Helpful Links

Navigate OHIO

About OHIO Admission Athletics
Academics Life at OHIO

Connect With Us

Counseling and Psychological Services
Hudson Health Center, 3rd Floor
1 Ohio University Dr.
Athens, OH 45701
740-593-0091

Section 7.10 Training Requirements for Group Work

Please see the Group Therapy Policies and Procedures in the CPS Policy and Procedure Manual for general policies related to the Group Therapy Program.

Policy No. 10.01 Trainee and Graduate Assistant Entrance Requirements for Co-Facilitation of Group:

Procedures:

  • Clinicians-in-training must have previously completed a training experience at CPS, have completed a group therapy class, and/or have substantial, supervised experience (evidenced by previous experience in facilitation of therapy groups with clients) in order to co-facilitate a group during the initial semester of their training at CPS.
  • Clinicians-in-training will be given the opportunity to engage in process observation of a group for a minimum of 5 sessions during their initial semester should they be interested in group therapy. The decision to engage in process observation is made in consultation with the clinician-in-training’s supervisor and the Group Coordinator. While it is not a requirement to engage in process observation to be eligible to co-facilitate a group in the clinician-in-training’s second semester, it may influence the decision to allow the individual to pursue this training opportunity.
  • Approval of a clinician-in-training to participate as a group co-facilitator will be based on supervisor’s evaluation of readiness in consultation with the ADT, TD, and Group Coordinator.
  • Clinicians-in-training are required to co-facilitate therapy groups with senior staff or doctoral psychology interns.
  • If a trainee or GA is co-facilitating a therapy group with a doctoral psychology intern or unlicensed senior staff member, there must be a licensed senior staff member present in the office or accessible via teleconsultation. Supervision of the group will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Policy No. 10.02 Trainee and Graduate Assistant Exit Requirements for Co-Facilitation of Group:

Trainees and GAs will be evaluated at the termination of each group they co-facilitate or at the end of the semester for on-going groups.

Procedures:

  • Trainees and GAs will formally be evaluated by the supervisor of their group experience (co-facilitator or the group supervisor)
  • Areas of competencies include: conceptual and assessment skills; articulation and translation of group therapy in practice; group screening capability; recognition of group developmental stages and use of appropriate interventions at each stage; recognition of group dynamics; collaboration with co-therapist; facilitation of termination of group; and documentation skills.

Policy No. 10.03 Doctoral Psychology Intern Group Therapy Entrance Requirements:

It is strongly preferred that Doctoral Psychology Interns have taken a doctoral level graduate class in group theory and therapy and have prior clinical experience in facilitating therapy groups.

  • Doctoral Psychology Interns are expected to co-facilitate a minimum of two therapy groups over the course of the internship year, one of which will be an interpersonal process group.
  • Doctoral Psychology Interns will co-facilitate therapy groups with a senior staff member, unless they receive prior approval to co-facilitate with a non-senior staff member from their direct supervisor in consultation with the TD and Group Coordinator.
  • Doctoral Psychology Interns may be given assignment preference before other clinicians-in-training, in consultation with the Training Committee and Group Coordinator.

Policy No. 10.04 Doctoral Psychology Intern Group Therapy Exit Requirements:

Doctoral Psychology Interns will be formally evaluated twice during their internship year by their group co-facilitator(s), and the Group Seminar facilitator.

Procedures:

  • Doctoral Psychology Interns will be formally evaluated on a 7-level rating scale for group psychotherapy competencies by the group supervisor during mid-year and final evaluations.
  • Areas of competencies include: conceptual and assessment skills; articulation and translation of group therapy in practice; group screening capability; recognition of group developmental stages and use of appropriate interventions at each stage; recognition of group dynamics; collaboration with co-therapist; facilitation of termination of group; and documentation skills.