Group Counseling: A Developmental Approach

Group counseling has become the preferred term to describe "counseling with more than one individual simultaneously (Gazda, Duncan, & Mea dows, 1967). " There is still some confusion between group guidance, group counseling, and group psychotherapy but it appears to be abating. (My distinctions will be given later on in this paper.) There is no clear cut evolution of group counseling; however, it was used in print by Dr. R. D. Allen as early as 1931. In this journal article, Dr. Allen (1931) used the term interchangeably with group guidance and case-conference. The context in which Allen used the term suggests that he was describing what we now call group guidance. A study of the various movements or disciplines which have contributed to the development and evolution of group counseling reveals the following: group psychotherapy, child guidance, vocational guidance, social casework, and group work (Gazda, 1968b). Late arrivals on the scene which hold great promise for positively affecting group counseling are group dynamics an