The Power of Groups

Leslie Cooley worked as a school psychologist in public schools for 20 years. Initially hired in 1978 to facilitate counseling groups, she approached the task with enthusiasm and massive naivete as she had little training in group counseling. Based on her natural optimism and easy way of relating to students, she developed a variety of skills and techniques that were closely related to the later work of the innovators of solution-focused counseling. That was 1978 to 1983. Since that time, Cooley has earned a PhD and is a licensed clinical psychologist in California. In the 1990s, she transitioned from working in the schools to teaching at the graduate level in school psychology at California State University, Sacramento. Her mission was to surreptitiously infiltrate the school system with what were once radical ideas about building on strengths. In that, she has been successful... successfully mainstream! Solution-focused strategies are no longer radical, and books like Seligman's Positive Psychology have become bestsellers. Cooley continues to do a limited psychotherapy practice with a focus on families and she continues to believe that most of the problems kids develop can be successfully managed at the school level, where any intervention is less intrusive than a referral to someone outside the school. As a graduate school trainer in school psychology, Cooley has been teaching group counseling to school psychologists for over a decade. She is systematically robbing graduate students of the character-building experience that she had scrambling to learn to run groups in the schools. However, in the schools today, there is plenty to scramble about already!

Preface Acknowledgments About the Author 1. Creating Change One Group at a Time Facilitating Change An Equation for Change The Importance of a Theoretical Model Choosing a Foundation: An Exploration of Models Practitioner Training Summary 2. Solution-Focused Counseling: A Primer The School as a System The Assumptions of Solution-Focused Brief Counseling Conclusions Summary 3. Turning a Solution-Focused Attitude Into Practice What Happens if I Do Something Wrong? Techniques and Strategies of Solution-Focused Counseling Summary 4. Adapting Group Curriculum Material: General Principles Choosing an Activity Make It Your Own Creating a Safe Environment Summary 5. Adapting Group Curriculum Material: Specific Strategies Group Discussion Goal Setting The Role of Questions Summary 6. From Ideas to Action: Planning and Preparation Getting Referrals Permission Letters Setting Up the Group Pre- and Postevaluation Surveys Handling Pressure Summary 7. From Ideas to Action: Getting the Group Up and Running At the First Meeting Keeping the Group Afloat Successful Ways to End a Group Summary 8. Group Agendas: A Sampling Elementary Level: Making Friends, Sessions 1 Through 3 Middle School: Handling Pressure, Sessions 4 Through 6 High School: Making Decisions and Life Goals, Sessions 7 Through 9 Summary 9. Troubleshooting Potential Snags Intervention Ideas Self-Evaluation Summary 10. The Power of Groups The Students The Process The Leader References Index

"Provides both theoretical grounding and practical instruction, including multiple case examples, sample wording, and forms to help put into practice this strength-based and goal-oriented approach. This is an ideal text for both graduate-level courses in counseling and for the busy professional searching for a text grounded in theory yet brimming with practicality." -- Melissa Holland, Licensed Clinical Psychologist "A valuable addition to the growing conversation about solution-focused practice in schools. Cooley provides the nuts and bolts of solution-focused group work with students of all ages. Packed with practical ideas and materials." -- John J. Murphy, Professor of Psychology "The book does a credible job of covering SFBC foundations and group counseling tenets and then blending the two into a comprehensive and immensely practical resource. A thorough presentation of basics for beginning counselors and a review for experienced counselors." -- Katy Olweilier, Counselor "Beginning counselors will appreciate the ways to ensure the success of counseling groups and the many examples that illustrate the tenets of solution-focused group counseling. Experienced counselors will add to their repertoires of counseling skills and techniques. Solution-focused counseling provides a positive, proactive way of assisting individuals in finding answers to their questions." -- Bernita L. Krumm, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership "The book is a pleasure to read, extremely informative, and helpful. The author is clearly an expert on the topic and is able to teach and write to the reader with ease. The organization and content of this book teaches a skill in a way that makes the reader feel empowered." -- Cynthia Knowles, Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist and Consultant "Cooley provides the nuts and bolts of creating and leading solution-focused counseling groups in this succinct and highly readable book. A must for all those wanting to develop their skills in this area!" -- Rhonda Cash, School Psychologist "This book provides not only a practical foundation for strength-based, solution-focused group counseling, but also insights that can be generalized to enhance all our interactions with students and staff. For those well seasoned in SFBC and those new to this orientation, it is a exceptional resource for creating change." -- Sandi Miller, School Psychologist