ERIC Number: EJ1051279
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0193-3922
EISSN: N/A
Group Work during International Disaster Outreach Projects: A Model to Advance Cultural Competence
West-Olatunji, Cirecie; Henesy, Rachel; Varney, Melanie
Journal for Specialists in Group Work, v40 n1 p38-54 2015
Given the rise in disasters worldwide, counselors will increasingly be called upon to respond. Current accreditation standards require that programs train students to become skillful in disaster/crisis interventions. Group processing to enhance self-awareness and improve conceptualization skills is an essential element of such training. This article disseminates information from a case study analysis on the experiences of 7 counselor-trainees during a 28-day international outreach trip to southern Africa, which involved daily group processing. The authors identified 2 major themes: (a) Struggle and Discomfort and (b) Growth. Working through struggle/discomfort strengthened group cohesion and facilitated the participants' growth. Significant findings for group workers who engage in international outreach, implications for counselor development, and recommendations for future research are discussed.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Outreach Programs, Emergency Programs, Cultural Awareness, Group Counseling, Counselor Training, Intervention, Crisis Intervention, Case Studies, Grounded Theory, Graduate Students, Counselor Educators, Counseling Services, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Counselor Attitudes, Professional Development
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Africa; Botswana; South Africa
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A