individuals in finding answers to their questions.”
Bernita L. Krumm, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership, Oklahoma State University

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