Group Microskills Approach Involved In A Theme-Centered Group Session

Group Microskills: Encountering Diversity

The Microskills approach was a demonstration of a group of individuals in a counseling session. The group is made up of a diversity of religious beliefs, gender, race, and culture. In this video, the group leader Lynn Banez, illustrates various methods of skills training in a theme-centered group session (Alexandria, VA: Microtraining Associates; 1:25, 2002). According to Ivey (Alexandria, VA: Microtraining Associates; 2002), the Microskills approach is the most researched method of skills training. Nonetheless issues, concerns, and problems are present by group members. As Lynn leads the group, she approaches the group with ways to bring forth positive assets of each group member, she continues
For example; While discussing topic each of the group members voiced their opinions with very little if conflict. Conflict was almost absent. I feel the reason that the group was comfortable discussing these topics, was a result of how Lynn opened the group by informing the group of the group theme, then insuring safety, and group rules. By opening the group in this way, established a of rapport, among the group leaders. The skill she used was structuring. This skill was continued throughout the group by allowing group members to form individual groups. In these subgroups, one person had to introduce themselves to each other, and then allow one person in their sub group to introduce himself and the person in their subgroup they interviewed (6:00) (Alexandria, VA: Microtraining Associates; 6:00, 2002). The purpose of this exercise was to positively explore and introduce the other group members issues, concerns and problems using what you believe what you heard were their two most salient
This intervention, of leader self-disclosure, allowed individuals to focus on themselves and the group leader, which demonstrated a level of member difficulty of being uncomfortable. However, it also taught groups members the ability of working through the difficulty. Parallel Self-Disclosure, (Alexandria, VA: Microtraining Associates; 51:00, 2002), was a new skill set that I was not familiar with, however by examining this skill, introduced to me the ability for members to express the inner most feeling to be shared throughout the group. For example; Theresa, another group member felt the need to rescue another group member Julius as he disclosed what it was like to feel oppressed as an African American