Freshman Experience by Skylar Miller

Freshman Experience

smiller521 — 2024-02-09 20:15:26 UTC

The “Freshman Experience” is a closed educational group that brings together incoming, or current High School freshmen, ages 14-15, who have academic or social struggles. The participants will be recommended by staff, or parent referral, based on previous events. Participants will engage in discussions and activities that will supply them with the necessary tools that will enhance their coping strategies (Joseph et. al., 2024).

smiller521 — 2024-02-09 20:19:37 UTC

Participants will master the following ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors:

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

B-SMS 7. Effective coping skills

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

B-SS 4. Empathy

Publicity

smiller521 — 2024-02-09 20:26:19 UTC

To inform stakeholders such as Parents, Teachers, Administrators, and other Counselors I will have flyers throughout the school and send an announcement, with a digital flyer, through our Campus "Remind" platform and ask our Public Relations Director to post the digital flyer on social media.

Pre-Group Screening

smiller521 — 2024-02-09 20:47:06 UTC

Before Lesson 1, potential participants will be made aware of the group topic, goal, task, number of meetings, length of meetings, frequency of meetings, and who the session is designed for. The participants will be asked if they understand all of the information given to them, and address any questions they may have. Next, participants will be selected and be given a consent form to complete and return in order to participate in the small group counseling session. During Lesson 1, it will be reiterated that group members must understand and agree to the rules and expectations of confidentiality and respect. Group members will complete a pre-assessment survey to determine their individual baseline data prior to the first lesson.

Informed Consent

smiller521 — 2024-02-09 20:50:08 UTC

Potential participants who complete the screening process will complete an informed consent form and return it one week prior to Lesson 1.

Guidelines/Ground Rules

smiller521 — 2024-02-09 20:55:13 UTC

To ensure participants understand confidentiality and respect, participants will complete the "Participant Guidelines/Ground Rules" form to determine their understanding of each topic. If group members feel more need to be added, they can choose to do so, as a group, at the bottom of the first column.

Group Dynamics

smiller521 — 2024-02-10 18:14:21 UTC

The "Freshman Experience" will consist of co-ed incoming, or current High School Freshman, ages 14-15, who have academic or social struggles.

Stage 1 will consist of building group rapport with the group leader, by establishing norms, expressing the importance of confidentiality, respect, and group participation. The group leader will introduce themselves and share limited personal information.

Stage 2 will consist of encouraging active engagement, and participation, sharing constructive feedback, and regular group checkins to determine a subjective census of the effectiveness of the session and document anything common themes.

Stage 3 will consist of the group leader reiterating the importance of group confidentiality, despite the session ending and the group dispersing. In addition, the group leader will ask participants to complete their post-assessment survey to have participant data, and provide participants with resources for self exploring post the group counseling session.

Leadership Style

smiller521 — 2024-02-10 18:38:49 UTC

The best type of leadership style for the "Freshman Experience" is Participative Leadership (Democratic). This leadership style allows the group leader to be an authoritative figure, while participating in the group and building a safe, and welcoming environment (Cherry, 2023).

Yalom's Therapeutic Factors

smiller521 — 2024-02-11 23:44:23 UTC

Universality-When participants share their common challenges, participants may have a sense of belonging because they share the same struggles.

Instillation of Hope-During exercises, participants can see the progression their peers are making and feel encouraged to make the same progression.

Altruism-Participants may have a fostered sense of satisfaction from supporting peers.

Interpersonal Learning-Participants may learn more about themselves through constructive criticism from the group leader and peers.

(Mothers Against Addiction, 2024)

Confidentiality and Informed Consent

smiller521 — 2024-02-12 00:50:36 UTC

By constantly informing the students of informed consent, the group leader is giving participants the power to share at will. School counselors, by law, have an ethical duty to report when a student mentions anything pertaining to harm to oneself of another (Williams, 2007). School counselors have an ethical duty to report any comment made regarding harm (2022).

Privacy

smiller521 — 2024-02-12 01:08:08 UTC

School counselors must follow the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) which protects participants privacy at all cost (2022). Ensuring privacy will make participants more open to discuss challenging topics, knowing what they say will not be shared unless the school counselors is bound by law to share (2022).

References

smiller521 — 2024-02-12 01:10:44 UTC

Asca ethical standards for school counselors. ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors - American School Counselor Association (ASCA). (2022). https://www.schoolcounselor.org/About-School-Counseling/Ethical-Responsibilities/ASCA-Ethical-Standards-for-School-Counselors-(1)#:~:text=Inform%20parents%2Fguardians%20of%20the,with%20the%20student%27s%20best%20interests.

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

Joseph, M., & N.T., S. (2023). Academic Stress, Social Support, and Adjustment Among International Students in India. Journal of Comparative and International Higher Education, 15(3), 5+. https://link-gale-com.easydb.angelo.edu/apps/doc/A761255225/GIC?u=txshracd2485&sid=ebsco&xid=5bdd39a0

Mothers Against Addiction. (2024, January 6). Yaloms therapeutic factors explained. https://www.mothersagainstaddiction.org/yaloms-therapeutic-factors/

Williams, R. (2007, September 1). To tell or not to tell: The question of informed consent. To Tell or Not to Tell: The Question of Informed Consent - American School Counselor Association (ASCA). https://www.schoolcounselor.org/Magazines/September-October-2007/To-Tell-or-Not-to-Tell-The-Question-of-Informed-Co#:~:text=As%20the%20relationship%20develops%2C%20ongoing,in%20some%20decision%2Dmaking%20power.