(2022). Groupthink in Counselor Education: “Don’t Say Gay” and the Visibly Invisible Heterosexism of the Academy. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work: Vol. 47, No. 2, pp. 83-89.

ABSTRACT We examined participant experiences of the 7-week Fishing for Wellness (FFW) nature-based group counseling protocol. Eleven white adult male and female clients aged 27–73 years (M = 47.8, SD = 14.3) completed semi-structured interviews in exploring contextual factors impacting participation, self-reported change, and possible elements within FFW contributing to that change. Data were analyzed

(2022). Group Work Practice Articles: Recommendations for Manuscript Development. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work: Vol. 47, No. 1, pp. 1-9.

ABSTRACT The United States remains the top host of international college students globally. Within the counseling literature, international college students’ acculturative experiences and characteristics are often studied through the lens of the medical model. This gap lends itself to opportunities for a paradigm shift in group counseling practice to foster their wellbeing, by building on their existing

ABSTRACT Literature highlights the long-term effects of bullying and interpersonal cruelty, including symptoms of trauma and shame. Although scholars have encouraged the development of trauma-informed group interventions for adults with a history of bullying, they have yet to be developed. This article introduces The Creative Arts Personal Growth Group: Transforming Fear and Shame with Compassion,

(2021). Specialist in Group Work? The Journal for Specialists in Group Work: Vol. 46, No. 4, pp. 291-293.

ABSTRACT The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has sparked new challenges that disrupt both individual daily routines and the collective ability for people to collaborate through group work. As the necessity of technological integration expands throughout all occupational fields, group workers and helping professional must also adapt to new virtual landscapes. The ten tips included in this article were

ABSTRACT This interpretive qualitative study investigated relationships and relational processes that facilitate social connection in a group-therapy intervention for Syrian refugees in Jordan. Drawing from grounded theory analytical methods, a core relational process, sharing stories eases pain, was derived from the data to explain how group members came to develop close, caring relationships, which

ABSTRACT This 2021 document provides a principled framework for group work grounded in the rich history of the Association for Specialists in Group Work. Here, group workers and scholars can find a contemporary integration of ethical practice, contextual perspectives, and organizational values intended to guide group practitioners and scholars from varied disciplines and with varied purposes. Group

(2021). Assessment and Research Standards in Group Work: A Call to Action for Counselors, Counselor Educators, and Researchers. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work: Vol. 46, No. 3, pp. 235-237.

ABSTRACT The Standards of Care for Assessment in Group Work represent a collaborative effort between the Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling (AARC) and the Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW). The purpose of these standards is to address the distinctive aspects of group work assessment that group workers often overlook and may lead to ineffective or invalid assessment

ABSTRACT The Standards of Care for Research in Group Work were developed in partnership between the Association for Assessment in Research in Counseling (AARC) and the Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW). The purpose of these standards is to highlight empirically validated and literature-supported practices for conducting research in group work, as there are methodological and design considerations

ABSTRACT The focus of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Student Success Skills group counseling (SSSGC) intervention with grade 9 students identified as at risk to dropout. This study analyzed two years of non-identifiable student data (N = 167) collected by school counselors at one high school in south Florida. An analysis of covariance was used to determine differences in academic

ABSTRACT The authors explored the impact of a nine-week group experience on counselor-trainees by analyzing their weekly mind maps using consensual qualitative research. The participants’ subjective, inner experiences revealed through the mind maps are shared. Implications for group work and counselor education, and recommendation for future research, are provided.

(2021). Correction. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work: Vol. 46, No. 3, pp. 290-290.

ABSTRACT Given persistent evidence of discrimination toward students of color in K-12 schools, group dialogue about multiculturalism can help individuals understand and advocate for equity and inclusion. In this article, we introduce a new model for a multicultural dialogue intervention: Diversity Dinner Dialogues (DDDs). DDDs are a small group intervention that school counselors can implement to engage

ABSTRACT Opioid misuse and opioid related deaths continue to affect families and communities across the United States. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) combines the use of medications and counseling to treat the whole person. While MAT shows promise over counseling-only approaches, there is little research or guidance on how to implement counseling with the medication. The following qualitative

ABSTRACT This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of randomized controlled trials of psychoeducational group interventions targeting anxiety symptoms in youths. We systematically searched for articles and located twelve studies that collectively included 1132 subjects. Analyses showed an overall effect of −0.47 (95% CI −0.75 to −0.19) on the Standardized Mean

ABSTRACT Grounded in the relational-cultural theory (RCT), this study aimed to illuminate mutual empathy bounded by semester-long experiential growth groups (EGGs). Following the case study design, we collected data from reflective journals, participant-observation, and quantitative surveys of 14 EGG participants. Findings illuminated mutual empathy as an interpersonal process capturing participants’

ABSTRACT Large-group consultation (LGC) is a tool in which professional school counselors deliver key expertise to faculty and staff in their schools while using their group work skills to facilitate meaningful learning. As part of a comprehensive school counseling program, LGC is an efficient, systemic strategy for school counselors to impact students’ academic, career, and social/emotional success

(2021). Group Work in Career Development — Post-School Age Populations. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work: Vol. 46, Group Work in Career Development, Part Two, pp. 143-145.

ABSTRACT Persons with substance use disorders (SUDs) experience high unemployment rates that can increase relapse risk. Research on employment counseling for this population is lacking. This study examined a direct skills teaching (DST) approach to improve job interview preparedness. Graduate internship students at mental health and rehabilitation agency sites in the Northeast provided “Presenting

ABSTRACT This exploratory study examined race/ethnicity, income, and employment status (including underemployment specifically) as predictors of relational distress for members of a couple in a predominantly low-income, historically marginalized racial-ethnic (HMRE) background sample (N = 671 couples). Results of a dyadic multiple regression using structural equation modeling did not show an effect

ABSTRACT This article proposes a career counseling group design for mid-to-late career adults who have been unemployed for six months or longer. Career construction theory is the theoretical framework for the group curriculum. In addition to practical considerations for group facilitators, the authors also provide the proposed group curriculum that utilizes the My Career Story© workbook to help participants

ABSTRACT After examining the extant literature on career-development in Veterans, the author will outline a new Trauma-Informed Existential Career Development (TI-ECD) group specifically designed to meet the unique needs of Veterans-in-transition out of the military. The author will explicate how the group aligns with the principles and praxes of trauma-informed care and explore implications for multiculturalism

ABSTRACT Navigating the tenure process can lead to psychological stress, mental health disorders, and physiological symptoms. The authors review literature addressing the challenges faced by junior counselor education faculty seeking tenure along with literature addressing best practices for academic mentoring. They propose a peer-supported group mentoring intervention for counseling doctoral students

ABSTRACT The field of career development has been focused on one-to-one practice but recent years have seen a growth in the need for alternative approaches that are more effective at challenging inequality. Collective group-based models have been identified as addressing this need but little attention has been paid to developing group coaching in the literature. The collective career coaching approach

ABSTRACT The status quo and future agenda of group work in career development are considered in this article which represents the culmination of a two-part special issue published on this topic in the Journal for Specialists in Group Work. Following an enthusiastic response to the call for papers, 15 articles were accepted and resulted in two consecutive parts of the special issue being published.

(2021). Group Work in Career Development: School Age Populations. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work: Vol. 46, Group Work in Career Development, Part One, pp. 1-5.

ABSTRACT Given the known benefits of group counseling for school-aged individuals, career group counseling has arguably been an under-utilized modality for providing career development services in school settings. This article synthesizes concepts from Social Cognitive Career Theory, constructivism, and group process to provide a conceptual framework for this work. An illustrative example provides

ABSTRACT College and Career Readiness (CCR) programming during early high school years assists students with planning for effective post-school transitions. Group interventions that address CCR for early high school students permit school counselors, career counselors, career specialists, or teachers to engage with a large number of students at one time and facilitate peer-to-peer learning. In this

ABSTRACT Working with groups of parents in career development services in secondary schools is rare practice and little researched. This article focuses on the pedagogy applied in one such intervention, “Parents Turn,” supporting family learning and community learning. The secondary analysis of qualitative data collected from parents has been used to evaluate the pedagogy on which the intervention

ABSTRACT In South African high schools, many learners have limited support in making career related decisions to prepare them for the world of work after school. An important early transition for career-related decision-making is at the end of Grade 9 when learners are expected to decide which subjects they will select for the last phase of high school. Grade 9 is also the juncture where adolescents

ABSTRACT The career development needs of school-aged African American Male (AAM) students require advocacy from school counselors. Such advocacy must extend from direct group intervention with students to include group work on behalf of students. The authors propose using the ACA Advocacy Competencies as a guide to using group work as advocacy that extends to the community/school and public arena levels

ABSTRACT Marginalized youth face many barriers in the development of career aspirations, despite the fact that career development training is a crucial part of school curricula and ethical mandates. This article provides a conceptual framework for the role of culturally responsive small-group work in promoting the development of career goals among students, especially marginalized youth. Small-group

ABSTRACT Of the 70.8 million people forcibly displaced from their original countries globally, 28.9 million are refugees. More than half of this refugee population are children under the age of 18, with a sizable representation from countries in Africa that have experienced continued conflicts. In resettlement countries, African refugee youth have encountered a host of challenges that affect their

ABSTRACT Students from rural backgrounds may face unique challenges with respect to their career-identity development. School counselors are critically positioned to support the career development of these students through a social-justice lens. The following paper proposes a small-group intervention that serves to empower and support middle school students as they navigate the career-exploration process

ABSTRACT Undocumented immigrant students represent 2% of the total U.S. higher education population. Due to their citizenship status, many undocumented high school students encounter barriers to college access including prohibitive admissions policies, increased tuition rates, and funding restrictions. Some undocumented students experience anxiety, frustration, and fear due to these barriers. School

As we write this editorial, we are amid the COVID-19 pandemic and witnessing a greater attention to, and advocacy alongside, the Black Lives Matter movement while experiencing what others have desc...

ABSTRACT While significant attention has been given to student learning loss across summer, much less attention is given to student stressors and mental health concerns. To assist youth in processing and coping with emotional stress, research explores approaches to group counseling wherein youth write, record, and perform emotionally themed hip hop mixtapes. Hip hop, counseling, and social work literature

ABSTRACT Group leadership is a complex process of understanding group dynamics and leader actions. Practitioners of all disciplines need training to effectively lead groups. Psychometrically sound measures are needed to assess effectiveness of group-leader training. The Group Leader Self-Assessment (GLSA) tool, developed to address this need, demonstrates sound psychometric properties including sensitivity

ABSTRACT Group counselors who facilitate groups in and around natural environments may benefit from a clear conceptual model that delineates the underlying theorized elements of therapeutic change in such settings. We sought to develop a theoretically grounded model of change for developing and evaluating nature-based groups, which we call the Group EcoWellness Model of Change (GEMC). The purpose of

ABSTRACT Globally, there are 70.8 million forcibly displaced people made up of 41.3 million internally displaced, 25.9 million refugees, and 3.5 million asylum seekers. Refugees have significant mental health needs and face multiple barriers to obtaining adequate mental health care. The acculturation process can complicate and exacerbate mental health symptoms. In this article, the authors discuss

ABSTRACT The present study examined the effectiveness of a novel 6-session, prejudice-reduction group for Greek preadolescents. The sample consisted of 106 elementary school students aged 10–12 years, allocated to the intervention (n = 55) or control group (n = 51). Results indicated that, compared to the control group, participants in the intervention group showed more positive attitudes toward refugees

ABSTRACT Culturally grounded therapeutic services orchestrated to meet the needs of African American youth remain sparse. The authors address this gap in the areas of scholarship and clinical practice by detailing Future 4 Teens (F4T), an integrated community therapy and education service model targeting African American youth ages 12– 21 years old. Based on interview data from former F4T participants

ABSTRACT This article proposes photovoice as an innovative approach to group work with Black (K-12) youth in school settings. More specifically, this article focuses on how school counselors can use photovoice as a tool to address the race-related struggles (e.g., racial prejudice and discrimination) that Black students experience both inside and outside of school. Photovoice empowers students to take

ABSTRACT Many African Americans students face numerous challenges on today’s college campuses. As such, non-traditional therapeutic interventions and group work have emerged in counseling literature to assist these students. This case study explored the use of bibliotherapy and group counseling as an innovative therapeutic intervention. The purpose of the study was to understand how African-American

ABSTRACT African American youth and African refugee youth encounter systemic racism in similar yet different ways. Because of the inherent traumatic experiences encountered by refugee youth, the added discrimination during their acculturation processes elevates their trauma and stressor-related symptoms. This paper uses the Posttraumatic Growth Model to explore some steps in facilitating an 8-week

ABSTRACT Current literature on gifted Black students with disabilities is growing but still limited in regards to specific college and career readiness needs of these students. This article discusses the unique academic and socioemotional needs as they related to career development for these students. Based on the academic and social needs of students, the author provides a group counseling intervention

During the writing of this final editorial for Part III of the Special Issue on Group Counseling for African American Children and Adolescents, we are literally in the midst of two pandemics. First...

ABSTRACT Far too often African American boys are negatively portrayed in the media and are labeled as at-risk and violent. These labels impact perceptions within public schools. They also decrease self-efficacy, lower academic motivation, and lessen attachment to the school and community. We conceptualized a psychoeducational group for African American adolescent boys, Black Boys: Invisible to Visible

Dear Journal for Specialists in Group Work Audience,Greetings! Drs. Erik Hines and Sam Steen are excited to present the second edition of this Special Issue, Group Counseling for African American C...

ABSTRACT This article presents a conceptual School-Community Group Model for working with African American adolescents. The model stems from a group conducted with urban, male, African American, adolescents co-facilitated by a White female school counselor and an African American male community leader. The article describes the theoretical underpinnings for this approach, reviews the school-community

ABSTRACT In this article, the authors discuss how to prepare African American males for college through group counseling. The authors created, Achieving Excellence: A College Readiness Curriculum for African Males, a five-session, 50 minute group curriculum for sophomores to facilitate the process of college planning. The Eight Components of College and Career Readiness was used as a framework to guide

ABSTRACT Literacy is an essential skill in the modern world, as having the ability to read, write, and communicate effectively is critical. Additionally, financial stability is imperative in a Western society that values wealth and upward mobility. Together, financial literacy is a crucial combination of skills and education that allows people to make efficient/knowledgeable monetary decisions. Although

ABSTRACT Black male youth are poorly represented in the counseling literature. There is a focus on development from a deficit model and lack of attention to their complex and multidimensional identities. In addition, popular media invariably portray Black male youth through a myopic lens as needing to overcome a litany of challenges and struggles. The purpose of this article is to begin to combat this

Dear Journal for Specialists in Group Work Audience,What a tremendous accomplishment, to be able to present to you in the coming year, 3 Editions of the Special Issue on Group Counseling for Africa...

ABSTRACT This article describes an eight-session psychoeducational small-group intervention with two groups of African-American youth in an urban, east coast high school setting. Sessions were designed to enhance the self-efficacy and outcomes expectations related to attending college for first-generation college goers in the twelfth grade. The group session topics are described, and outcomes are assessed

ABSTRACT School engagement has emerged as a significant predictor of positive academic and vocational outcomes. This study investigated the effects of a culturally responsive group intervention developed for African-American youth on dimensions of school engagement. Student and teacher perceptions of school engagement before, after, and 6 weeks following the intervention were analyzed for intervention

ABSTRACT Group therapy plays a prominent role in trauma healing through resiliency for African American children and adolescents. Understanding how groups can facilitate change for this population is crucial to become a culturally competent counselor. Further, studying the best practices of group work is essential to better serving African Americans. Through a content analysis of scientific literature