Exercise in group counselling as defined as when the leader directs the behaviour, discussion or attention of the group member by using specific activity. When conducting the exercise, leader should consider about members’ cultural background, age level and needs of group. Moreover, every exercise must have its purpose and relevant to the objective, rather than simply conducting it.
Table shows the reasons/ advantages of using exercise in group as well as the example of exercises.
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Reason/ Advantage of exercise in group counselling |
Explanation and example of exercise |
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1. Increase comfort level |
-reduce anxiety Dyads – prepare to discuss personal topic Written exercise – know what to say, more comfortable to read what they wrote |
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2. Leader gains useful information |
Rounds – use single word to describe… that can help leader focus the group Draw out idea A thing that represent themselves |
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3. create discussion and focus the group |
-increase member participation -stimulate member interest and energy -make concept more visual and concrete -get member focus on topic |
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4. shift the focus |
-when new topic is needed |
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5. Deepen the focus |
-member can gain insight into themselves -asked to share/ experience something at more intense level |
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6. Provide experiential learning |
- act it out rather than merely discuss it -explore issue by acting out the theme |
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7. Provide fun and relaxation * don’t too much |
When group need a change of pace Fun exercise = pass the mask Relaxation exercise= group massage/ a series of relaxation step |
When to use exercise:
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1. When beginning a new group |
e.g: Opening name-and-info round reason to use: help member get focus on being in the group as -member often not focus on the task -nervous and unsure -something concern them at work -thinking something that just happened before that |
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2. when open subsequent group session |
I learned that exercise can be meaningful if only members spent time for personalizing and processing the exercise, rather than participate one exercise after another without discuss the content or result of the exercise. In other words, the exercise is meant to member when member is able to understand the purpose of exercise and gain insight from it.
Moreover, we were divided into different groups and each group is going to design exercise based on different kinds of exercises such as written exercise, movement exercise, rounds, dyads and triads, trust exercise and so on that assigned by lecturer. We have the opportunity to use our creativity to design the exercise, and then present the idea in class. After that, whole class decided together which exercise is more suitable to be used for helping and dealing with pregnant young ladies.