Stress Less Snackers by

Stress Less Snackers Group Counseling

tblount16 — 2024-09-03 15:36:49 UTC

This group explores how stress affects eating behaviors in college students. We aim to understand the role of stress in unhealthy eating patterns and develop targeted strategies to address these issues. Although we do not focus on treating eating disorders, we aim to help students manage stress more effectively to promote healthier eating habits.

Group Rules

tblount16 — 2024-09-03 15:59:04 UTC

Before starting the group, the following rules will be set:

1. Treat everyone with respect. Do not speak over anyone who is talking or ridicule them in anyway.

2. Maintain confidentiality. Do not disclose anything said in this group to anyone who is not participating in these sessions.

3. Sharing is optional; you only need to share if you feel comfortable. Do not feel like you must share something that makes you uncomfortable or ashamed to discuss in front of your peers.

Additional rules will be discussed and agreed upon with the group during the first session.

Group Counseling Advertising

tblount16 — 2024-09-03 16:16:45 UTC

To promote this group, we plan to create and display flyers around the college campus to encourage students to contact Mr. Blount if they’re interested in joining. Information about the group will also be shared with relevant faculty and staff who might benefit from this information. We also plan to send information to our Communications and Marketing department to have them send out an email to everyone about this group and what they need to do if they wish to join.

Pre-Assessment Screening

tblount16 — 2024-09-03 16:22:37 UTC

Students who express interest in joining the group will first meet with the counselor individually for an assessment. The counselor will gather referrals from campus professional counselors and faculty members and arrange a meeting with a small group of college students who could benefit from the counseling services. During this small group screening, discussions will focus on stress eating and related issues. The group will then be introduced and explained, with an opportunity for questions if needed.

Informed Consent

tblount16 — 2024-09-03 16:37:50 UTC

Once the group members have been selected (no more than 10 participants), they will receive a consent form to sign during the first session. This form will detail the rules and confidentiality measures, in compliance which the student agrees to adhere to. It ensures that all information shared will remain within the group sessions and not be discussed outside.

ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors

tblount16 — 2024-09-03 16:49:06 UTC

Participation in this group will address the following Mindset standards for students:

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

M 2. Sense of acceptance, respect, support and inclusion for self and others in the school environment

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

Article: Relationships among perceived stress, emotional eating, and dietary intake in college students: Eating self-regulation as a mediator

tblount16 — 2024-09-03 16:56:53 UTC

This article explored the relationships of self-regulation in managing college students' consumption of sweets and soft drinks. It also points out the detrimental impact of perceived stress and emotional eating on their diet. The article greatly supported the need and beneficial reasons a group like this was created to help students with stress eating.

Group Dynamics

tblount16 — 2024-09-03 17:04:02 UTC

This group is designed for college students struggling with stress eating. Due to this specific issue, the group dynamics are distinctive.

Stage 1 will focus on creating a safe and supportive environment by dedicating time to build trust among the students. Given that gossip and preconceived notions may be present, the leader will need to address these biases to promote open and positive communication.

Stage 2 will involve activities and discussions aimed at fostering trust and encouraging students to share their experiences and strategies related to stress eating, helping each other build healthier habits.

Stage 3 will conclude with team-building exercises and a reflection session where participants share what they’ve learned about themselves and others. Students will be encouraged to maintain their support network through regular meetups, such as weekly gatherings. Follow-up sessions will be scheduled to evaluate the group’s effectiveness in addressing stress eating, including consultations with counselors and campus staff.

Legal Requirements

tblount16 — 2024-09-03 17:06:35 UTC

The Texas Administrative Code specifies the qualifications for a certified professional school counselor.

According to Standard 2 of Section 239.15, a certified school counselor is required to provide counseling to individuals and small groups using suitable counseling theories and techniques, addressing students' needs as detailed in The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs.

Ethical Requirements

tblount16 — 2024-09-03 17:08:17 UTC

The ASGW Best Practice Guidelines A.4. stipulate that group workers should identify the types of groups to offer and their relevance to community needs. This ethical guideline assists school counselors in performing a needs assessment to create targeted groups that address students' specific needs when necessary.

Leadership Style

tblount16 — 2024-09-03 17:14:58 UTC

This group will benefit most from a participative leadership style. Stress eating concerns should be approached with care, focusing on supporting students by providing guidance, participating in activities and discussions, and assisting students with personal responsibility in dealing with stress eating.

Therapeutic Factors

tblount16 — 2024-09-03 17:18:29 UTC

In this group for college students dealing with stress eating, we can see some of Yalom's Therapeutic Factors at play. One factor likely to emerge is Altruism. The group is designed to encourage students to support each other rather than criticize. The goal is for participants to develop and apply these supportive skills independently as the sessions continue. Universality will also be a significant factor in each session. Many students face challenges with stress eating and and the group will provide a sense of connection and understanding among those experiencing similar struggles.

References

tblount16 — 2024-09-04 15:05:06 UTC

American School Counselor Association. (2021). ASGW guiding principles: A framework for the ethical practice of group work. Association for Specialists in Group Work. https://asgw.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ASGW-Guiding-Principles-May-2021.pdf

American School Counselor Association. (2014). Mindsets & behaviors: K-12 college and career readiness standards for every student. American School Counselor Association. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/7428a787-a452-4abb-afec-d78ec77870cd/Mindsets-Behaviors.pdf

Ling, J., & Zahry, N. R. (2021). Relationships among perceived stress, emotional eating, and dietary intake in college students: Eating self-regulation as a mediator. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 147, 110-120. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022354921000601)

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. Retrieved from https://dese.mo.gov/sites/default/files/guid-respon-serv-small-group-counseling-guide-2015.pdf

Texas Register. (n.d.). 19 Texas Administrative Code § 239.15: School counselor duties. Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved September 3, 2024, from https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=19&pt=7&ch=239&rl=15

University of Portland. (2022). Group counseling consent form. https://www.up.edu/counseling/files/group-counseling-consent-form-2022.pdf

Counseling Webpage!

tblount16 — 2024-09-12 15:26:03 UTC

We invite you to explore the school's counseling webpage to discover a range of services tailored for students, parents, faculty, staff, and the entire community.