Confidence During Group Counseling Sessions

[MHCStudent]

Hi everyone!!

I am currently a second year, second semester Mental Health Counseling student. I am currently an intern at a Sex Offender Treatment Program.

The program emphasizes group therapy, and I co-facilitate several of these sessions with my supervisor. I am really struggling with speaking up during the group sessions when giving feedback to the clients.

My anxiety stems from several sources: general group anxiety, concerns about being taken seriously due to my age, apprehension regarding my supervisor's feedback, and potential challenges related to being a female in male-dominated groups.

Any tips, tricks, comments, constructive feedback is much appreciated!!!

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[Counselingrad]

Hi!

I would like to validate that I think it is very common to feel anxious when starting to run groups! You might have done this already, but I wonder if it would feel comfortable for you to talk about these concerns with your supervisor, especially around the general group anxiety, and the identity related concerns. I am imagining that your supervisor was not immediately comfortable in this role either. If you feel comfortable I might also process with your supervisor what comes up for you when you feel like you want to offer feedback in group and don't or what happens when you do.

Perhaps you could start by intervening in more structured ways. For example if there is a check-in maybe you ask your co-facilitator if you could lead that. As you build more comfort in facilitating the more structured interventions maybe then you can challenge yourself to provide one process comment a session.

Small ideas, but I hope some of this is helpful! You are doing great!

 

[chicandtoughness]

Posting this a little late but hopefully it’s still useful for you! I absolutely LOVE groups and would just run those full time if I could and never see patients individually 😂

The biggest cheat code is to remember why they’re in groups to begin with. Yes, it’s cheaper and more time efficient to therapize 12 people at once instead of 1. But also, the power of group lies in the interpersonal quality of it: they get to practice in vivo what it is like to be affected by, butt heads with, and feel emotions from other people.

So whenever I’ve stuck in a group, don’t know what to say, or am anxious, I use that. I connect ideas from members of the group, or ask the group to help engage in giving feedback or moving the conversation in the direction they want.

“John, that’s really insightful. What you just mentioned reminds me of what Andrew just said about feeling secondary shame. Andrew, can you connect with what John is saying?)”

“How does the group feel about this idea Billy brought up about self reflection? Does anyone else have a similar thing they do to reflect on their pain?”

“You’re right, Caleb, the DEARMAN method is super helpful when trying to ask for a need from someone else. How about we practice that skill now with another member of the group, and we can all help give you feedback?”

Don’t work too hard 😉 let the group synergy do its magic. Good luck!

 

[R. Matey]

My anxiety stems from several sources: general group anxiety, concerns about being taken seriously due to my age, apprehension regarding my supervisor's feedback, and potential challenges related to being a female in male-dominated groups.

Talk with your supervisor about your anxiety if they are a safe person to do so (they likely can tell that you are anxious). From there, you two may be able make a plan to address speaking out in group.