Building Effective Group Programs on Small Campuses

Jeff VanLone, Ph.D., Meghann Wraight-Steinmetz, Ph.D.

Sheila Singh, Ph.D., & Brian Mistler, Ph.D.

The Center for Counseling and Student WellnessHobart and William Smith Colleges

Overview

1. Research supporting group efficacy

2. Conceptual/philosophical framework

3. Creating a culture for group success

4. Steps to forming, filling, and maintaining

5. Questions and time for discussion

Group is Good: The Research

Findings from the outcome research… Group benefits unique to the college

student• Developmental tasks• Attachment theory

Most efficacious therapeutic factors!!!

When is group the BEST treatment modality?

When is individual the better modality?

Retention and student engagement

Transtheoretical Process Groups: Co-facilitation with a diverse staff

Culture that values group Group structure & exclusion criteria Cohesiveness/connectedness Interpersonal learning Here-and-now experience Learning/insight with generalizability

Feedback versus contact Content, self-reflection & interpretation Group/individual interventions

Work

able

D

iffere

nce

Converg

ence

Transtheoretical co-facilitation (e.g., interpersonal, person-centered, gestalt, CBT)

Creating a Culture for Group Success

Personnel –training, experience, hiring “You gotta believe” – Tug McGraw Promoting group as a primary modality Valuing and rewarding group work Group space The “Hard Sale”

A small liberal arts college –perfect fit! “My name is John, and I’m an alcoholic.” Educating campus constituents Success begets success

Inte

rnal

Condit

ions

Exte

rnal

Condit

ions

Getting Group in Gear: The Nuts and Bolts of Starting a Group

Interpersonal process vs. theme Internal referrals facilitate “buy-in” Cultivate group cohesion

Exclusion criteria Group composition

Setting the stage Finding the best time Structure first group Time-unlimited option

Is it really possible on a small campus?

Questions & Discussion

Jeff VanLone, Ph.D., Meghann Wraight-Steinmetz, Ph.D.

Sheila Singh, Ph.D., & Brian Mistler, Ph.D.

The Center for Counseling and Student WellnessHobart and William Smith Colleges

www.hws.edu/counseling