• A small introduction that explains the reason for the group, expectations, and meeting times/days (Missouri Professional School Counselors and Counselor Educators, 2015).

  • Example) "No Timeline Needed is a closed support group for young adults aged 25-30 who might be feeling overwhelmed to have their life "figured out". Whether it comes from career uncertainty, life transitions, or societal expectations, this group is meant to be a supportive, judgement free space to share your vulnerabilities, connect with others, and challenge the idea that life needs to be on a specific timeline. This group would have about 6 to 8 members with 90-minute sessions held once a week on Wednesdays at 6 pm in person for 6 weeks and if selected you will be expected to maintain confidentiality, respectfulness, and consistency in attending."

• A pre-assessment that participants take individually that includes a survey scale to measure how often they feel "behind", if they find themselves comparing their life to their peers, if uncertainty about the future causes overwhelming feelings of stress, if they have a sense of belonging/connection to people in their daily life, and if they feel confident about their ability to cope with life transitions. There will also be open-ended questions, like what pressures/expectations do they currently feel about the stage of life they are in and how they would normally cope with the uncertainty.

• A question along the lines of "Are you currently experiencing or recently experienced any major mental health challenges (crisis or recent hospitalization) that might make a group setting difficult right now?" the purpose of this question during the pre-screening is to protect the well-being of the person in distress and the other members in the group to make sure everyone is getting the right kind of support (Gedwed, 2025). If someone answers yes to this question, I will offer an outside referral.

Cherry, K. (2024, June 19). Is democratic leadership the best style of leadership? Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-democratic-leadership-2795315

Gedwed, H. (2025, May 12). Conducting group counseling sessions: A complete guide. Southlake Integrative Counseling + Wellness. https://www.southlake-wellness.com/post/how-to-conduct-a-group-counseling-session

Melchor, G. D. (2024, November 7). Understanding Informed Consent: a cornerstone of ethical Counseling practice (Downloadable template). https://www.lpctexas.com/post/understanding-informed-consent-a-cornerstone-of-ethical-counseling-practice-downloadable-template

Mentally Fit Pro. (n.d.). Group therapy Informed Consent form. https://www.mentallyfitpro.com/c/share-a-resource/group-therapy-informed-consent-form

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.

Title 22 of the Texas Administrative Code §681.35 (2023)

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

• Predetermined rules, these are non-negotiables

  • confidentiality

  • respectful communication

  • regular attendance and being on time

  • participation is encouraged but will not be forced

  • no tolerance for harassment or harmful behavior

• Rules that can be determined as a group

  • how to signal when someone wants to speak

  • managing speaking times

  • since cell phones are a big part of society, how will we address this? phones off? phones on silent put away? put phones in your own bag or put in a group bowl at the start and will get back once it's over?

  • a group discussion about what other rules they feel should be applied

Stage 1 - I plan to build relationships and trust between group members and myself by starting rapport starting at the pre-screening. Once selected, I will make sure to introduce myself and be open and honest about the reason for the group and how this was an issue that I once struggled with. I plan to be warm, welcoming, and non-judgmental and create meaningful ice breakers. It is important to me that the group is collaborative with different rules and norms they would like to see implemented so they know their opinion is important too. As for continentality, I will make sure to always let it be known at the start of each session that it is expected but since we are in a group setting it cannot be guaranteed.

Stage 2- I plan to keep members working cohesively and productively by reinforcing the reason for the group, this will keep them focused on the goal of the session that day. I can also keep them productive by highlighting the connections between each other and other sessions, to help them notice the progress being made. doing check ins with participants either individually or as a group reflection can help me gauge the progress in the group as well.

Stage 3 - My plan for group closure is to give each person time to reflect on what mindset change are they most proud of, weather it is escaping the comparison cycle, getting comfortable with uncertainty in life changes, increase self-compassion, or increased sense of belonging. I want to make sure that I revisit condifentality and how even though the group is ending, that does not change. I will offer follow up resources if they need it and possible scheudle a check in session for the group for some time in the future. My intention is to make sure that the participants reflect on their growth, come to terms with the group ending and feeling confident and support, while also reinforcing the importance of continued confidentiality.

• Universality because it shows that other people are struggling with the same issue as them, which is why they are all in the group.

• Instillation of Hope because seeing growth and improvement in other group members, can give them hope to breakdown the pressures they feel on having to live life on a specific timeline and learn how to appreciate their unique path

• Existential Factors because the group can help members embrace the uncertainty of life and trust their path in life.

This ethical requirement supports my role as a counselor in conducting group counseling sessions because it reduces potential harm and helps my pre-screening process ensuring participants are a good fit so they can benefit from the group.