Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

There is no required textbook to purchase for this course. The textbook
selected for this class is available online for free. Please download and/or
print a copy of the text on your own.
TIP 41: Substance Abuse Treatment: Group Therapy | SAMHSA
Course Description
Introduces the methodology for group counseling. Includes strategies for group
development and for effective group leader facilitation and self-analysis. Prerequisites:
Admission into the Addiction Counseling Program. Audit available.
Intended Outcomes for the course
Upon completion of the course students will be able to:
1. Employ strategies for effective group development.
2. Employ effective trauma-informed group interventions.
3. Function as a group facilitator by implementing group interventions.
4. Maintain confidentiality, healthy boundaries, and ethical practice in group
leadership.
Course Design
1. Demonstrate knowledge of group concepts through reading, research, curriculum
development, critique and self-analysis.
2. Role Plays as group facilitator, group member and group observer.
Oregon Administrative Rules (OARS): Competency Expectations for AD152
Outcome Assessment Strategies

The outcome assessment strategies will include but not be limited to the following:
1. Students will have an opportunity to facilitate an in-class group experience to
practice targeted interventions.
2. Students will develop a "toolbox" of interventions they will apply during class
practice with their fellow students.
Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and
Skills)
· Various types of groups and factors which contribute to group formation and
function.
· Process and content issues.
· Stages of group growth and characteristics behaviors of each stage.
· The role and function of various group roles.
· The purpose and responsibility of a group facilitator.
· The appropriate and inappropriate use of counselor self-disclosure in a group
situation.
· The roles of facilitator and co-facilitator.
· Creating and implementing group interventions.
· Structured exercises appropriate to current stage of group growth.
· Confidentiality and membership selection.
· Informed consent for group treatment
· Addiction specific groups
· Addiction specific self-help meetings
· Principles of effective feedback
· Personal facilitation style
· Student strengths and growth areas in leadership role.
· Therapeutic curative factors in groups.
· Norms of behavior that promote growth within groups.
· Therapeutic interventions and when it is appropriate to use them.
· Group closure and evaluation of the group experience.
The course is intended as an introduction to the experiential and reflective
process of becoming a confident and effective group counselor within the
context of addiction counseling.
This course emphasizes the development of the student’s ability to plan,
use critical thinking skills, and be self-directed.

Course Activities:
Assigned readings, Videos, Discussions and Review
In-Class Skills Building Exercises-Roleplays
Group Research Development
Curriculum Development
Group Facilitation