Additional rules will be discussed and established with group members during the first session. These rules will be determined and agreed upon before students sign their informed consent.  The group rules will be posted during each session and reviewed before the start of each session.

The participant guidelines and ground rules document will be utilized to help the group establish group rules.  Group rules are essential to the effectiveness of the small group.  This resource is a great way for students to discuss what rules look like and sound like.  They are able to visualize the rules.  

The Stress Busters small-group will utilize the participative leadership style.  Students discussing stressors that increase their stress and anxiety at school, home and socially can become a delicate subject and the counselor will need to approach this part of the small-group cautiously.  The counselor can utilize the participative leadership style and still provide guidance, participate in stress management strategies, and allow students to facilitate group discussions. 

Participative leaders encourage group members to participate, but they are still the ones with the final decision-making ability (Cherry, 2022).  This leadership style will encourage group members to participate more within the group and help them feel like important members of the group setting.  The Stress Busters small-group is all about student participation so this leadership style will benefit the group immensely.

The Texas Administrative Code outlines the requirements for a certified professional school counselor.

According to Standard 2 of section 239.15, a certified school  counselor must counsel individuals and small groups using appropriate counseling theories and techniques in response to students' needs as  outlined in The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs.  This will be essential to our Stress Busters group.  Students participating in this small group have been identified to struggle with stress and anxiety in school.  The counselor will provide students with appropriate and current techniques to assist them in alleviating the feeling of stress and anxiety.  The Texas Administrative Code Standard 2(4) of section 239.15 also states that the school counselor consults with all stakeholders appropriate in order to enhance their work with the students.  In this small-group, the teacher will assist the counselor in providing information that will help establish which students would best benefit from the small-group intervention.  The Texas Education Code § 33.006, states that the primary responsibility of the school counselor is to fully develop each student's abilities academically, career, personal and social.  The purpose of this small group is to enable students to function in the school setting when stress or anxiety attack.  Students will be given strategies and techniques that will assist them academically and socially in school. 

 Student Code of Conduct, Tex. Educ. Code § 33.006

The ASGW Best Practice Guidelines A.4. explains group workers state in writing the purpose and goals of the group.  This ethical guideline supports a school counselor in attaining parental and student consent prior to the small-group intervention.  Parents and students will be better prepared to give their formal consent to a small-group if they are informed in advance what the group is designed to help and assist with. 

Also in ASGW Best Practice Guideline B.3.  it is identified that group workers apply and modify their knowledge, skills and techniques appropriate to the group needs, type, age, culture and ethnicity.  This ensures that the counselor will provide activities and strategies that are appropriate for the audience of the small-group.  The strategies and activities that are utilized within the small-group will meet the needs of the student participants.