EDA3013 – Assignment 02 561385 C. Thompson - 56068484
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GUIDANCE, COUNSELLING AND LIFE SKILLS
EDUCATION FOR THE SUBJECT TEACHER
EDA3013 – ASSIGNMENT 02 – 561385
By: Christopher John Thompson (56068484)
On: 02 September 2015
Table of Index
Page Description
1 Cover Page
2 Question 1
3 Question 2.1
4 Question 2.2
4-5 Question 2.3
5-8 Question 3 – Case Study
9 Declaration form
10 Blank Page
Page 1 of 10
, EDA3013 – Assignment 02 561385 C. Thompson - 56068484
Question 1
Learning from our surroundings requires more than just our five senses and a good attitude.
Learners, teachers and principals alike are able to grow and develop new skills and values
through the effective use of group counselling. By working together under the controlled
guidance of a counsellor, challenging objectives such as solving personal, social or relational
problems.
Combining efforts and forming groups is a natural human tendency, allowing more effective
works and results being achieved. By exploiting this occurrence, we begin to channel group
efforts towards solving specific problems being experienced. Now if solving problems could
be transformed into an enjoyable activity which includes pleasure and satisfaction, how much
more inviting would this opportunity sound and what would be the implications for your school,
home or workplace?
Through the realization that one is not dealing with a specific problem alone, without
assistance, the burden is shared. By experiencing this, the problem changes from enormous
to manageable, brining hope and ideas to solve the ‘unsolvable’ problem. As a result, by
including other people, the person is able to gain a better understanding of themselves and
of others as the group moves collectively forward.
As the group interacts, an opportunity to examine unique behaviours demonstrated within
the group becomes openly available. We also receive the opportunity to influence other
group members because group counselling allows this to happen in a controlled and ordered
manner. This a significant reason as to why group counselling can influence behaviour
across a wide range of areas such as growing, learning, copying styles, values, career
development and social adjustment.
Real life situations, including families, schools and clubs, ethnic and larger national groups
are observed from a unique perspective, as a group, and not only as an individual. This
approach opens new doors for constructive support and feedback, which are two essential
ingredients for effective counselling. By observing the impact of these real life situation on
the lives of others, alternative solutions are discovered to everyday problems across a broad
spectrum of everyday life. Another invaluable instrument becomes available to the
cooperating members, that by observing the behaviour within the group, one is able to reflect
on how he or she reacts in a real life situation or society.
Group counselling is dependent on social interaction within a controlled environment, and as
a result, this social interaction would best be used to deal with social problems. People who
have experienced difficulty in collaborating with peers, parents, educators or other
authorities would best suit group counselling over individual counselling for example. Group
counselling is also recommended for shy or aggressive people, people who have difficulty
maintaining friendships or people who have been treated badly by society.
In closing, and in the context of the school environment, group counselling is an immensely
cherished service which is easily attainable within the classroom and within the school as a
whole (i.e. morning assemblies), assisting learners with real life issues such as negative
relationships between learners and educators, study habits, success and failure in school,
career decisions, amorous relationships, family life and interacting with the community. The
goals of group counselling are clearly reliant on the honest and objective analysis of our
behaviour when interacting with other key people in our lives.
Reference: Study Guide for EDA3013, Pages 117-119, 3.13.2–Group Interviews
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