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Prior to the first official meeting, as a group we will discuss and model what these ground rules look like. We will come up with cues to determine who is going to talk and when.

I will determine the basic foundation of the group to ensure we are able to succeed in a timely manner, but my main role will be a facilitator.

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The members of this group are 7th grade students that are not having academic success. This is a closed group and is goal oriented.

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My group is made up of a small group of 7th grade students that are failing multiple classes on their report cards and are at risk of failing for the academic year.  All these students have made it this far, so they can be successful.  This setback is a setup for a comeback.

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The leadership style that will work best with this group is a Participative style. Guidance is offered to the participants. Participants in this group tend to feel more involved and motivated.

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Yalom's Curative Factors of Group Treatment - Direct Advice

Since the students will be trying to achieve success, and need specific guidance, the students will be receiving direct advice. They will be given suggestions for strategies and for handling problems.

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When working with students, counselors have a long list of legal requirements they must fulfill. Specifically, when it comes to group counseling, there are guidelines that must be complied with. For example, counselors must "offer culturally sustaining small-group counseling services based on individual student, school and community needs; student data; a referral process; and/or other relevant data." (American School Counselor Association, 2022).  This small group would specifically be guiding the individual students to gain personal success.

There would also need to be some sort of justification and data that backs up the goals and outcomes of the group. It is expected that counselors "use data to inform group topics, establish well-defined expectations and measure the outcomes of group participation." (American School Counselor Association, 2022). When creating these groups it is important that the counselor stays in their lane and does not try to perform duties that they are not certified to perform.

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(American School Counselor Association, 2022)

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Counselors have to make decisions regarding students on a daily basis. Some of the topics they are presented with may not align with their personal beliefs or may be out of the scope of their practice. It is important that the counselor makes ethical decisions when guiding a student. For example "consider the student’s chronological age and developmental level." (American School Counselor Association, 2022). Students all mature at different rates, but there are some expectations that are age appropriate that can be taught. Unreasonable or underachieving expectations should be avoided.

Another ethical decision that counselors must face is teaching the students by example how to "apply the ethical principle of Fidelity: honoring commitments and keeping promises, including fulfilling one’s responsibilities of trust in professional relationships." (American School Counselor Association, 2022). Counselors can stand by their students and support and model these expectations.

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M4. Self Confidence in the ability to succeed

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Learning Strategy

B-LS 3. Time Management, organizational, and study skills

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Self Management Skills

B-SMS 5. Perseverance to achieve long- and short-term goals

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Social Skills

B-SS 1. Effective oral and written communication and listening skills

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Administration will receive an email notice of the program with goals and an expected timeline.

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Teachers will be introduced to the program at a faculty meeting. There will be an opportunity to discuss reasonings, goals, and a Q & A session. Teachers will receive a list via Google Suite of names of students who will be in the program. They will be able to edit as needed. Teachers will also have an input form for enrolled students as well as requests for future student recommendations.

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Students will receive a formal invitation requesting their presence at the counselors office for the biweekly Comeback Crew's meeting.

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Parents will receive notification via mail and email that their child will be participating in the program. If the permission form is not returned, counselor will make phone contact.

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The students will be informed via invitation. This invitation will give a short preview of group expectations.

Students will be in a group counseling Google Classroom. A survey will be sent out to determine readiness, willingness, and interest.

Students will be screened individually for qualifications.

The qualifications are explicit and well-defined, as outlined in the plan. Grades are the number one qualifier.

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Parental consent will be sent home and obtained before services begin. Student consent will be obtained in the form of expectations and a social contract.

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Building relationships is an important part of the process. The counselor and students will get to know each other and develop a social contract, following the Capturing Kids Hearts model.

How do you want to be treated by the counselor?

How do you want to be treated by each other?

How do you think the counselor wants to be treated by you?

How do we want to treat each other when there is conflict?

The group will make and sign a confidentiality contract together.

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Capturing Kids Hearts also has behavioral questions that help facilitate a respectful atmosphere which can help keep members working to their top potential.

What are you doing?

What are you supposed to be doing?

Why are you doing that?

What are you going to do about that?

Each week, students will have an exit ticket recognizing their own progress, and I will have access to grade information to see if there is progress. Teachers will also have a quick weekly survey to acknowledge growth.

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The students will know from the beginning that this is a closed group, and it will only last for a 6 weeks.

Potentially, the students may return to a future group if they are still struggling.

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American School Counselor Association. (2022). ASCA ethical standards for school counselors. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/About-School-Counseling/Ethical-Responsibilities/ASCA-Ethical-Standards-for-School-Counselors-(1)

Capturing Kids' Hearts. (2023). Welcome. Capturing Kids’ Hearts. https://www.capturingkidshearts.org/

Cherry, K. (2023, June 27). How to lead: 6 leadership styles and frameworks. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/leadership-styles-2795312

Missouri Professional School Counselors and Counselor Educators. (2015). Professional school counselor small group counseling guide: A professional school counselor's guide to planning, implementing, and evaluating school-based counseling groups.

Texas Education Agency. (2018). The Texas model for comprehensive school counseling programs (5th ed.). Texas Counseling Association. https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/Pub_2018_Texas-Model_5th-Edition.pdf.

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