COUN 6973 - Group Counseling Theory and Practice
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 42619,
Credit hours: 2
Course Meeting Times
Log in to view more
Instructor
Madeleine Stevens
Email: mmstevens@ysu.edu
Course Description
6973. Group Counseling Theory and Practice. Theories pertaining to group dynamics, process, interaction, consultation, and counselor intervention. For counseling majors or by permission of Department of Counseling. 2 s.h.
Theories pertaining to group dynamics, process, interaction, consultation, and counselor intervention. Course is taken concurrently with COUN 6973L.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | Groups: A counseling specialty. (9th ed.). Pearson. (2024). | Gladding, S. T. | 978-0-13-537234-0 |
- ASGW Web Page
The Association for Specialists in Group Work, a division of the American Counseling Association, provides resources for practitioners in group work.
http://www.asgw.org/
- American Counseling Association Code of Ethics (2014)
- American School Counseling Association Code of Ethics
- ACPA and NASPA Ethical Guidelines
- Other readings as assigned throughout the course.
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
Log in to view more
Tentative Course Schedule (Subject to Change)
| Day | Date | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue | 8/25 | Introductions to classmates, instructors, and course Pair students and assign dates for Group activity co-leadership experience COURSE SECTION I: Foundations of Group Work Brief History of Group Work (Gladding: Ch. 1) |
||
| Tue | 9/1 | Gladding: Ch. 4 & 11 | COURSE SECTION I: Foundations of Group Work Effective Group Leadership and Group Co-leadership; Ethical and Legal Aspects of Groupwork Reading Quizzes Begin Group Activity Co-Leadership Activities Begin CACREP 2024 Standards met: 3.F.4, 3.F.9 |
Reading Quiz Group Activity Co-Leadership Activity – Dyad 1: Amy and Mackenzie CACREP Self-Ratings 1 due via Microsoft Forms; Beginning of Semester Needs Survey due by start of class time (see BB for links) Bi-weekly anonymous check-in survey (on BB via Microsoft Forms) |
| Tue | 9/8 | Gladding: Ch. 9 ASGW Multicultural and Social Justice Competence Principles for Group Workers (2012) ASGW Multicultural and Social Justice Competence Principles for Group Workers (2012) |
COURSE SECTION I: Foundations of Group Work Diversity and Social Justice in Groups CACREP 2024 Standards met: 3.F.8 |
Reading Quiz Dyad 2: Jude and David Dyad 3: |
| Tue | 9/15 | ASGW Guiding Principles (2021) | VIRTUAL- We will not meet in person. COURSE SECTION I: Foundations of Group Work Application of Technology Related to Group Work CACREP 2024 Standards met: 3.F.6 |
Reading Quiz Group descriptions for co-leadership experiences due to BB 24 hours before each dyad takes its turn! Dyad 4: Casey and Elise Dyad 5: Julia and Victoria Bi-weekly anonymous check-in survey (on BB via Microsoft Forms) Group Observation Experience Proposal due to BB by start of class |
| Tue | 9/22 | Gladding Chs. 2 & 3 + ASGW Guiding Principles (2021) | COURSE SECTION I: Foundations of Group Work Types of Groups, Therapeutic Factors in Groups, & Group Dynamics and Process CACREP 2024 Standards met: 3.F.2, 3.F.3, 3.F.7 |
Reading Quiz Dyad 6: Jes and Carmelena Dyad 7: Maddie and Kait |
| Tue | 9/29 | Gladding Ch. 5 + Ch. 6 (Storming section only) | COURSE SECTION II: Group Stages and Tasks Forming & Storming CACREP 2024 Standards met: 3.F.5 |
Reading Quiz Dyad 8: Alaina and Arthur Dyad 9: Sam and Keunna Bi-weekly anonymous check-in survey (on BB via Microsoft Forms) |
| Tue | 10/6 | Gladding Ch. 5 (Norming section only) + Ch. 7 | COURSE SECTION II: Group Stages and Tasks Norming & Working/Performing | Reading Quiz Dyad 10: Anna and Miranda Dyad 11: CACREP Self-Ratings 2 due via Microsoft Forms (see BB for link) |
| Tue | 10/13 | Gladding Ch. 8 | COURSE SECTION II: Group Stages and Tasks Closing/Adjourning & Group Evaluation Review Group Note Writing Last Reading Quiz |
Reading Quiz Group Observation Experience Reflection due to BB Dyad 12: Dyad 13: |
| Tue | 10/20 | No Class | ||
| Tue | 10/27 | Gladding: Ch. 16 & 17 | COURSE SECTION III: Overview of Group Counseling Theories and Techniques Reality Therapy and Adlerian Groups CACREP 2024 Standards met: 3.F.1, 3.F.2, 3.F.3, 3.F.4, 3.F.5, 3.F.7, 3.F.8, 3.F.9 |
Group Presentation and Demonstrations begin – all printed materials to be uploaded to BB by start of class (for the groups presenting) Group 1 (Reality): Alaina and Arthur Group 2 (Adlerian): Jude and David Bi-weekly anonymous check-in survey (on BB via Microsoft Forms) |
| Tue | 11/3 | Gladding: Ch. 17 | COURSE SECTION III: Overview of Group Counseling Theories and Techniques Person-Centered and Existential Groups Group Presentations/Demonstrations CACREP 2024 Standards met: 3.F.1, 3.F.2, 3.F.3, 3.F.4, 3.F.5, 3.F.7, 3.F.8, 3.F.9 |
Group 3 (Person-Centered): Amy and Mackenzie Group 4 (Existential): Miranda and Anna |
| Tue | 11/10 | Gladding: Ch. 17 & 16 | COURSE SECTION III: Overview of Group Counseling Theories and Techniques Gestalt and REBT Groups Group Presentations/Demonstrations CACREP 2024 Standards met: 3.F.1, 3.F.2, 3.F.3, 3.F.4, 3.F.5, 3.F.7, 3.F.8, 3.F.9 |
Group 5 (Gestalt): Keunna and Sam Group 6 (CBT): Jes and Carmelena Bi-weekly anonymous check-in survey (on BB via Microsoft Forms) |
| Tue | 11/17 | Gladding: Ch. 18 | COURSE SECTION III: Overview of Group Counseling Theories and Techniques Transactional Analysis and Solution-Focused Groups Group Presentations/Demonstrations CACREP 2024 Standards met: 3.F.1, 3.F.2, 3.F.3, 3.F.4, 3.F.5, 3.F.7, 3.F.8, 3.F.9 |
Group 7 (TA): Julia and Victoria Group 8 (Solution-Focused): Casey and Elise |
| Tue | 11/24 | Gladding Ch. 18 | COURSE SECTION III: Overview of Group Counseling Theories and Techniques Narrative Therapy and Psychodrama Groups Group Presentations/Demonstrations CACREP 2024 Standards met: 3.F.1, 3.F.2, 3.F.3, 3.F.4, 3.F.5, 3.F.7, 3.F.8, 3.F.9 |
Group 9 (Narrative): Group 10 (Psychodrama): Maddie and Kait |
| Tue | 12/1 | COURSE SECTION IV: Review and Wrap-up MINI GROUPWORK CONFERENCE CACREP 2024 Standards met: 3.F.1, 3.F.2, 3.F.4, 3.F.5, 3.F.7, 3.F.8, 3.F.9 |
Group Proposal and Theory Integration Poster Presentations– All students must bring their posters to class on this day ready to be displayed. FIRST HALF OF CLASS Poster Presentation Group 1: SECOND HALF OF CLASS: Poster Presentation Group 2: CACREP Self-Ratings 3 due via Microsoft Forms (see BB for link Final Exam opens on BB at 8:00 p.m. |
|
| Tue | 12/8 | FINALS WEEK CLASS DOES NOT MEET! | Final Exam due on BB by 8:00 p.m. |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.