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Title: Group Leadership Skills : Interpersonal Process in Group Counseling and Therapy by Mei-whei Chen ISBN: 0-534-25267-2 Publisher: Brooks/Cole Pub. Date: 19 September, 2003 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $59.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 5 (2 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: A Valuable Reading Experience
Comment: As a high school counselor who has led many groups, both adolescent and adult, I am constantly searching for literature to better help me serve the group process. I consider myself fairly well-read in the areas of counseling, group leadership, and the group process. With that said, I am thoroughly impressed with this book by Chen and Rybak. Thus far, it is the most clearly written and most valuable book I have read on this subject. I find myself continually revisiting chapters over and over as I try to implement the skills and ideas outlined in this book. I believe that this book is definitely a must have for anyone interested in the group counseling process.
I like the book's many strengths (clear examples, helpful exercises, accessible and fluid language), but if I have to single out its greatest strength, then it would be its roadmap approach to the group process. As I read the book, I find myself challenged to examine my own ideas and beliefs as they relate to the field. I have to ask myself what my basic assumptions are about the interpersonal process. Starting from the beginning chapters, this book helps me establish a solid foundation from where I start my leadership journey.
Part Two (Basic Leadership Skills) of this book will be especially helpful for the beginning, less experienced group leaders. It takes the reader through the stepwise approach of starting a group from scratch, leading the first session, establishing a session's pace and feel, working on members' agendas, and working with tension and conflict. Chapter 6 "Working on Agendas" especially provides the readers with a powerful roadmap to follow. With its accessible language, a young counselor does not feel intimidated by the process, but instead, empowered.
Part Three (Advanced Leadership Skills) adds the flesh and muscle to the skeleton. This part can be extremely beneficial for the counseling students, although it really outlines the skills of a veteran group therapist. I love the way Chen and Rybak illustrate how counseling is more than just a series of skills and theories, but a very precise art that takes patience, touch, balance, and know-how. The advanced skills gives the readers something to strive for, while at the same time, further providing the veterans with challenges and approaches that keep the art fresh. Topics that I take special note include: Taking Risks in Communication, Stirring the Pot, and the Hot-Seat Method. Many excellent models for these advanced methods are provided.
I appreciate the authors' emphasis on the importance of reflective journal writing by the members and narrative session notes by the leaders. Throughout the text, Chen and Rybak offer excellent writing samples for both the group members and for the group leader. I like the way the authors close the circle by asking the reader to search inside for his own therapeutic voices and by challenging the reader to continue to grow and to live by the creative edge.
What I take most from the book, even more than the powerful skills and approaches offered, is the compassion, respect, and enthusiasm that the authors show for their subjects. They truly believe in the art of group counseling and the art of leading a successful group. They believe in the power of group. That passion permeates each page and washes over the reader. This book, in many ways, transcends the counseling field and speaks of truths that can be applied to all fields. I gained so much from this book and I will continue to use it as I continue to grow as a counselor, and more importantly, as a person. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in the helping profession, especially students, and to anyone who wants to better his or her leadership and communication skills.
Rating: 5
Summary: A book that is a personal mentor to me
Comment: I have read other books on the subject of group counseling and therapy and have found that most have one or two positive attributes. However, I find that "Group Leadership Skills" by Chen and Rybak has so many unique qualities (such as personable writing style, effective practice exercises, insightful leadership response samples, bountiful techniques of group counseling, and the emphasis on the development of the self as the instrument in group counseling, etc.) that I really take to heart.
When I read other books, the information felt distant to me. However, when I was reading Chen and Rybak, I felt that I was experiencing what actually goes on in real group sessions. Through the numerous case examples and reflection excerpts, I can see the problems, challenges, and breakthroughs that members and leaders might experience in the forming, storming, norming, and working stages. They truthfully and thoughtfully reflect the group dynamics and interpersonal processes. Now, I can fully appreciate the powerful effect that group interaction can have on individuals.
The way the book is written makes me feel confident that I can apply the knowledge and skills in my practice with all types of groups be it substance abuse groups, adolescent groups, elderly groups, ACOA groups, or groups of any other purpose. The book is written in the sequence of how a group progresses in its full life course and addresses all sorts of interpersonal dynamics even including those not easily recognized by the untrained eye. Therefore, it is quite adaptable to a wide range of group work.
Among the advanced leadership skills, I find the seven principles of constructive confrontation to be a guide or a blueprint in taking effective risks in communication not only in my professional life, but also in my personal life. It is a shame that I did not have the opportunity to learn these important skills earlier in my life, but I am grateful to have discovered them now in this book.
To those faint-hearted individuals, the hot-seat method and the method of stirring-the-pot in the working stage might appear a bit intimidating, but to me I find them to be extremely powerful interventions. I witnessed the hot-seat method and the method of stirring-the-pot to have the ability to evoke more intimate self-disclosure and in-depth interpersonal discovery, which are rare occurrences in our daily lives. Therefore, I consider these methods in this book to be gems in the world of counseling.
I want to say again how much I appreciate the sample leader responses provided throughout the book. What is unique about them is that these sample leader responses use compassionate and sincere language. When I read these samples, I feel like I can see myself using them in my practice. They are not the typical textbook jargon, but rather they resonate an empathic nature which speaks more from the heart than the head.
I was happy to find that multicultural sensitivity is placed in the context of conflict resolution. In our society, we rarely admit that diversity can create tension in a very subtle way that is beyond our language to explain, creating an atmosphere of discomfort and potential for misinterpretation. Chen and Rybak offer a conflict resolution method that brings about healing and resolution directly to the parties involved and insight to other members.
I feel this book is very consoling because it speaks to new leaders like myself. It helps us realize that we will face challenges and setbacks, but it also offers us hope that if we continue to practice, experiment, and trust our creative force within ourselves, we may master the art of group leadership one day.
I feel that this book acts as a personal mentor for me. Of all the textbooks I have read throughout my graduate study, no other book has had such a striking impact on me. I can see myself continuously consulting and reviewing the book when leading a group because the descriptions and examples are so realistic, focused, and concise. I highly recommend this book!
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