Definitions for Group Counseling

A defined membership with a shared purpose and some degree of unity and interaction.

Association for Specialist in Group Work (part of ACA).

American Society for Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama.

American Group Psychotherapy Association

Preventative and attempt to ward off the problem(s). Primary groups stress healthy lifestyle or coping strategies.

A problem or disturbance is present but not usually severe. The group works to reduce the severity or length of a problem and generally includes aspects of prevention.

These groups are more likely to deal with severe pathology.

Acceptable behavior, expected behavior, and group rules which can be explicit or implicit in a group

Material discussed in group

The analysis of the communication, interaction, and transactions.

“T” stands for training group originally used in industrial and organizational setting to process personnel interaction and improve efficacy.

Forces which tend to bind group members together. When cohesiveness is high, other negative factors go down.

When a group displays low cohesion

This type of group provides preventative information/education and provides instruction about preventing potential problems (the same as a primary group).

The group focuses on “conscious” concerns (the same as a secondary group definition).