ABSTRACT
Below are several benefits that counselors and client’s enjoy through par ticipation in a group experience. The group setting can
provide fellowship,
teach listening skills,
provide a sense of belonging,
parallel real-life situations, 77
develop rapid intimate relationships,
provide opportunities for peer confrontation,
conform participants to positive peer-group norms,
provide encouragement and praise from other group members,
provide a safe place to experiment with new behaviors,
provide an opportunity to confront the bias of a counselor in safety,
facilitate group interaction and other social skills,
provide positive and negative feedback from other group members,
meet the needs of a specific age group or those with a specific disorder,
decrease prejudice by learning of similarities with others, and
relieve feelings of personal isolation (especially helpful for sexual abuse victims and teen mothers).
