Learning Group Leadership – An Experiential Approach

Learning Group Leadership: An Experiential Approach equips readers with the basic information, theory, concepts, research, interventions, and guidelines required to help them develop into effective group leaders within a variety of settings. The book employs an experiential approach, encouraging readers to apply what they learn to common scenarios in their personal and professional lives.

In the fourth edition of this popular, student-centered, and practical text students first explore the foundations of group work, studying concepts related to group dynamics, multicultural dimensions, key approaches to group intervention, and more. Part II focuses on the skills a group leader must possess in order to lead effectively. Specific topics include group assessment, specialized leadership skills, intervention, and group techniques and structures. In Part III, readers learn how to handle and address coleadership, critical incidents, and the ethical issues. The final section examines advanced group leadership challenges and techniques, including working with difficult members, employing creative interventions, and the application of group leadership to social justice and social action initiatives.

The new edition of Learning Group Leadership features updated references and materials drawn from cross-disciplinary fields on group dynamics, increased focus on social justice and advocacy in group settings, numerous activities and reflection exercises, and emphasis on the student experience of being in a group and the early stages of becoming an effective group leader.

This text is a valuable resource for courses in counseling, social work, psychology, human services, health professions, and education, or any course with a focus on effectively leading groups.

Matt Englar-Carlson is a professor of counseling and the co-director of the Center for Boys and Men at California State University, Fullerton. A former school counselor, he has taught group counseling and process to thousands of students and has facilitated groups in schools, community settings, work sites, and university settings.

Jeffrey A. Kottler is one of the most prominent authors in the fields of counseling, psychotherapy, health, and education, having written over 100 books across a broad range of topics. He is a clinical professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and professor emeritus of counseling at California State University, Fullerton. He has served as a counselor, therapist, supervisor, educator, and social justice advocate in a variety of professional settings throughout his career.