Title: Group Counseling 101: Fifteen Essential Skills

Presenters: Ed Jacobs, PhD and Christian D. Chan, PhD

Description: Essential group leadership skills will be discussed and demonstrated. Skills for the beginning, middle and closing phases will be shown. Much time will be spent on the art of engagement—a key skill in effectively leading groups. Skills for controlling difficult members will be highlighted. Creative leadership skills will be presented along with ways to engage other members while working with one member. Skills for conducting and processing exercises will be demonstrated. You will leave with new ideas.

Title: Interactive Group Work, Second Edition

Title: Running an Effective Group: What Graduate Students and New Professionals Need to Know

Presenter: Samuel T. Gladding, PhD

Description: Groups advance and become productive or they become stagnant and sick. This session will concentrate on how leaders can help groups develop in dynamic and healthy ways. The specific focus will be on what can be done to help the group stay fluid and focused and deal with difficult situations and members. Attention will especially be on working with counseling and task groups. Attendees will have an opportunity to become involved in simulated group experiences and observations.

Title: Ten Ways to Intentionally Use Group Work to Transform Hate and Enhance Community Building

Presenters: Lorraine Guth, PhD; Ana Isabel Puig, PhD; Christian D. Chan, PhD; and Anneliese A. Singh, PhD

Description: The Association for Specialists in Group Work recently created a best-practice document that provides 10 ways that group work can be used to transform hate, facilitate courageous conversations, and enhance community building. Come and meet the authors of this document, who will discuss group work strategies for creating brave, affirming, and humanizing spaces; cultivating cultural humility; engaging in intentional unity building, and much more. Key resources, videos, training tools, and websites will also be shared.