The Power of Groups: Solution-Focused Group Counseling in Schools / Edition 1

by Leslie A. Cooley

Overview

Research-based and practical, this guide gives school professionals the theory and knowledge to adapt solution-focused brief counseling for student groups on any topic, curriculum, or grade level.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781412970969
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	06/01/2009
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Leslie Cooley worked as a school psychologist in public schools for 20 years. Initially hired in 1978 to facilitate counseling groups, she approached the task with enthusiasm and massive naivete as she had little training in group counseling. Based on her natural optimism and easy way of relating to students, she developed a variety of skills and techniques that were closely related to the later work of the innovators of solution-focused counseling.

That was 1978 to 1983. Since that time, Cooley has earned a Ph D and is a licensed clinical psychologist in California. In the 1990s, she transitioned from working in the schools to teaching at the graduate level in school psychology at California State University, Sacramento. Her mission was to surreptitiously infiltrate the school system with what were once radical ideas about building on strengths. In that, she has been successful… successfully mainstream! Solution-focused strategies are no longer radical, and books like Seligman’s Positive Psychology have become bestsellers. Cooley continues to do a limited psychotherapy practice with a focus on families and she continues to believe that most of the problems kids develop can be successfully managed at the school level, where any intervention is less intrusive than a referral to someone outside the school.

As a graduate school trainer in school psychology, Cooley has been teaching group counseling to school psychologists for over a decade. She is systematically robbing graduate students of the character-building experience that she had scrambling to learn to run groups in the schools. However, in the schools today, there is plenty to scramble about already!

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
Summary
5. Adapting Group Curriculum Material: Specific Strategies
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

Editorial Reviews

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

"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

"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

The book is a pleasure to read, extremely informative, and helpful. The author is clearly an expert on the topic and is able to teach and write to the reader with ease. The organization and content of this book teaches a skill in a way that makes the reader feel empowered.

Cynthia Knowles

"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

"Cooley provides the nuts and bolts of creating and leading solution-focused counseling groups in this succinct and highly readable book. A must for all those wanting to develop their skills in this area!

Rhonda Cash

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