Proposal for a counseling group

Counseling groups give members the opportunity to share experiences, discover new viewpoints, and experiment with the new behaviors in a relatively safe and supportive environment. A professional counseling service provider leads the group in its endeavor to satisfy demands of the members. This paper is a proposal that creates and illustrates a counseling group. In particular, it discusses into details the goals and objectives, evaluation plan for total group experience, logistics of group program, a comprehensive description of ten group sessions, description of group activities, and evaluation of the group. This evaluation will take into account the various copies of tests, rating forms, and questionnaires that are culturally appropriate.

Introduction

Purpose and Rationale

The counseling group intends to provide members majority of which are teenagers with a chance to share experiences, learn new behaviors, and test new performances in a more supportive environment. Each individual has distinct behaviors that clearly stand out during participation in the group. The proposal aims to establish certain fundamental objectives or reasons that would lead to formation of a counseling group (Corey 2012). The basis or rationale of the essay is to assess and evaluate the effectiveness and value of counseling group in dealing with social and economic challenges affecting teenagers in institutions of higher learning and possible ways to remedy the situation. Many youth in the country are facing a range of problems even as they go about their daily activities (Corey 2012). Drug and substance abuse has become one of the greatest concerns of most counselors and policy makers in the education sector. Drugs affect performance of students in school as well as destroy their social lives. The group, which comprises American teenagers in institutions of learning, seeks to establish appropriate solution to a number of negative effects associated with drug and substance abuse (Corey 2012).

Overall Goals and Objectives

The counseling group has different goals and objectives it would wish to accomplish in the short-term as well as in the long-term basis. A counseling session seeks to eradicate the feeling of isolation among people who had previously sought such services with professional counselors on individual basis (Corey 2012). It attempts to create the impression that difficulties or challenges are not singular to one person. Counseling group help members improve their comfort level within the group. It provides a leeway through which members can share their experiences and frustrations more openly with other people who also have similar or almost similar difficulties. The group therapy has a way of enhancing openness and influencing the kind of confrontation between members of the group (Corey 2012). However, the procedures the group intends to adopt to realize its projected goals and objectives should never compromise credibility, integrity and veracity of a typical group counseling process. Members should only suggest and focus on achievable goals. The number of people in a group should be manageable and convenient for the recommended sessions. The therapy group should consider any foreseeable constraints especially the financial constraints when working with a larger population (Corey 2012).

Multicultural/Diversity

Individuals in a group therapy have variations in terms of sexual orientation, ethnicity, color, race, and religion. Counseling group is sensitive to multicultural or diverse nature of the society. Thus, it brings together people from diverse social as well as cultural backgrounds with an aim of acknowledging different cultures in the same group set up. Members will come to learn and experience what it takes to be part of a given religion or cultural system. In the end, the culture or values of a section of the group therapy might influence certain individuals to shift to new cultural practices abandoning the previous practices mainly associated with his or her race, ethnicity, religion or color (Corey 2012).

Ethical issues addressed

The proposal provides vital opportunity for members of a group therapy to reexamine and appraise the ethical issues and expected standards of behavior as far as principles of ethics are concerned. It will also allow for comprehensible discussion of ethical implications of group counseling (Jacobs 2006). Other ethical issues the group intends to sort out are fundamental rights of group members, psychological risks associated with the group, the values of the leader of the group, and specific case studies. Prospective counselor of the group therapy should be someone the national board of counselors has approved his or her professional qualifications and integrity to lead the group for a given period. Drug and substance abuse and irresponsible sexual behaviors are fundamental issues that put to test the ethical standards of members (Jacobs 2006).

Overall evaluation plan for Total Group Experience

The general evaluation plan for total group experience seeks to assess each member regarding his or her contributions toward realization of the common goal. Individuals in a group therapy should put a lot of effort to ensure they not only accomplish their own goals but also overall goal of the group. The counselor plays significant role of providing enabling environment for members to interact freely. Such interactions would allow members to share experiences and realize the need to reform and redeem back their original selves (Jacobs 2006). They will realize the amazing similarities in problems affecting them and devise practical means of getting out of the quagmire without compromising their values and reputation as well as the standing of people in the surrounding. Evaluation process as per the proposal would comprise the method or methods, a logical description of the group sessions, and ultimate evaluation of the group. The process would take into account any possibility of achieving individual goals in the short-term as well as in the long-term basis without compromising the integrity and value of the group (Jacobs 2006).

Methods

Implementing a group-counseling proposal is an activity that involves proper planning and guidance to ensure the success of the healing process. It is therefore important to come up with an implementation plan that puts into consideration all the logistics involved in the counseling process. A logistics program is important because it addresses issues like ethnic and cultural differences, contributes to a beneficial counseling relationship and successful process. This section looks at a comprehensive logistics program and the factors to consider when choosing group members for a specific counseling group. The logistics for group counseling include; the theory to apply, how to apply it, the expected results, fixing the most convenient time for all group members, and providing the treatment that the clients are looking for (Corey, 2012).

The methods of group counseling are diverse. The method to use for a certain counseling group is primarily dependent on the needs of the group. There are a number of models and this section looks at a one of them and gives the general approach of the best way to use it. The theory the therapist decides to use to conduct the counseling process also defines the method of counseling. It is important to note that counseling is a process that takes place in steps. This proposal adheres to the Rational Emotive Theory of counseling (Ellis, 1996).

This theory assumes that human beings have the ability to be completely rational, irrational, crazy or sensible. The father of this theory is Albert Ellis and he believes in separating an individual from his actions. For example, "I did a crazy thing" instead of "I am a crazy person." In group-counseling it is tasking to look at each individual since it will consume a lot of time. This theory makes the counseling process take a shorter time while ensuring a healing process for all members of the group. The counselor has an active role in correcting the thinking processes of clients. The members of the group also help each other rationalize and think clearly in order to make positive steps towards healing.

The first issue to consider is the role of the counselor in group counseling. This role is even more specific and critical because the Rational Emotive Theory (RET) stipulates how the counselor should behave. The counselor must be empathic, supportive, congruent and knowledgeable. In this method, the counselor helps the group understand that what they think and believe creates difficult situations. This means that it is the attitude of the group towards a certain event that will determine whether it becomes a problem or not. The group members must therefore work towards rational arguments that will ensure they have good reasons for their reactions. They will be able to do this with the help of the therapist (Jacobs 2006).

The following is a discussion on how to implement this method. The first is mastering the "ABC" principle. The first principle is "Activating event." This principle requires the group to identify the actual event that has caused the reactions. This is the first step towards rational thinking because it makes the group members calm down and think rationally. The second principle is "Belief." This involves asking the group to express their beliefs and thoughts on the activating event. The group also discusses what they believe influences their behavior and why. The third principle is that of "Emotional Consequence." This involves coming up with a list of the consequences of reacting to an event (Budman, 1992). This means that they describe what emotions the activating event made them feel.

The principles facilitate being rational because they shift focus from emotions to logic. The group gets an opportunity to look at the problems they face from a rational perspective, which creates room for possibilities. Thinking rationally helps in creating many alternative solutions, and helps clients make decisions consciously and willingly. It also ensures that individuals in the group are responsible for their actions and this solves the problems that arise from shifting blame. This technique aims at challenging the logic behind the clients' responses.

Another technique is imagination disputation. Each client creates a scenario that would lead to a reaction and emotional consequences. The group members express how they would react in that situation and later discuss the appropriate way to react. This gives each member an opportunity to become rational about an otherwise irrational situation and be composed. It also helps the healing process because the clients are able to start practicing positive self-talk. They can also include it in their short- and long-term goals (Jacobs 2006).

Use of the Emotional Control Card is a somewhat weird but very effective technique for ensuring the sustainability of positive behavior change. This is an actual card written all the negative habitual responses of the clients, and the appropriate responses for the same situations. When feeling the urge to react inappropriately, the clients can read their cards and keep their reactions and responses in check. The therapist need not worry about relapses because this is one of the most effective ways of sustaining positive behavior change.

Finding the appropriate time for group counseling is one of the greatest challenges to this task. People spend their time at work or doing something important. They are hardly able to create time to rest, let alone schedule a group counseling session. The twenty-four hours economy leads to high stress levels in employees and general members of the public. The stereotype attitude that people have towards counseling also does nothing to improve the situation. The therapist has to rely on the hope that potential clients really feel the need to seek for help, so much so that they are willing to make time for counseling sessions. When clients have formed a group, the challenge becomes finding convenient time to hold the sessions. The therapist can set a time for the first meeting with all group members, and then come up with a way forward. When clients contribute and participate in setting the appropriate time, they are more likely to attend the sessions at all costs. It therefore becomes a personal initiative and responsibility for every group member. The therapist must also make the sessions so remarkable and interesting that any client who misses a session feels that they have really missed out.

The final and most important detail of group counseling is offering the treatment clients are looking for. Most groups in counseling offer general services for example, Alcoholics Anonymous offers counseling for alcohol addicts. The focus of major groups is addiction to drugs or sex. It is necessary that counselors come up with creative groups that address the needs of clients from all parts of the world. To be able to do this, the therapist must understand the types of groups that exist in counseling and their characteristics (Jacobs 2006).

There are four main groups in counseling. The first is a guidance group. These groups are especially common in high schools and primary schools. They majorly address issues like peer pressure, self-esteem and academic performance. The task group comprises of people interested in performing specific activities. Such groups are formed for short periods and once the group accomplishes the task, the group dissolves. Counseling groups are for people who face certain problems or fail to cope with specific situations in their lives. The sessions for these groups take place until all the group members are confident they can cope on their own. Most groups in counseling belong to this category. Psychotherapeutic groups are the last category and are mostly for mentally challenged people. They are also groups for people with deep emotional problems. Joining a certain group in any of the four categories means that the client is struggling with the general needs associated with that group. The therapist must therefore decide the activities to involve the group that will help the clients find alternative solutions to their problems in a fun and interesting process (Corey, 2012).

This proposal addresses a group of people struggling with drug addiction. The reason for this specific focus is to offer a unique treatment plan. This is because many groups only deal with addiction to alcohol but other drugs like cocaine and heroin have very few if any counseling groups. The reality is that addiction to alcohol is not so different from addiction to bhang since they are both addiction. This proposal ensures that all drug addicts have an opportunity to seek help. It had an edge over other programs because it is an answer to all drug addicts. Owing to this nature of the group, it will fall in the counseling group category.

When selecting group members, the therapist must first set an age bracket. This program is for young people aged nineteen to thirty. This is because many drug addicts pick up the habit within this age. The group is for both men and women. The members of the group must be action oriented and likely to benefit from group interactions. The group members should also be from both extremes of personality types. This is to mean that the group should have both submissive and hostile members. This balance gives everyone a chance to learn. The group members should also be from different cultures to expand the spectrum of group members. This will also bring in diversity that is beneficial in helping group members learn how to accommodate the thoughts and opinions of others. The therapist must also ensure that he includes as many diverse members as possible then exclude them

Description of 10 Group Sessions

Drugs and substance abuse

Goals

As a counseling group, the group has various goals and objectives which will seek to establish a framework for the national drug control agencies. Through the goals and objectives, the group intends to familiarize with the integrated activities, governmental and private organizations budgets towards the reduction of drugs and substance use. The group seeks to maintain the goals and objectives over the long-term (Rutan, Stone & Shay 2007). The supporting objectives will allow a measurable progress and success towards tackling the group's challenges. In this case, the group's counselors try to maintain the standard goals and group's objectives to ensure that the drug addicts get enough support, which will be beneficial for them during the recovery process. Some of the group's goals include;

Educating and Enabling the youth to reject substance abuse and drugs

Increasing the safety of citizens by significantly reducing drug-related violence and crimes

Reducing health and social expenses to the public and group of substance and drug abuse

Breaking any domestic and foreign drug supply sources

Shielding the group members from the threats related to the drugs

The counseling group will grant safety and affirmative environment for its members to address issues related to drug and substance abuse. The group members will be given opportunities to participate in discussions or generate some of the discussions with the help of the counselors.

The group will provide its members with the opportunity to learn from fellow members and experience personal developments.

Educating and enabling the group members to reject substance abuse and drugs

The group's counselors will mainly focus on educating and enabling the group members on the need to reject substance abuse and drugs. The counselors will device means and ways of discouraging the group members from excessive use of drugs or any illegal substance. The counselors will educate the group members on the effects of substance abuse and the positives of staying drug free (Rutan, Stone & Shay 2007).

Increasing the safety of citizens and the group members by significantly reducing drug-related violence and crimes

The counselors will devise ways in which they will increase the safety of its group's members and the public. Through these means, they will be able to reduce drug-related crimes and violence in the region. In most cases, drugs and substance abuse is related to violence or crimes, hence reducing the rate at which the group members and the public abuse drugs will beneficial in cubing violence and crimes.

Reducing health and social expenses to the public and group of substance and drug abuse

The group will try to reduce health and social costs that are caused by the public or the group because of excessive drug and substance abuse. Through discouraging the group members from excessive use of drugs and substance abuse, the group will be reducing health and social expenses costs. The counselors will also try to educate the group members on the negative effects of drug abuse as a way of costs reduction (Rutan, Stone & Shay 2007).

Breaking any domestic and foreign drug supply sources

Breaking the foreign and local drug supplies sources is one of the most important aspects in fighting drug and substance abuse in the society. The main goal of the group is to try to cut off any links with the foreign and local drug supplies sources (Rutan, Stone & Shay 2007). This will starve the group and local members in any drug dealing activities.

Shielding the group members from the threats related to the drugs

Through discouraging the group members from excessive use of drugs and illegal substances, the group will be shielding its members from any threats related to substance and drugs abuse. The group will provide an affirmative and safety environment for its members as a means of shielding the group members (Rutan, Stone & Shay 2007).

Objectives

Some of the group's objectives include

Educating the group's parents, clergy, community leaders and health professionals on how they can help the group to reject drugs and substance abuse

Promoting a zero tolerance among the group members on the use of drugs within workplaces, the community and school compound.

Pursuing different advertisements and public communications systems that deal with the dangers of substance abuse and drugs

Supporting the adult mentors and parents in encouraging the group members to engage in affirmative healthy lifestyles

Producing a net reduction in global cultivation of marijuana, opium and other drugs

Disrupting and dismantling various international drug trafficking organizations

Supporting and complementing source country Drugs and substance abuse control efforts and drug control capabilities

Supporting and promoting efficient, effective and accessible Drugs and substance abuse treatment

Developing various systems which are responsive to drug abuse emerging trends

Reducing substance abuse related health problems, emphasizing on infectious diseases.

Supporting and promoting education, professionals' credentialing of individuals who work with drug abusers

Supporting researches into medications development and the treatment protocols in a bid to prevent and reduce dependency of drug and abuse.

Supporting and disseminating scientific research and data regarding the consequences of drugs legalization.

Encouraging and assisting the development of the group members through coalitions and programs, which prevent drug abuse.

Developing a partnership with the entertainment industry and the media to avoid illegal drugs glamorization and substance use

Improving the ability of HIDTA to counteract drug trafficking. In this case, the HIDTA is a body that deals with Drug Trafficking or also known as the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas.

Breaking drug abuse cycle among the group members

Supporting research into medications and treatment in a bid to prevent drug dependence by the group members

Helping the government in the coordination and effectiveness on matters related to substance use and illegal drugs.

Supporting and highlighting research and technology, which includes scientific data development to reduce global supply of drugs and illegal substances.

Developing and supporting bilateral, multilateral initiatives efforts that is against illegal drug production aspects.

Session Activities:

During the recovery process, the center's counselors will first address and establish out various results and symptoms of the substance addiction with the patients. As soon as the patients realize the extent of drug damage in their bodies both physically and mentally, the counselors will help the group members admit that they are suffering from chemical addiction. The group members will have to accept the fact that they are suffering before agreeing to the recovery plan (Rutan, Stone & Shay 2007). The focus of the counselors will be to help the addicts recognize the urges to use these substances and discuss the exact cause of these urges. Some of the common urges include; personal crises, stress or low self-esteem.

After admittance at the drug and substance abuse center, the members will begin their rehabilitation treatment schedule in private rooms. The members will participate in-group and individual sessions. The members will receive 10 to 20 individual sessions weekly in modalities of substance abuse and drug, Relapse prevention, psychotherapy, addiction education, cognitive behavioral, art therapy and life skills. The members will also participate in various physical activities including massage therapists at least two times a week. The group members will be offered holistic treatment techniques on site. During the drug treatment process, the counselors will continue to assess the clients on individual basis. This will give each member enough time with the counseling team. The members will get enough privacy, which will be important in dealing in the rehabilitation process.

Every session is abuzz with tasks that facilitate achievement of the common goal. The professional counselor has a role to play to ensure all members play their part efficiently for collective good of the group. In addition, a group session must listen to the problems or queries of all members without bias or discrimination towards particular gender, age group, race, ethnicity or members of a religious group. The counselor coordinates most of the activities that characterize a session. Besides, members will utilize the session to reexamine the set goals as well as objectives with a view to strengthen them or discard unrealistic goals altogether (Worden 2009). The group therapy would conduct the process of assessing the set targets while taking into consideration reality pertaining to group's ability as well as inability to accomplish certain ambitions. The session activities would particularly consult several services from the counselor who single-handedly holds sessions with all group members. A typical session consists of individuals with varied inspirations and ambitions. A therapy group that seeks to restore lives of people addicted to drugs and substances may have primarily had the addicts as members (Worden 2009).

Although the overall mission of such a group is to end drug and substance abuse among members and by extension the families, friends, and acquaintances, the goals vary from one individual to another. Some members are on a mission to find lasting solution to drug and substance abuse while others may just want to alleviate or suppress the urge that trigger use of drugs or substances. The latter group does not necessarily have to quit the league of abusers of the drugs or substance but only reducing the proportion of it consumed at particular period. A section of members would just want to get acquire sufficient knowledge or information from trustworthy persons. However, he or she would be reluctant to quit drugs and substances despite the apparent dangers associated with them. Counseling process is among the activities that have always dominated a therapy session. It is also a powerful tool for improving members' understanding, support and encouragement from the severe effects of drugs (Worden 2009).

Cultural Implications

Every group therapy has substantial implications on culture of the people belonging to the group. Apparently, counseling group brings together people from different cultural, social, and religious backgrounds. Despite members' strong belief in given cultural practices and traditions, conformity to tenets and standards set by a group therapy is obligatory (Reading & Weegmann 2004). Unlike a religious group that recommends that all members conform to the doctrines already set out by the ancient founders of given religious group or denomination, principles and regulations governing certain group therapy is subject to several alterations. Such changes would be instrumental in attempting to satisfy the ever-dynamic group activities and expectations. In most instances, members of a particular group would be reluctant to be associated with groups are monotonous in the way the conduct business as demands and expectations changes from time to time (Reading & Weegmann 2004).

Although each group therapy must accommodate and respect culture of all members, it will be necessary to censure a few cultural practices for the sake of guiding the group against impediments that might lead to failure to accomplish its projected ambitions. Through interactions, most members will find it necessary to work closely with the counselor (Reading & Weegmann 2004). The members will have to drop certain elements of their culture if they emerge as major contributing factors to deviant behaviors such as drug and substance abuse. Prolonged interactions with people from diverse backgrounds would influence a member to adopt new aspects of culture such as language, eating habits, and dressing style among others. In essence, a group therapy will strengthen certain cultures whilst attempting to water down other cultures to almost a point of extinction. However, every counseling group should focus on improving the psychological, physical, or mental situation of members without any discrimination (Reading & Weegmann 2004).

Description of activities of group therapy

Through counselor's intervention and guidance, members of the group will engage in activities that improve their conditions notwithstanding the cultural, economic, or social differences amongst them. When members share experiences, each of them will come to realize the importance of such interactions despite personal differences that may emerge amongst them. The main aim of involving all members in various activities is to allow them adequate interactions within the limits and provisions of the group. Members should find some time to learn and share experiences with drugs as well as substances (Reading & Weegmann 2004). Top of priority list is motivation programs for those who have already recovered as well as those in the process of recovering from addiction and terrible effects of drugs and substance abuse. The reformed addicts receive words of encouragement from the counselor or counselors and full reformed addicts about the significance of living a drug-free life. Training is another fundamental activity that no group can overlook. Members acquire adequate training courtesy of a number of training sessions or lessons. Training members on life skills will help them realize their potentialities and worth in the society and create a better understanding as regard the need to desist from drugs or any other substance (Reading & Weegmann 2004).

Ethical Implications

An ethical implication has to do with morality of adopting the proposal. Establishment of a group therapy aims to help the addicts lead a desirable lifestyle like others in the society. Alcoholism is one of the delicate issues a counseling group intends to tackle. The negative effects of alcohol particularly to academic life of a student has triggered the need to form a group that could help find a way or strategy of getting these young men and women out of the alcohol slavery. Involving a professional counselor with relevant academic qualifications is a positive step towards achieving the overall objectives (Worden 2009). An interpersonal group therapy, for instance, derives its basis on the premises of interpersonal learning as a primary mechanism of change. The group provides antidotes to interpersonal beliefs and behaviors based on feedback from other individuals and motivation to exercise with healthier alternative behaviors. Counseling group encourages adherence to acceptable standards of behavior and therapy. Individuals who at some point messed up their morality have an opportunity to redeem themselves. Those attending group sessions have the opportunity to learn and share their personal experiences with other members (Worden 2009).

Many people have benefited from participating in these sessions as far as ethical standard is concerned. Those members of society with questionable ethical standards find the therapy groups as an appropriate venue to channel their views and reservations about what society regards as acceptable and non-acceptable standards of behavior (Budman, Hoyt & Friedman 2009). Some people who previously thought they had passed ethical threshold will find an almost contrasting reality as they continue to participate in the group sessions. Every society has its distinctive rules of behavior that everyone living in such society must adhere to lest are ready to withstand the pending censure. Counselors emphasize the significance of all members adhering to those acceptable standards of behavior irrespective of whether male, female, white, African-American, Muslim or Christian (Budman, Hoyt & Friedman 2009). Not even social status of an individual has any tangible capacity to influence or manipulate counselor's take on the accepted and unaccepted ethical standards of given group or society. The primary aim of a group therapy is to transform the addict into a more responsible and tractable person (Budman, Hoyt & Friedman 2009).

Session Evaluation

The professional counselor play critical role to redeem the images of individuals who at some point suffered neglect by society due to their undesirable mannerisms. Teaching these drug addicts the importance of staying away from drugs would illuminate chances of achieving the overall goal of any group session. A good session will have an incredible list of items that will spice up the mission to redeeming lives of addicts in the group and America at large (Budman, Hoyt & Friedman 2009). Effectiveness and efficiency of a group therapy will determine or influence the rate at which new members find their way into the programs. A few groups provide services that most members find undesirable and detrimental to the ethics and counseling standards. A typical counseling group will provide members with information on its mission as well as vision even as it begins to accommodate the probable victims of drug and substance abuse. The strong correlation between values and ethical standards of a group make homogeny of every session inevitable. In most cases, session evaluation would take into account several things: The aim of starting a given session shall constitute a greater part of any form of evaluation on that particular group session. Similarly, the system of evaluation will also be helpful in the process. The evaluation system or system should be acceptable by all standards. In essence, not even a single person should question the evaluation system the group or any recognized counseling authorities intend to adopt (Budman, Hoyt & Friedman 2009).

Materials needed

The entire description and realization of successful sessions would require that the group employs certain fundamental materials which would it accomplish its goals. Any therapy gathering must take into account the importance of each individual towards achieving its goals (Budman, Hoyt & Friedman 2009). The group should never look down upon members who contribute very little to the success of the group but instead acknowledge every contribution to the welfare of the group therapy. In general, the group members who are in need of help ad guidance from the counselor or other members of the group to enable them dispel certain challenges affecting their lives. Learning materials are important components of any group session. These include picture and graphs to illustrate the reality and extent of the situation in which drug addicts find themselves (Budman, Hoyt & Friedman 2009).

Evaluation of the Group

Description of evaluation method

This involves looking at the activities carried out in the program and comparing them to the expectations set at the beginning of the program. The main expectation of this program is to ensure that all group members go through a successful healing process. The group sets the other main expectations during the counseling sessions. This evaluation also analyses the methods used to conduct group counseling. The evaluation creates an opportunity for growth in group counseling as it shows the progress made in implementing this proposal. This means that there is a chance to develop the proposal further and use it in the future for the benefit of counseling in general and group counseling in specific. It is also a measure of the impact of the program. Evaluation also makes the therapist effective and requires him to be accountable to the practice. This ensures staff development because the therapist will learn some things (Gibson and Mitchell, 1999). Evaluation also helps in modifying the program to suit the needs of the group throughout counseling.

This proposal adopts the summative type of evaluation. This method is conducted when the program has been implemented and acts as a measure of success. Summative evaluation summarizes the strengths and weaknesses of the program. This is effective for the purposes of developing the group-counseling program. This plan evaluates the overall success of the healing process. It also looks at the number of drug addicts that have reformed and registered positive behavior change. The plan also evaluates the steps the clients took to ensure they change their behavior. This evaluation also looks at the challenges the group faced throughout the sessions. It finally looks at the plans the group has to ensure continued positive change of behavior.

The next step is identifying the best way to measure the effectiveness of the program in meeting the needs of the members. This section looks at some of the instruments for use in collecting data about the effectiveness of the program. The methods used for evaluation in this program include:

"Before and After Method"

This is involves gathering feedback after a certain period. For this proposal, gathering of information will take place in the beginning of every session. The reason for this is to ensure that all the group members are on the same page. It will also help in evaluating whether there is any change in the clients after sessions.

Comparison Method

This involves comparing groups after using various techniques to reach a certain goal. This is used in the group to compare the progress of individuals. The group members take time to work on achieving their goals individually. At the end of the week, the members sit down to look at how many people were able to achieve their goals. They also get an opportunity to educate the rest of the group on how they managed to do it.

The "How Do We Stand" Method

This involves measuring the activities using a certain ideal. This is the main work of the therapist, to ensure that the group is working towards achieving the set goals. The therapist does this by giving the group information about the expectation of achieving rationalism against their progress. This method is directed towards making improvements to achieve the set goals.

Copies of tests, rating forms, questionnaires that are culturally appropriate

When dealing with individuals under the influence of drug, it is advisable that one considers certain facts in the evaluation of the group. Drug abuse victims are fond of distancing themselves from other and keeping vital information such as why they began consuming the drugs. In the evaluation process of the group, it is advisable that the counselor use a number of materials that will be helpful in the process of collecting data (Erford, 2013). The materials include copies of tests that have information on the drug that the individuals use, rating forms to determine the level of risk after consuming the drug and questionnaires.

Copies of tests are appropriate for the group counseling in that they are applicable in trying to reach out the individual. Cultural background in the counseling session is one factor that all counselors need to consider since the person counseled might have a different notion towards the drug that he or she is consuming thus making it difficult to persuade him or her on the side effects. The copies of tests come in handy to act as evidence for the counselor to try to convince the patient on the position that the drugs are putting his or her life. The test copies have to be present since they are the solid evidence showing how seriously the drug has effects on the body (Erford, 2013).

Group counseling use rating forms for various victims since it is the most significant method to determine the rate of the precise drug consumption. It is rather unfortunate that most victims do not acknowledge the rating forms. The rating forms have a design that is applicable in determining the amount of patient's consumption of the drug. Questionnaires are an alternative source of collecting information about the patient though they are not perfectly reliable considering that the individuals feeling them may not see the necessity of filling in the right information. In most cultures, taking part in ideas like feeling in questionnaires is questionable thus limiting the number of individuals that fill the forms on issuing out to gather data for the counseling process.

Formal / Informal Evaluation for Each Objective

The first objective being problem identification is appropriate since it gives proper details including the life story of the client with reliable information that will engage the application of the ten sequences. The purpose of having this objective is because it acts as a guide to the guide so that he or she can familiarize with the kind of situation he or she is dealing with to develop necessary methods of assisting the client. It becomes difficult for any counselor to change a condition that he or she is not familiar with, regarding the client. Some of the strategies that the counselor can put to practice include assisting the client on self-discovery (Velasquez, & Maurer, 2011).

The second objective is for the counselor to ensure that there is development of trust between the client alongside the counselor and peers. The trust is necessary in the creation of an environment that is dependable by the client. The moment the client is in a position to trust the counselor as well as fellow peers, there is a likelihood of a rehabilitated intelligence of hope, which may assist in the counseling process. It is the counselor's responsibility to ensure the use of all necessary counseling expertise to reach out to the client and make possible this intent. However, it is the counselor's responsibility to ensure that the initial assessment was efficient in building a solid relationship since it happens to be a determinant on the development of trust between the client and the counselor (Velasquez, & Maurer, 2011).

Third objective is ensuring that the client acknowledges a catharsis that have a link to some of the reasons behind the personal judgment. This objective is significant for a personal disclosure by the client, in addition to the fact that it leads to an own discovery level. To guarantee that this objective is resourceful, the counselor has to guide the client through the inner levels that are part of personal disclosure. All counselors are knowledgeable with helping skills that are supportive in making sure that this objective is triumphant. Another objective is expanding new insight through self-discovery; furthermore, the client must be in a position to point out the consequences of his or her actions (Erford, 2013).

The last objective is alteration of behavior by the client through facilitation by the course, which has to ensure that the erudition of novel behavior. At this point, the client will find the purpose of being part of a group counseling wherein the group is available for moral support. In addition to the purpose of the group, the counselor can employ the buddy system through the program to build up support and help improvise newer behavior by the client (Velasquez, & Maurer, 2011). The counselor is significant to this final objective since he or she has the responsibility of observing the novel behavior by the client then giving a comment. Most counseling programs necessitate the client to use new behaviors in order to deal with the previous actions.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Budman, S.H., Hoyt, M.F., & Friedman, S. (2009). The first session in brief therapy. New York: Guilford Press

Brief therapy is a segment of therapy that deals with an individual's current as well as future in opposition to his or her past life experiences. The main aim of brief therapy is determining some of the challenges that one faces. The book covers areas that are deal with seeking solutions from the problems that people tend to experience there life.

Corey, G. (2012). Theory & practice of group counseling. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole,

Cengage Learning.

The article focuses majorly on certain theories that correlate with group counseling, some of which are helpful in problem solving. Group counseling is in review as a significant method to help someone discover him or herself with the support from the group members. Corey mentions a few theories along with practice that are part of group counseling.