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Empowered Minds is a psychoeducational group for female adolescents with open child protective services cases. Female adolescents participating in this group are between the ages ages 15-17 and suffer from, or are at risk for depression. Empowered Minds aims to empower the lives and minds of female adolescents.

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By participating in Empowered Minds female adolescents will gain the skills, knowledge, and attitudes to achieve successful emotional development by meeting the following  Mindset and Behavior standards:

M 1. Belief in development of whole self, including a healthy balance of mental, social/emotional and physical well-being

M 5. Belief in using abilities to their fullest to achieve high-quality results and outcomes

B-LS 7. Identify long- and short-term academic, career and social/ emotional goals s

B-SMS 7. Demonstrate effective coping skills when faced with a problem

B-SS 2. Create positive and supportive relationships with other students

B-SS 3. Create relationships with adults that support success

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Empowered Minds will be advertised using a digital flyer. A mass email will be sent to all supervisors within the Department of Family Protective Services. Supervisors can then forward the email/flyer to all caseworkers who can utilize the group resource.

Caseworkers within the department are then able to print the Empowered Minds flyer and distribute it to parents and the female adolescents on their caseload who can benefit from the services offered by the group.

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For female adolescents to be eligible for Empowered Minds they must me one of the following:

1. Diagnosed with depression

2. At risk of depression

A referral will be made by the female adolescents caseworker and submitted to the the groups facilitator. Once there are 10-15 referrals submitted, all individuals will be invited to the DFPS office for screening and individual assessment.

At this time, the groups goals and mission will be explained to each individual. During this screening individuals will be asked about their thoughts and feelings about depression. Also during the screening individuals will be asked about their interest and commitment to the group Empowered Minds.

An opportunity for questions or concerns about the group will be presented to the potential member at the end of the screening.

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Individuals who have been selected for Empowered Minds after the screening process, will be sent home with an informed consent form, this is due to DFPS policy. This form will need to be signed by a parent or legal guardian by the first session of group.
To ensure parents understand exactly what the groups purpose is, the caseworker for the groups member will place a phone call to the parent(s)/legal guardian in order to explain the groups purpose.
Along with parent(s) or legal guardian signing a consent form the groups participant will also sign a consent form during the first session of Empowered Minds.

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Stage 1:  In this stage members and the facilitator will introduce themselves, bond, and build trust. During this stage members will be asked how they currently feel about depression. The facilitator's role and background will be introduced during this stage as well. Confidentiality will be continually enforced and brought up during this stage. Members will be made aware that even though confidentiality is enforced and promoted, sometimes there may be limits due to the facilitator ethics and other members morals and values.
Stage 2:  Because this group is limited to 5 female only members there is an opportunity to build long lasting friendships, bonds, and unity. Members will be encouraged to not view other members as "people with the same issues", but as someone they can work with to better their overall all mental health.  During the beginning of each sessions members will be asked what about the group is working well for them and what is not working well. This allows the facilitator to check in on progress as well as make necessary adjustments.
Stage 3: During group closure members will be asked again how they feel about depression. This will allow the members to reflect on who they were before group and who they after. This will ease the members thoughts about group closure. During group closure members will also be asked how they will handle future episodes of depression and what tools they will be utilizing from past group sessions. This will allow the members to feel empowered that they can handle future obstacles of depression without going to group. Ideally, the members will have each other for future support. Before ending this group closure all members will be reminded of the importance of confidentiality even when the group has ended.

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This group will have participative leadership. Because this group's focus is to change the behaviors and thought patterns in members, it is important for the facilitator and members to work collaboratively towards these goals. It is important for all participants to participate in group and allow input from the facilitator and other members of the group.

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Because this group is dealing with individuals and their mental health, therapeutic factors such as Instillation of Hope in that treatment mode can be effective to obstacles when dealing with depressions.
Universality may be present because members will meet others who are dealing with the same issues they are. They will also be practicing the same behavior changes and sharing common goals.

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A set of participant ground rules have been predetermined and are as follows:

1. All group members must abide, maintain, and respect group confidentiality.

2. Group members will have a 5 minute grace period for tardiness.

3.  Cell phones and other electronic devices must be kept on silent and not taken out during the session, unless it's an emergency.

4. All group members are encouraged to actively participate in each group session.

5. Group members do not have to talk about and issue they are not comfortable sharing with others.

6. If a member misses 2 sessions of group, they will be forfeiting there admission into the group.

7. One person, whether it be the facilitator or group member speaks at a time.

During the first group sessions members will be presented with the group rules and asked is they have any questions or concerns about the rules. Once feedback is presented by members, ground rules may be adjusted or rules may be added before members sign their consent forms.

Failure to comply with the groups ground rules will result in termination from the group.

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C.7.b. Development and Innovation
When counselors use developing or innovative techniques/procedures/ modalities, they explain the potential risks, benefits, and ethical considerations of using such techniques/procedures/ modalities. Counselors work to minimize any potential risks or harm when
using these techniques/
procedures/modalities.

Overall this ethical requirement will help me focus on the potential risk and benefits when using techniques, procedures and modalities. I think this is important because it's a reminder that not everyone will react or is expected to react to techniques, procedures and modalities in the same way. What may benefit one person may be a risk to another.

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

American School Counselor
Association (2014, September).
Mindsets and behaviors for
student success: K-12 college-
and career-readiness standards  for every student.   https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/home/MindsetsBehaviors.pdf

Cherry, K. (2020, August 3). What
are prominent leadership styles
and frameworks you should
know?https://www.verywellmind.com/leadership-styles-2795312.

Missouri Comprehensive Guidance
and Counseling Programs.
(2015, May). Review of school
based small group counseling.
https://blackboard.angelo.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-2593306-dt-content-rid-25084198_2/courses/11576.202110/11576.202110_ImportedContent_20200725054815/Review of Small Based Group Counseling(1).pdf

Yalom ID. (1995). The theory and
practice of group psychotherapy
(4th ed.). New York: Basic
Books.

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C.2.d. Monitor Effectiveness Counselors continually monitor their effectiveness as professionals and take steps to improve when necessary. Counselors take reasonable steps to seek peer supervision to evaluate their efficacy as counselors.

Overall this ethical requirement will help me maintain the focus and effectiveness of the group. If it is noted that something is not working, I am responsible for seeking supervision and guidance.