Personal Growth Groups: Measuring Outcome and Evaluating Impact

Abstract

Although researchers speculate counselor-trainees who participate in personal growth groups as part of their course curriculum experience essential group processes and personal growth, there is a lack of empirical evidence supporting this claim. This quantitative study investigates counselor-trainee's perceptions of the therapeutic, developmental, and wellness factors that occur within their personal growth groups. Forty-three personal growth group participants attending personal growth groups as part of their masters' level counselor education curriculum participated in this study. The results of this study provide preliminary empirical evidence that counselor-trainees are obtaining first-hand knowledge of essential group processes (i.e., group development, therapeutic factors, and personal growth) through their participation in the 10-hr personal growth groups.

Keywords:

• counselor education and development
• counselor training
• group counseling
• personal growth groups

Notes

Note: The *indicates between group leader differences among the variables at Time 1 or Time 2.

Note: There were not significant between group leader differences among the variables at Time 1 or Time 2.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tabitha L. Young

Tabitha L. Young, Ph.D., L.M.H.C., is an assistant professor.

Rebekah Reysen

Rebekah Reysen, M.Ed., is a doctoral students, in the College of Leadership and Education, Counselor Education, at The University of Mississippi.

Talunja Eskridge

Talunja Eskridge, M.A., is a doctoral students, in the College of Leadership and Education, Counselor Education, at The University of Mississippi.

Jonathan H. Ohrt

Jonathan H. Ohrt, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Counseling and Higher Education at the University of North Texas.