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Novice group counsellors’ experiences in In-Class Face-To-Face And On-Line Support groups : a qualitative study
Abstract
This study presents a qualitative exploration that uses three methodological genres (Conversation Analysis, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and Modified Grounded Theory) under Elliot’s (1984, 1993) Comprehensive Process Analysis (CPA) framework to analyse the experiences of 16 novice group counsellors (of which 13 were from Singapore and three were from three other Asian countries) in two in-class face-to-face and on-line support groups. The 16 novice group counsellors rotated through the roles of co-facilitators and members.
The data corpus for analysis included transcripts of all face-to-face and on-line support group sessions, as well as individual and co-facilitator reflection papers. Accuracy of data capture and interpretation was enhanced by analytical checks provided by two research assistants and two external auditors, all of whom spoke two or more languages and had exposure to different cultures in the Asia-Pacific region, including the novice group counsellors’ countries of origin.
The occurrence and management of resistance of one group member in each group was deemed to be a significant type of critical incident by participants in both groups. This phenomenon of resistance was analysed using Conversation Analysis (CA) to understand how the groups co-constructed their experiences, and key interactional features were identified. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was then used to understand the meaning behind the novice group counsellors’ actions and experiences during the critical incidents. The results of CA and IPA for each group’s experience were then integrated into a story of its experience of resistance. During this process, the five superordinate themes of resistance, i.e. Responsibility, Authority, Alliances, Approach, and Respect, were identified as common to both groups.
Modified Grounded Theory (Jennings, D’Rozario, Goh, Sovereign, Brogger, & Skovholt, 2008) was used to explore the novice counsellors’ overall experiences of their support groups as members, co-facilitators, and with the face-to-face and on-line modalities. The study yielded three categories with two themes each for members’ experiences, four categories with 18 themes for co-facilitators’ experiences, and six categories with a total of 14 themes for participant’s experiences on face-to-face and on-line platforms. At the end of this process, a model of participants’ overall experiences was constructed using seven superordinate themes divided into three time-frames, Pre-Group, Support Group and Post-Group. Findings revealed that 15 out of 16 members reported enhanced self-awareness, and experienced their support groups as enjoyable and therapeutic. Twelve co-facilitators also reported having increased self-awareness of counselling styles, strengths and weaknesses. Fifteen participants were supportive of using the face-to-face modality for training, but only eight participants were supportive of using the on-line platform for training.
Overall, the superordinate theme of Alliance, as found in the stories of resistance, was also responsible for the overall membership experience of participants. The results and implications of this study are also discussed.
The data corpus for analysis included transcripts of all face-to-face and on-line support group sessions, as well as individual and co-facilitator reflection papers. Accuracy of data capture and interpretation was enhanced by analytical checks provided by two research assistants and two external auditors, all of whom spoke two or more languages and had exposure to different cultures in the Asia-Pacific region, including the novice group counsellors’ countries of origin.
The occurrence and management of resistance of one group member in each group was deemed to be a significant type of critical incident by participants in both groups. This phenomenon of resistance was analysed using Conversation Analysis (CA) to understand how the groups co-constructed their experiences, and key interactional features were identified. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was then used to understand the meaning behind the novice group counsellors’ actions and experiences during the critical incidents. The results of CA and IPA for each group’s experience were then integrated into a story of its experience of resistance. During this process, the five superordinate themes of resistance, i.e. Responsibility, Authority, Alliances, Approach, and Respect, were identified as common to both groups.
Modified Grounded Theory (Jennings, D’Rozario, Goh, Sovereign, Brogger, & Skovholt, 2008) was used to explore the novice counsellors’ overall experiences of their support groups as members, co-facilitators, and with the face-to-face and on-line modalities. The study yielded three categories with two themes each for members’ experiences, four categories with 18 themes for co-facilitators’ experiences, and six categories with a total of 14 themes for participant’s experiences on face-to-face and on-line platforms. At the end of this process, a model of participants’ overall experiences was constructed using seven superordinate themes divided into three time-frames, Pre-Group, Support Group and Post-Group. Findings revealed that 15 out of 16 members reported enhanced self-awareness, and experienced their support groups as enjoyable and therapeutic. Twelve co-facilitators also reported having increased self-awareness of counselling styles, strengths and weaknesses. Fifteen participants were supportive of using the face-to-face modality for training, but only eight participants were supportive of using the on-line platform for training.
Overall, the superordinate theme of Alliance, as found in the stories of resistance, was also responsible for the overall membership experience of participants. The results and implications of this study are also discussed.
Date Issued
2012
Call Number
BF636.65 Kit
Date Submitted
2012