This digest focuses on group counseling and how counselors can learn to lead groups effectively. There is a natural tendency for people to gather in groups for mutually beneficial purposes. A section on beginning counseling groups stresses the importance of pregroup planning. A number of issues that can affect the effectiveness of groups are addressed, including the objectives of group counseling, group membership and the screening of potential group members, rules in counseling groups, the time and place of group meetings, and group dynamics. A section on group stages provides a brief overview of the five stages that groups go through: (1) dependency or forming; (2) conflict or storming; (3) cohesion or norming; (4) interdependence or performing; and (5) termination or adjourning. The next section deals with group counseling skills. Important interpersonal skills that leaders of effective counseling groups need to employ are discussed, including active listening, linking, blocking, and summarizing. The digest concludes that conducting effective group counseling relies on the preparation of group leaders and their abilities to plan and conduct groups. (NB)