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Running head: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE GROUP SESSIONS 1 Domestic Violence Group Counseling Sessions Grace Belt Capella University COUN5421: Group Counseling and Psychotherapy Dr. Dale Wayman September 10th, 2023

Domestic Violence Group Sessions 2 Introduction The target population for this proposed group is victims of domestic violence. The group will be designed as a psychotherapy group. Specifically, a revolving membership group where clients may join until they accomplish their goals, as needed. The group's title will be “Sounding Board,” which promotes anonymity, vagueness, and a non-obvious approach to the group. Domestic violence victims tend to live in hostile environments where their behaviors and routines are monitored or manipulated (James & Gilliland, 2016). It is essential for the counselor to respect and adhere to these factors while working with this population. The name “Sounding Board” could be construed as a board game group, a music group, or anything else the victim can use to hide their plan for recovery from a toxic partnership. The group will be described as a support group to promote connections among domestic violence victims by providing a confidential and safe space for healing without fear of scrutiny. In this support group, each victim can learn about various types of domestic abuse, gain support from other victims or survivors, and foster rapport and personal growth from shared experiences. This support group will meet weekly for 4 to 6 months, depending on need and attrition. The purpose of this group is to establish healthy coping mechanisms, gain confidence and autonomy and build a trusted community of like-minded and experienced individuals. The rationale is to promote advocacy for domestic violence victims. The Journal of Women and Social Work published an article that analyzed multiple theoretical frameworks while working with intimate partner violence. The findings “revealed that empowerment, feminism, and strengths-based perspective are dominant lenses for practice,” but that professionals are more open to “adopting hope theory” as an emerging clinical model (Wood, 2014). Feminism theory promotes the importance of social context, addresses personal

Domestic Violence Group Sessions 3 and political connections, recognizes the integration of diversity and differences, and draws attention to power relations interpersonally (Kottler & Montgomery, 2017). This theoretical framework is valuable when working with domestic violence victims. Counselors familiar with feminist theory and various associated interventions will foster an understanding of the clients as individuals and humanity as a collective in the current society (Fall, 2013). This theory can help the group dynamics and group stages to flourish. The forming phase of the group will be when group members decide how much they will disclose and how safe the group is. Members get acquainted with the group session routine, other members, facilitators, and subject matter. This stage is crucial to establish authentic communication, consistent tone and behavior, and empathy as the counselor. This could be an opportunity to possibly self-disclose, if appropriate. Self-disclosure may help foster positive rapport between the group members and the facilitator (Gladding, 2020). The storming stage can be intense or short-lived. If trust and safety is embedded and proven within the initial stage, the transition stage will be smooth. If there are still doubts of trust and safety, members may become defensive and anxious (Fall, 2013). It is the counselor's duty to mediate any conflict that arises in a professional and ethical manner (ACA, 2014). Establishing trust is a key component in group counseling and mental health counseling in general. Practitioners must be aware of their demeanor, bias, and overall knowledge of certain subjects to ensure members consider them authentic and qualified to lead a group. The norming stage ebbs and flows and is contingent on the group's progress. If a group is in a norming stage, progress is being made and should be celebrated with positive reinforcement. The adjourning stage is when treatment goals are met and certain members are ready for termination from the group. As their counselor, it is important to remind members of informed

Domestic Violence Group Sessions 4 consent and to terminate their participation with notice ahead of time. Reminding members of confidentiality agreements is crucial, even when not participating in the group actively anymore. Interventions utilized should be based on evidence-based practices. Establishing goals is part of treatment planning and monitoring the progress of the counselor and clients. In this group’s case, ensuring safety, establishing trust, and preventing relapse are the goals to aim for in treatment. This will be measured by an anonymous survey asking the members about their experiences after each session.

Domestic Violence Group Sessions 5 Group Counseling Session Plan Group Name: Sounding Board Group Topic: Domestic Violence Victim Support Session Focus: Introductions, Group Purpose, Informed Consent, Establishing Rapport Time/Duration: Month of April - the second Tuesday of every month starting at 7pm EST. The duration of each group session is 90 minutes, with a 20 minute intervention/break in between. Session #: __1___of __6___ Stage of Group/Short Description of Group Dynamics Last Session: The current stage of the D.V. Group is “forming.” The group members are still observing one another and look to the facilitator for social cues. The group members are sticking to safer topics, maintaining a baseline rapport with one another. Member trust is forming, but most are still hesitant and some are possibly eager. Group Norms: 1. Confidentiality is essential, we expect that each person will respect and maintain the confidentiality of the group. What is said in the group is not to be repeated or discussed at any other time or place. Confidentiality is the core value of this group, as it advocates for member safety, especially regarding the topics we may discuss. Confidentiality includes non-disclosure of the meeting location, time and members. 2. We are here to share our own feelings and experiences; we try not to give advice unless directly asked for by a member. 3. We try to accept people, just as they are, and we actively avoid making judgments. (e.g. whispered remarks, passive aggressive chuckles or facial expressions). 4. We give supportive attention to the person who is speaking and avoid side conversations. 5. We try to give everyone an opportunity to share. 6. We have the right to speak and the right to remain silent. 7. We avoid interrupting. If we make this mistake, we return the conversation to the person who was speaking.

Domestic Violence Group Sessions 6 8. We have the right to ask questions and the right to refuse to answer. 9. We do not discuss group members who are not present. 10. We begin and end our meetings on time, to ensure consistency and safety for every member attending these sessions. Session Purpose: The purpose of session 1 is to establish trust and rapport between group members, as well as the facilitator. Session Objectives: The objective of session 1 is to disclose informed consent to group members by providing a detailed description of ethical guidelines, member expectations, access to the group sessions, time and duration of each session, confidentiality agreements and constraints, as well as goals for each current & future session. It is also imperative to mention the purpose & rationale of this group, which is outlined in the above introduction. Resources: Resources needed for the first session include a written informed consent agreement that will be signed by each participating member and held confidentially by the group facilitator. The session will also require individual whiteboards and dry erase markers for the group activity. Opening: The warm up activity is designed to help form group cohesion. Since this is the first session, the warm up activity will include an introduction to each individual. The facilitator will ask everyone to go around the room and introduce themselves first by first name. After name introductions, each member will be given a small white-board and dry erase marker. The group facilitator will then ask “this or that '' questions (e.g. road trip or fly) and give time for each member to discuss with the group why they chose their answer. Main Discussion/Activity/Guided Practice: The main discussion of the first session is about trust. Each member will utilize their whiteboards to write one word, or phrase that resonates with them when they think of trust. The facilitator will give the members 3 minutes to think of their word or phrase, then open the group to discussion. Members who are willing to share their reasoning may raise their hand and speak up. Members who do not wish to disclose their reasoning may feel free to show their whiteboard answer and then proceed to listen to others who want to share. Closing: The group facilitator will provide positive reinforcement and authentic compassion for what members decided to share in this first session. The group facilitator will open the floor up to questions regarding the group sessions, participation and overall expectations of the group. The facilitator will end with a preview of the next session. Session 2 will focus on emotions. Preparing the group members for session 2 is recommended due to the topic of emotions possibly being intense and triggering to discuss. Group Counseling Skills/Therapeutic Interventions Utilized: The forming stage is “the process of putting the structure of the team together” (Gladding, 2020). Team members feel ambiguous and conflict is avoided at all costs due to the need to be accepted into the group. Team members look to a group leader for direction and guidance. The skills utilized during this session were genuine compassion, leadership roles, and establishing rapport while communicating informed consent. Interventions used in this session were ice breaker activities. Methods of Evaluation:

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