Corey, Corey & Corey - Leadership Skills

Reflecting

A skill dependent on active listening, __________ is the ability to convey the essence of what a person has communicated so the person can see it. A group leader may say, "It sounds like you are discouraged about....".

Evaluating

Group leaders need to utilize this ongoing, processing skill to look at what is going on within individual members and within the whole group and think about what interventions might be used in the next session.

Blocking

Group leaders utilize this skill when establishing group norms and stopping participants who may be bombarding others with questions, gossiping or storytelling.

Active Listening

Process involves more than merely listening to words. It involves absorbing the content, noting gestures and subtle changes in voice or expression, and sensing underlying messages.

Supporting

This skill can be either therapeutic or counterproductive. This skill is productive when people are facing a crisis, attempting constructive changes, and struggling to rid themselves of old patterns that are limiting. This skill can be counterproductive if a participant is not allowed the opportunity to fully experience a conflict or painful feelings.

Clarifying

This skill can be valuably applied during the initial stages of a group. It involves focusing on key underlying issues and sorting out confusing and conflicting feelings.

Interpreting

This skill entails offering possible explanations for certain behaviors or symptoms and may be used more often by group leaders who are highly directive. This skill can also be presented in the form of a hunch, a truth of which the client can then assess. Example: "Mary, when a person in the group talks about something painful, I've noticed that you...... What might that say about what is going on with you?"

Confronting

This skill involves both caring and skill and allows group leaders to challenge specifically the behavior to be examined and avoid labeling the person. Additionally the group leader can share how he or she feels about this member's behavior.

Assessing

This skill involves identifying symptoms and figuring out the cause of behavior. It includes the ability to appraise certain behavior problems and choose appropriate interventions.

Facilitating

This skill involves opening up clean communication among the members. Examples of this skill include providing encouragement and support; involving as many members as possible in group interactions; encouraging open expression, and actively working to create a climate of safety and acceptance.

Terminating

This skill is a very important part of the group counseling process as it will help member participation, skill building, and bring closure to the group experience.

Suggesting

This skill is aimed at helping members develop an alternative course of thinking or action. This skill can involve giving information, or asking members to consider a specific homework assignment.

Linking

This skill is an interactional focus where the group leader stresses member-to-member interaction rather than leader-to-member communication.

Modeling

This skill is one of the best ways for group leaders to teach a desired behavior to members, such as, respecting diversity, receiving feedback in a non-defensive manner, and sharing appropriate and timely self-disclosure.

Summarizing

This skill is particularly useful after an initial check-in at the beginning of a group session. Group leaders and group members may utilize this skill.

Questioning

This skill may be overused by many group leaders and includes two different types: open-ended and closed. Utilizing "what" and "how" may prove helpful to intensify experiencing.

Empathizing

This skill requires the group leader to have the characteristics of caring and openness and sense the subjective world of culturally diverse client populations.

Initiating

When a group leader takes an active role in providing direction to members, offers some structure, and takes action when needed, they are demonstrating what skill?