Theoretical concepts of a working therapeutic group

Includes bibliographical references (page 72)As I near the completion of my formal education, I would certainly be a fool if I did not arrive at a theoretical basis from which I can put into practice what my education has helped me learn. This principle applies to all areas of counseling which I intend to practice (and have, to some extent, already begun to experience as a working reality.) For purposes of this paper, I can reasonably approach only one area of counseling. I have chosen the group process as my area of concentration. I must add that, by so selecting, I am not claiming, now would I want to claim, that group interaction is the only form of counseling which is of value. Certainly such areas as individual, family, child, and marriage counseling are of equal importance. Furthermore, in many instances, group counseling can be effectively combined with any of the above mentioned areas, as is often the case. In attempting to arrive at some basic theoretical concepts about the workings of a group, I plan to utilize various resources. Reading can be of tremendous help, and I feel that such a rich resource must not be over-looked, although I do not intend to attempt to summarize in any great detail such an immense wealth of literature, especially since it is readily available to anyone interested. Therefore, I would prefer to draw some basic conclusions which I have arrived at during the course of my reading. This is also a useful approach since literature on groups is constantly expanding, and any summary I could formulate now would quickly become outdated. In addition, I must honestly say that my reading on the subject has just begun, and will be continued as long as I am involved in the counseling process. Just as the doctor who has failed to keep up with current literature in his field has limited his practice and knowledge of medicine, so too would the counselor who failed to take advantage of new information as it becomes available. I don't wish to place myself in this stagnated category. (See more in text.