Group Counselling and Psychotherapy

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved

Course Description Version:8.00

Study Course Accepted:03.01.2023 16:16:21

Study Course Information
Course Code:		VPUPK_154		LQF level:		Level 7
Credit Points:		2.00		ECTS:		3.00
Branch of Science:		Psychology		Target Audience:		Psychology
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:		Aelita Vagale
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:		Department of Health Psychology and Paedagogy
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:		Riga, 5 J. Asara Street, vppkrsu[pnkts]lv, +37167061587
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		4	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		8
Classes (count)		8	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		16
Total Contact Hours								24
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Professional activity of a psychologist, psychological counselling, clinical health psychology.
Objective:
Theoretically and practically acquire knowledge and skills in group selection and group counselling in the field of health behaviour; to improve group research and counselling methods in the group management process in various professional environments; to develop the ability to apply counselling skills in a group on health behaviour issues, to improve knowledge, skills and competence in organising and leading different types of groups for client groups of different ages and with various problems.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	Group and its members. Diversity of groups. Advantages and limitations of group work. Aims and tasks of the group. Selection of group members. Group composition and cultural competence issues. Norms and rules in the group.			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
2	Group leader as a personality. General professional competencies of the team leader and professional identity. Group leader and group management. Group leader roles and management styles. Difficulties of young group leaders and overcoming them. Basic principles of ethics and professional competence as part of professional ethics.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
3	Group process. Group dynamics. Therapeutic factors. Stages of group development.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
4	Group counselling skills training, group management methods and techniques in a structured assignment. Analysis of group processes, feedback on their own and other students’ work.			Classes		8.00	auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
Active participation in practical classes, independent study of theoretical sources of literature. Preparation for the implementation of the group counselling task in the study group. Requirements: Preparation and management of an informative educational group on a specific topic related to health behaviour (the topic is agreed with the lecturer) in the study environment. Preparation of a plan of 10 sessions on a specific topic, using the latest research and theoretical sources. The plan describes the theory of the main topic of the group and the topics of 10 sessions according to the goal of the group. The description includes: group topic, goals, a short theoretical description of the type and topic of the group, reference to research, a detailed plan of the 3rd lesson with a time reference for the tasks. After the study assignment – group management in the study environment, the “Feedback page” is filled in according to the given sample.
Assessment Criteria:
Examination task: 1. Previously prepared and submitted plan of 10 group lessons according to the specified sample (sent to e-mail). 2. One informative educational (third) lesson (45 min.) conducted for a group of students in the presence of a lecturer. 3. Positive feedback received from the participants of the student group and the lecturer. 4. A feedback page on own skills as a group leader filled in according to the given sample and submitted (sent to e-mail) about own as a group leader skills according to the given sample at the following class.
Final Examination (Full-Time):		Exam
Final Examination (Part-Time):
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:		Students define group counselling and its basic principles in the field of health behaviour, define indications for group counselling, describe the similarities and differences of individual and group counselling in different professional environments. Describe the basic principles for group formation and identify group processes. Understand therapeutic factors and the need to plan/ structure a group process. List the roles and tasks of the group leader.
Skills:		Students integrate the acquired knowledge into the process of the study group, conducting a structured group task for an informative and educational group in the presence of a lecturer. Initially within the training task, demonstrate the ability to conclude a group contract. Use group counselling skills, methods and techniques in a structured task. Analyse group processes and group dynamics in managing their own and other students’ group work, justify their opinion with theoretical knowledge.
Competencies:		Students create and independently prepare a group plan for a certain number of sessions for an informative educational group in the field of health behaviour and demonstrate group counselling skills. Students have experience in applying counselling skills in a study group, are able to use the acquired group counselling skills in one of the professional environments; develop their skills by supervising their activities. Have experience of self-reflection.
Clinical Skills:
No.	Skill					Level
1	Application of the body language and facial expression in consulting					B2 - Intermediate level
2	Application of voice and speech qualities in consulting					B2 - Intermediate level
3	Asking questions					B2 - Intermediate level
4	Confrontation					B2 - Intermediate level
5	Discrepancies					B2 - Intermediate level
6	Eye contact in consulting					B2 - Intermediate level
7	Eye contact in group counseling					B2 - Intermediate level
8	Encouraging					B2 - Intermediate level
9	Focusing					B2 - Intermediate level
10	Group contract					B2 - Intermediate level
11	Hear key words					B2 - Intermediate level
12	I/ Others noticing statements					B2 - Intermediate level
13	Instruction					B2 - Intermediate level
14	Noticing of body language in counseling					B2 - Intermediate level
15	Noticing of facial expressions in counseling					B2 - Intermediate level
16	Observation in counselling					B2 - Intermediate level
17	Paraphrasing					B2 - Intermediate level
18	Pause of silence					B2 - Intermediate level
19	Professional self-reflection in consulting					B2 - Intermediate level
20	Psychoeducation					B2 - Intermediate level
21	Recommendations					B2 - Intermediate level
22	Self-disclosure in consulting					B2 - Intermediate level
23	Self-help; Self-care					B2 - Intermediate level
24	Structuring the session / consultation					B2 - Intermediate level
25	Summarizing					B2 - Intermediate level
Bibliography
No.	Reference
Required Reading
1	Bite, I., Mārtinsone, K., & Sudraba, V. (Sast.). (2016). Konsultēšanas un psihoterapijas teorija un prakse. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC
2	Sudraba, V., Mārtinsone, K. (2019). Grupu psiholoģiskā konsultēšana un psihoterapija. Rīga : Rīgas Stradiņa universitāte
Additional Reading
1	Brown, R. (2004). Group Processes: Dynamics Within and Between Groups. London: Blackwell Publishing.
2	Delucia-Waack, J.L., Gerrity, D.A. Kolodner, C.R. & Riva, M.T. (Eds.) (2004). Handbook of Group Counseling and Psychotherapy. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.
3	Кочюнас, Р. (2000). Психотерапевтические группы: теория и практика. Академический проект.
4	Mārtinsone, K., & Mihailova, S. (Sast.). (2017). Supervīzija: teorija un prakse. Rīga: RSU
5	Рудестам, К. (2012). Груповая психотерапия.СПб: Питер.
6	Whitaker, D. (2001). Using Groups to Help People. (2nd ed)., New York: Routledge.
Other Information Sources
1	International Journal of Group Psychotherapy
2	Journal of Personality and Social Psychology