Counselling training is not just about mastering theory or developing technical skills. It’s also about personal growth, relationship-building, and understanding interpersonal dynamics. A key component of this process is group work. In this blog, we’ll explore the different types of groups in counselling training, their roles, and why they’re so valuable in shaping effective, empathetic therapists.
 

What kinds of groups are there in counselling training?

Counselling courses typically incorporate a few types of group work, each with their own unique purpose. These include:

1. Large groups: often used for general discussions, lectures, or shared experiences that encourage reflection on diverse perspectives.

2. Small experiential groups: safe spaces where trainees explore their emotions, share experiences, and gain insight into interpersonal dynamics.

3. Personal development (PD) groups: focused on self-awareness and personal growth, PD groups encourage participants to reflect on their emotional responses and relational patterns.

4. Skills development groups: practical sessions where students practise counselling techniques such as active listening, empathy, and summarising, often through role-plays.

Each of these group formats provides trainees with opportunities to learn in ways that solo study or one-on-one interactions cannot.
 

The benefits of group work in counselling training

Groups provide a reflective space: groups offer a unique environment for reflection. Whether in a PD group or a larger discussion, trainees are encouraged to explore how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours impact themselves and others. This helps deepen their understanding of self and client relationships.

Groups offer an opportunity to practise in a safe space: before interacting with real clients, group settings provide a safe environment to try out counselling techniques. Role-playing scenarios in skills groups, for instance, allow trainees to hone their skills and receive constructive feedback.

Groups help trainees gain an understanding of interpersonal dynamics: group work reveals the subtle ways people interact, communicate, and respond to conflict or emotions. This awareness is invaluable in recognising group processes and relational dynamics, which often parallel client-therapist interactions.

Groups provide mutual support and growth: being part of a group fosters a sense of community. Trainees learn not only from their own experiences, but also from observing and supporting others. Sharing vulnerabilities in PD groups, for example, can create a sense of solidarity and deepen empathy.
 

What challenges can groups bring?

Group work can be deeply enriching, but it also comes with challenges. Conflicts may arise, or trainees might find certain topics emotionally triggering. For example, endings in personal development groups can mirror feelings of loss or unresolved grief. Such challenges, however, are not barriers – they’re opportunities for growth. With skilled facilitation, trainees learn to navigate complex emotions and conflicts, equipping them to handle similar issues with clients.
 

Why are groups integral to counselling training?

Groups replicate many of the dynamics that therapists encounter with clients, such as power imbalances, communication difficulties, and the need for boundary setting. By participating in groups, trainees gain hands-on experience with these dynamics in real-time, making them better equipped to handle them in practice.
Additionally, group experiences often form a foundation for understanding theoretical concepts such as group dynamics, attachment styles, and relational patterns. Through participation, students experience first-hand how these theories play out, bridging the gap between academic study and practical application.

Groups play a central role in counselling training, offering an immersive, interactive way to develop both personally and professionally. They act as mirrors, reflecting the skills and challenges trainees will face in their counselling careers. From practising active listening in role-plays to exploring emotions in personal development sessions, group work is an invaluable part of the journey towards becoming a compassionate, effective therapist.

If you’re considering a counselling training course, you can look forward to the enriching experiences group work will bring. It’s about learning, but also about transformation.
 

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