CHAPTER 2: SCREENING OF MEMBERS: "EVERYONE IS WELCOME".

The article discusses an incident, which suggests that pre-selection of group members, is one of the most critical factors in the preparation for group counseling. In an incident, a counselor who has just obtained emergency certification as a school counselor, shares some issues of the students which were related to suicidal tendency, sexual activeness, stealing, alcoholism, physical abuse at the first meeting. After the session, the counselor is overwhelmed and believes that she did not have the skills and knowledge necessary to conduct a group. According to the authors, the group counselor should have the concepts of group dynamics, leadership styles, planning, skills and techniques of dealing with problem members. Prescreening and pregroup procedures in school counseling are extensive and important to utilizing group work in an ethical and helpful way.