Association for Specialists in Group Work Guiding Principles for Group Work

ABSTRACT

This 2021 document provides a principled framework for group work grounded in the rich history of the Association for Specialists in Group Work. Here, group workers and scholars can find a contemporary integration of ethical practice, contextual perspectives, and organizational values intended to guide group practitioners and scholars from varied disciplines and with varied purposes. Group work, in this context, is a broad professional practice where knowledge of and skill in group facilitation is applied to assist an interdependent gathering of people in reaching their individual, relational, and collective goals. The goals of different groups may include accomplishing tasks, promoting growth and development, and treating mental, behavioral, and emotional challenges.

KEYWORDS:

• Group Work Principles
• Values
• Ethics
• Diversity
• Training Standards

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Christopher J. McCarthy

Christopher J. McCarthy is a professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. His research interests include group counseling, stress and coping in educational contexts, and career development.

Sheri Bauman

Dr. Sheri Bauman is a professor of counseling at the University of Arizona. Dr. Bauman conducts research on peer victimization including bullying, cyberbullying, is currently co-PI on a funded project to study the effects of teacher practices on peer victimization and defending behaviors.

Devika Dibya Choudhuri

Devika Dibya Choudhuri is a Professor of Counseling at Eastern Michigan University. A Professional Counselor (MI/CT), Board-Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Approved Clinical Supervisor, and Certified EMDR Therapist, she has 20 years of clinical experience with refugees, immigrant and multicultural populations, as well as trauma survivors on violence, sexuality, grief and loss.

Angela Coker

Angela Coker, Ph.D., LPCC, NCC, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Women’s Studies at San Diego State University and Director of Inclusive SDSU.  Dr. Coker has 20 years of experience leading groups and is a longtime active member of the American Counseling Association, the Association for Specialists in Group Work, and currently serves as president-elect for the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development.

Cheryl Justice

Dr. Cheryl Justice is Professor in Counselor Education and Supervision in the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Foundations. Dr. Justice has over 25 years of experience in teaching, counseling, group and therapy work with children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of settings.

Kurt L. Kraus

Dr. Kurt L. Kraus is Professor of Counseling and currently the director of the doctoral program in the Department of Counselor Education at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.  Kurt has proudly held leadership positions across a wide swath of counseling organizations including ASCA, ACES, ASGW, ACA, and the NBCC.

Melissa Luke

Melissa Luke, PhD, LMHC, NCC, ACS is a Provost Faculty Fellow at Syracuse University, Associate Dean for Research in the School of Education, and Dean’s professor in the department of Counseling & Human Services.

Deborah Rubel

Deborah Rubel, Ph.D is an Associate Professor of Counselor Education at Oregon State University and an ASGW Fellow. Her current professional passions are group work, qualitative research, and the influence of systemic ableism and mental health stigma on graduate counselor training.

Linda Shaw

Linda Shaw, PhD, LPC, LMHC, CRC is a Professor in the Counseling program at the University of Arizona, where she teaches classes in group counseling, ethics, and advocacy and leadership.