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The Creativity Cluster will use the Participant Ground Rules from the Missouri Professional School Counselors Small Group Counseling Guide. These guidelines ensure all participants can feel heard, and they allow for the group to set a few of its own norms.

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This group would best benefit from a Participative Leadership style. It is important that the facilitator has final say so the students feel safe, but the students should also be able to influence the activities and how they choose to participate, since that will aid them in asserting their needs towards their identity formation.

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In Stage 1, we will establish relationships and trust through low stakes creative icebreakers like play doh sculptures and guided positive feedback. The group norms will be set in session one to ensure they are the foundation from the beginning.

In Stage 2, we will make sure we stay cohesive through formative checks (exit tickets) at the end of each session.

In Stage 3, we will look back at a slide show of all of the activities and talk about what we learned. The counselor will deliver a post group survey to determine growth, as well as reiterate the importance of confidentiality moving forward.

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A.9.b. Protecting Clients In a group setting, counselors take reasonable precautions to protect clients from physical, emotional, or psychological trauma. (ACA Code of Ethics, 2014)
These students will already be considered by the state to be at-risk. The group topics will likely bring up some difficult emotions for them. Therefore, the counselor must be vigilant in protecting the students' emotional well-being. If a student has an adverse reaction to a discussion or activity, the crisis counselor for the district will be on call to aid the student.

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B.3.a. Subordinates Counselors make every effort to ensure that privacy and confidentiality of clients are maintained by subordinates, including employees, supervisees, students, clerical assistants, and volunteers. (ACA Code of Ethics, 2014)

The norm of confidentiality will be reiterated at the opening of each session. If a student breaks this norm, she will be asked to leave the group.

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American Counseling Association. (2014). ACA 2014 code of ethics - american counseling association. American Counseling Association. https://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf

Kendra Cherry, Mse. (2023, June 27). 6 leadership styles and Frameworks. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/leadership-styles-2795312

Missouri Professional School Counselors and School Educators. (2015). Professional School Counselor Small Group Counseling Guide. Professional school counselor small group counseling guide. https://missouricareereducation.org/doc/smallgroup/SmallGroupCounseling.pdf

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ASCA Mindsets/Behaviors Students Will Master

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ASCA Mindsets/Behaviors Students Will Master

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B-LS 2. Creative approach to learning, tasks and problem solving

B-SS 8. Advocacy skills for self and others and ability to assert self, when necessary

B-SMS 7. Effective coping skills

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The "Creativity Cluster" will be a small group for 8-10 high school aged girls who have been identified at-risk and who struggle with identity formation and connection. Each week, the students will explore creative self-expression and positive communication strategies.

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This group will not be publicized in the traditional sense. Because it is aimed at at-risk kids, and because of its focus on identity formation and self-esteem, I thought it would be best to have the group be invitation-only. It is important that the group functions cohesively and harmoniously. However, when I ask for student nominations from the teachers, I will give a brief overview of the group so that educators know how to choose the best candidates.

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Once the counselor identifies possible member, teachers will select students they think could benefit from participation in the group. Finally, the counselor will meet with possible candidates to see who is interested in joining.

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My district requires consent from a parent in order for students to participate via a permission slip form, which I have attached.  I also plan to put a cover sheet explaining what the group is about along with the slip, since "group counseling" can sometimes seem intimidating to some parents.

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I think the two most likely therapeutic factors to come from this group will be Universality and Imparting of Information.

The girls will find that a struggle with identity is a common, and even necessary part of growing up, and that creativity can help to aid the process. They will also gain knowledge of various techniques in mindfulness to aid them in this pursuit.

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Once teachers have identified students who might be good candidates from the at-risk list, the counselor will hold brief interviews with each student in which she will explain the basic purpose of the group, the meeting times, and a few of the activities. If the student expresses sufficient interest in joining, she will be given the permission slip for her parents to sign. If more then 10 girls bring back slips, the counselor will consider running two separate groups.