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Friendship Builders is a small counseling group for K-2 students focusing on social skills, conflict resolution, empathy and effective communication.

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This group will target developmental outcomes that mirror the ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors while maintaining a clinical counseling focus.

Self-Management-Clients will practice strategies to regulate emotions and resolve conflicts.

Interpersonal Effectiveness-Clients will demonstrate improved communication and empathy skills.

Wellness- Clients will increase positive peer interactions that support mental health and social functioning.

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Parents, teachers, administrators and other mental health professionals have access.

Newsletters, clinic/school website postings

Flyers in waiting areas

Information sessions during parent-teacher nights

Collaboration with teachers and case managers for referrals.

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Purpose: Ensure client readiness

Steps:

Individual intake with client and parent.

Screening tool-brief questions on friendships and peer concerns.

Teacher/caregiver input for development

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Requirements: Parent written consent & child assent.

Resources: Informed consent templates

LPC Ethics: ACA A.2b; TAC 681.41- informed consent must be outline purpose, risks, limits of confidentiality, voluntary nature.

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In this group, rules will include respect, turn-taking, kindness and confidentiality reminders. The counselor will set boundaries such as confidentiality, limits and safety expectations, while students will be encouraged to generate their own kindness agreements and sharing rules. These steps are essential in establishing boundaries, safety and ethical climate.

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For this group, I would utilize a democratic leadership style. This approach encourages empowerment among group members while still maintaining necessary structure. It is particularly effective for young children, as they benefit from both guided modeling and opportunities to practice new skill with support. As their counselor I will direct the children, allowing them to feel a sense of ownership, and safety within the group. This leadership style also reflects humanistic, child-centered approach, which aligns with the developmental counseling perspective of an LPC, where the focus is on fostering growth, and positive relationships.

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Confidentiality:

ACA B.4.a -LPC must explain limits of confidentiality to both parents and minors.

TAC 681.41- Legal mandate for LPCs in Texas.

As an LPC, I must clearly explain the limits of confidentiality to both parents and children. While clients are asked to respect the privacy by keeping group discussions withing the group, it is not guaranteed because of the setting. By upholding these guidelines, I will protect my client welfare and foster a safe environment for my clients.

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

Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. (2024). Texas Administrative Code, Title 22, Part 30, Chapter 681: Licensed professional counselors. Texas Secretary of State.

Yalom, I.D., & Leszcz, M. (2020). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy (6th ed.). Basic Books

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As an LPC, I will facilitate the process and monitor risks through these three stages.

Stage 1 (Trust): Icebreakers, establishing norms, confidentiality discussions.

Stage 2 (Working): Role-playing, empathy-building, communication games.

Stage 3 (Closure): Friendship toolbox, review progress, celebrate growth.

Yalom and Leszcz (2020) describe these stages as essential to healthy group functioning, and the counselor has an ethical obligation to facilitate closure responsibility to prevent feeling of abandonment (ACA,2014).

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In this group, several of Yalom's Therapeutic factors naturally emerge as children interact with one another.

Universality is present when students recognize that others share similar struggles, helping reduce feelings of isolation, building a sense of belonging.

Instillation of hope is also fostered in this group as children observe peers learn new skills and start to believe they can also succeed.

Altruism occurs in the group when members help and support each other, strengthening peer relationships but also increases each child's sense of self-worth.

All of these factors create a safe and positive environment allowing growth, empathy, and connection within the counseling process.

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Informed Consent:

ACA A.2.b- Clients (parents for minors) must understand group purpose, risks, benefits, and rights.

Texas Education Code 33 (if in schools + ASGW Best Practice Guidelines (2015).

Informed consent is another essential requirement. Before children can participate in group counseling, written approval must be obtained. Informed consent documents explain the purpose of the group, how the sessions are set up, riskd, expected benefits and limits of confidentiality. The ACA code of Ethics (2014) requires counselors to obtain consent in a manner that is developmentally appropriate and ensures understanding. This process protects the rights of children and families supporting ethical LPC practice.