What do you mean by group counseling?

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COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR GROUP THEORY

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction..............................................................................................................................2
1.1 Explanation of working adults...............................................................................................2
1.2 Explanation of Anxiety..........................................................................................................2
1.3 Explanation of Cognitive behavior group therapy.................................................................2
2. Cognitive behavior group theory..............................................................................................3
2.1 History and background of cognitive behavior group theory................................................3
2.2 Theoretical beliefs of cognitive behavior group theory.........................................................4
2.3 Supporting it with article on CB group therapy with anxiety................................................5
3. Cognitive behavior group theory techniques and practices.........................................................6
3.1 Application of the Techniques and practices to help anxiety................................................6
Other Practices.............................................................................................................................7
4. Strengths and Weaknesses of Cognitive behavior group theory.................................................8
4.1 Strengths of the theory for solving anxiety issue...................................................................8
4.2 Weaknesses of the theory for solving the issue of anxiety....................................................9
5. Conclusion.................................................................................................................................10
6. References..................................................................................................................................11

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1. Introduction
Group counseling is a form of counseling where a small group of people meet regularly
to discuss, interact, and explore problems with each other and their group leader (Barnes, Miller,
& Bostock, 2017). Therefore, the present report is based on defining the theory or theories which
should be adopted by providing counseling to the target group. The target group will be
“working adults”.
1.1 Explanation of working adults
It is considered the group in which adults are engaged in the different range of work
which can be either paid as well as unpaid. It is estimated that about majority of the adults in
Malaysia are working and suffered from several psychological problems (Hayes & Hofmann,
2017). There are different attitudes, behavior of the adults in different nature of work, due to
increase in the responsibilities and work it give rise to anxiety among the adults.
1.2 Explanation of Anxiety
Anxiety is considered the mental health disorder which is occurred due to increase in the
feeling of fear, stress and worry which are related with the work performed by the adults on daily
basis. This results in reducing the overall health of the adults and sometimes misbalances the
whole life of the adult (Kinsinger, 2017). Therefore, to providing counseling to the adult’s
cognitive behavior therapy is chosen it is because researchers has described cognitive behavioral
therapy is major aspect in preventing the anxiety.
1.3 Explanation of Cognitive behavior group therapy
It is considered the practical as well as structural term of psychotherapy in which several
strategies were adopted to investigate and maintain cognitive, physiological as well as behavioral
parts of anxiety (Hayes & Hofmann, 2017). This theory is chosen it is because estimation
describes that in Malaysia about 60% of the adults are highly feel anxiety due to dealing with
more stressful situation in the working environment (Kinsinger, 2017). Further, the group
counseling session is set and role of the theory this in preventing anxiety is discussed. The
discussion is also made on defining the strengths and weaknesses regarding solving the issue and
problems of anxiety in working adults.

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2. Cognitive behavior group theory
2.1 History and background of cognitive behavior group theory
Cognitive behavior theory (CBT) is based on psychopathology and describes the
perception and attitudes of the people (Hayes & Hofmann, 2017). In this theory the thoughts of
the person in particular situation is undertaken. It is considered the major factor it is because this
reveals all the factors which affect emotional, physiological behavior of the individual. The
theory describes that anxiety, depression and level of stress changes with the perception and
attitudes of the individual. This theory is developed by “Albert Ellis” in the year 1950, he plays
significant role in revolution of cognitive which appears in the psychotherapy field. A theorist
also focuses on influencing all the approaches of cognitive-behavioral and also describes the
treatment approaches. (Carpenter, Andrews, Witcraft, Powers, Smits, & Hofmann, 2018)
While setting the group counseling session CBT theory is chosen this is due to the reason
because it helps in removing the anxiety and stress between the adults by using the strategy
according the needs and requirements of the working adult target group. It is demonstrate that the
adult groups which are targeted for the group counseling are highly depressed because of
conducting their activities in highly stressful situation. Through, conducting the sessions me and
my group member’s deal with individual working adult so that their behavior will be examined
and the similarities in the attitudes of working adult is also identified. By this group counseling it
is described that majority of the adults think negative through which processing of information
results in increasing anxiety, tension etc.
Due to increase in stress mental health of working adults affects in negative manner, to
overcome this issue this theory evaluate and explain the response of individual emotional,
behavior and physiological thinking (David, Cristea, & Hofmann, 2018). In the group counseling
each member focuses on examining the major components which should be addressed among the
working adults. Through making discussion with the adults it is examined that negative behavior
and attitude of the adults in different situations is considered the important aspect which should
be addressed. This theory is highly significant in this counseling because through this each
member in my group helps to understand the distort perception of the people and strategies
which should be used to change their behavior so that individual can think in healthier manner.

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Further, after describing the major component which should be addressed, the group
meeting is organized so that discussion is made on describing the strategies and policies which
should be developed for providing treatment to working adult. Therefore, to select the techniques
my group members move different area such as situation, automatic thoughts, reaction of the
adults which can be in the form of emotional, behavioral etc. so that reaction of the working
adults will be recorded. Through investigation various belief of Cognitive behavior theory are
discussed so that counseling is given by following those principles.
2.2 Theoretical beliefs of cognitive behavior group theory
In the group counseling the theoretical belief for applying the cognitive behavior theory
includes that the attitude of the working adults decides the emotional and inner behavior of the
person. The belief of the theory is also that automatic thoughts of the working adult move the
individual to the reality and more stressed working adults think in more negative manner. This
belief is developed because while communicating with the working adults it is described that
they more stressed due to various internal and external factors this leads in reducing the
motivation of the target working adult group. However, it is also demonstrate that in the more
stressful situation adults has to deal with more critical situation through which various emotions,
behavior and attitudes of the adult’s changes with the required situation (Muran, Safran,
Eubanks, & Gorman, 2018).
The other beliefs of the theory is also developed by describing the activities of the
working adult, this is done by conducting group counseling. The perception of the working
adults revealed that they are working in the highly stressful situations which includes muscle
tension, difficulty in concentrating as well as feeling fatigue in the short period of time, these all
are the sign of anxiety. Therefore, the assumption of the theory is that overall change in the
behavior of working adult will be made according to their emotions and cognitive. The each
member in the group counseling also revealed that more stress can give rise to several
psychological problems which is become difficult for the working adult to management the
situations of their life. The belief of the theory which are also considered in group counseling is
that different adults have diverse meaning which is developed by working adult themselves or
getting therapy.

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2.3 Supporting it with article on CB group therapy with anxiety
Wolgensinger believe that Cognitive behavior therapy adopt several strategies to provide
therapy to the working group regarding overcoming the issue of thinking in more negative
manner (Wolgensinger, 2015). It is because the therapy describes that it is considered most
important to understand the cognitive behavior of the working group as well as to investigate the
physiology behavior and attitudes as well as different components of the anxiety. This therapy is
considered helpful in preventing the anxiety of the working adult this is due to the reason
because in this therapist focuses on identifying the needs and behavior of the working adult and
helps them to understand the anxiety level of the working adult.
The cognitive behavior therapy is provided by the working adult by organizing the
anxiety prevention program and researchers describes that the programs have highly significant
affect on preventing the anxiety among the working adult. Researchers demonstrate that this
program will focuses on various symptoms of the anxiety through investigation the analysis
revealed that majority of the working adult are faced from the DSM-IV anxiety disorder
(Wolgensinger, 2015). Various other authors believed that cognitive behavior therapy is
considered the most significant strategy for prevention of anxiety and which can decrease the
critical incidence case.
The present article support the topic of cognitive behavior therapy for preventing anxiety
between working adult it is due to the reason that it provides treatment to the group by offering
several opportunities, providing them support socially (Wolgensinger, 2015). It also develop
program for specific anxiety disorder such as “social phobia”, “panic disorder with agoraphobia”
to the working adult. The treatment is given based on the particular disorder and specific group
according to the nature and area of the disorder working adult is facing. To provide the effective
prevention to the working adult the CBT also organize trans-diagnostic treatment model so that
positive outcomes will achieved.

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3. Cognitive behavior group theory techniques and practices
3.1 Application of the Techniques and practices to help anxiety
In group counseling some techniques is applied by me and my group members so that
anxiety among the working adults will be prevented. Firstly the counseling is provided by
adopting cognitive restructuring. In which each group member encourage the target working
adults in identifying their pattern of thinking which is majorly affects the moods of the adults in
negative manner. In this technique the three members in the group track dysfunctional thoughts
of the adult who are working and record them to provide them the alternatives by which they can
think in more flexible manner. This technique is chosen because through this the major reason of
anxiety and stress among the working adults is revealed in more efficient manner. Further, others
techniques are adopted in counseling.
I and the entire counselors in the group think graded exposure assignment is the effective
technique. In different situations of each counselor are organized so that working adult has to
perform the activity which they fear. This technique is adopted because the estimation describes
that avoidance of the fear results in increasing the anxiety among the working adult. The
investigation of the authors revealed that this technique is considered most effective and
significant it is because this prevents 90% of the adult from anxiety disorder (Muran, Safran,
Eubanks, & Gorman, 2018). In counseling working adult explore and manage the difficult
situation by adopting assignments and this result in preventing the anxiety among the working
adults.
After this all the counselor in the group record the degree of anxiety prevention working
adults achieved through these counseling sessions. The investigation describes that working
adults show improvement after the second session that is through taking different challenging
assignments. Through this, group counseling is provided by adopt the technique of activity
scheduling, it is because it help the working adults who are suffered from anxiety to raise their
positive behavior which is to be continued in the long run. In this technique working adults are
involved in various activities which includes meditating, walking it is because through this adult
will feel fresh and leads in getting the things done in more efficient manner. This technique is
adopted because through this adults can prevent from anxiety and depression by participating in
various rewarding activities this will reduce the negative perception of the adults towards others.

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Successive approximation technique is also provided to working adults in reducing
anxiety. This technique argues that not meeting the expectation is the sign of increasing anxiety,
for this technique three sessions of group counseling are developed. This theory is chosen it is
because me and group counselor records the perception and behavior of the adult as well as
adopts practices by which it could be managed in effective manner. This supports the adult by
adding some healthy behavior towards their work and subtracting negative behavior.
In the group counseling various other techniques are also used which includes
mindfulness practices it is because this is supported in reducing the negative thinking and think
in more positive manner about the activity and things which are happening in reality with the
diagnosed adult. Skill training technique such as communication training, role plays,
assertiveness training leads in reducing the anxiety among the adult. This technique is also
adopted in the end of the session it is because this technique is given to the adult who are highly
stressed by not having the skills and knowledge to adopt the changes in the workplace.
Therefore, this results in providing the therapy to every adult according their needs and
requirements.
Other Practices
The prevention of anxiety is the most challenging task, therefore most of the adults still
suffered from anxiety. For this various discussions were made by me with group counselors to
adopt other different practices. In group counseling different practices are also adopt to prevent
the working adult from the anxiety that is it focuses on identifying the automatic and core
behavior of the adult through this practice two counselor of the group mainly focuses and records
the avoidance behavior of working adult. To prevent the anxiety among the working adult group
counselor also focused on the present situation and select the specific behavior which will
respond by the adult in specific circumstances. In addition to this other two member also use the
practice of asking open ended questions so that perception of the adult will be recorded and this
will help us to investigate the attitude of adult. Further, the estimation describes that
encouraging the adult to adopt challenging thoughts is also the most effective practice (Barnes,
Miller, & Bostock, 2017). This practice is chosen because through this adult understand their
capabilities in the work environment and feel motivated and stress less.

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Cognitive restructuring is one of the significant practice which is mostly and mainly used
in preventing the diagnosed of anxiety in the young working group (Lorenzo-Luaces, Keefe, &
DeRubeis, 2016). In group counseling to the working adults this practice is also adopted it is
because it can support the adult to achieve various elements to become active in complex
situations. The other elements such as motivation and direction are also the major element by
which adult think in more positive manner. This practice is selected it is because through this
practice adult become more collaborative, structured as well as become more problem oriented.
For some of the working adult the psycho education is also provided so that their skills
and behavior which should they adopted in the present situation are recorded. Further, various
counseling sessions, training sessions is provided to adolescent which all the working so that
they can reduce stress level. Therefore, through this adult are become more solution focused,
adopt the dynamics change. This technique is adopted because they gain the capability of
managing the time of each situation and circumstances so that effective they can reduce negative
thoughts by controlling the dangerous and risky attitudes.
4. Strengths and Weaknesses of Cognitive behavior group theory
4.1 Strengths of the theory for solving anxiety issue
The group counseling has undergone from various benefits that is working adults
received various advantages by using CBT. This results in preventing mental health disorders;
and overcome various problem of working adult such as tension. This also supports the group in
preventing the anxiety when medication does not work. This theory is considered significant and
effective than other theories it is because it consume less time in providing counseling and
adopting other strategies so that working adult think positive. Through, this theory teenagers
makes improvement by preventing them from more stress, fatigue etc. In the session of re-
training the thoughts and changing the behavior working adult adopt healthy behavior.
This theory is adopted to prevent working adult anxiety by using diverse format and
structure that is by organizing group behavior program counseling session etc. This theory is
important because it support the adult who all are working by learning new skills and technique.
Through which adult can cope up with the stress in the future and increase the capabilities to

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give positive reaction in the difficult and challenging situation to avoid anxiety. In this therapy
various self-counseling skills is provided to the clients and adults so that they can increase their
confidence and manage all the activities in the business environment. This theory increases the
coordination with different counselor in the group so that anxiety will be reduced and link the
psychological, emotional factors with the attitudes of adult in the working environment.
It is most faster theory because in this it provides up to 16 sessions to the adults to
understand the situation which increase the anxiety of working adult. It is most structured and
adaptive theory which is adapted in every situation in all types of anxiety (Guzick, Cooke, Gage,
& McNamara, 2018). . This can also support the adult by other medical problems which are
having more anxiety and think more in negative manner. This theory solves the problem of
anxiety to the person who cannot control their perception and behavior as well as think in-depth.
4.2 Weaknesses of the theory for solving the issue of anxiety
The weaknesses of the theory includes that this therapy is provided to the working adults
but does not provide effective outcomes for some of the adults in reducing anxiety. It is because
of fewer corporations due to differences in the perception and attitudes of different adult in the
target group. This become time taking it is because some counselor in the group also conduct
extra work in between the sessions through which it also become difficult to understand the
perception of all the adult in the group when there is large number of participants. Therefore, it is
estimated that the structural nature of theory become highly difficult for the group member in
counseling to understand the complex and different mental condition of the adult who all the
working. This is also difficult to investigate the learning needs and behavior of the adult about
the anxiety.
There are various other issues involved in solving the anxiety problems such as limitation
in the availability, difficulty in maintaining the balance between effort and taking about
medication. In the counseling the adults does not have similar behavior it is because some adults
are more anxious and has severe disorder regarding anxiety. This is considered the major issue of
the theory that it is not the quick fix because group counselor in the sessions work just same as
personal trainer which induce the working adult to solve the problem, however the whole
acceptability is depend on the behavior of the adult.

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5. Conclusion
From the above it is concluded that CBT provide positive outcomes among the adult it is
because it mainly focuses on the perception of the adult in the given period of time. The
estimation describes it is highly effective to solve the issue of anxiety in adult due to highly
suffered from the stress and finding problem in the challenging situation. Therefore, this theory
supports the adult to become healthy by focusing on the behavior so that their mental health will
be prevented. The theory adopts cognitive restructuring, activity rescheduling etc technique to
provide efficient counseling and therapy and has various strengths such as helps in learning new
skills to the adult. However, it also suffered from several weaknesses which include that the
main of the theory on the behavior of working adult but does not include other problems.

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6. References
Barnes, C. M., Miller, J. A., & Bostock, S. (2017). Effects of cognitive behavioral therapy.
Journal of Applied Psychology , 102 (1), 104.
Carpenter, J. K., Andrews, L. A., Witcraft, S. M., Powers, M. B., Smits, J. A., & Hofmann, S. G.
(2018). Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and related disorders: A meta‐analysis
of randomized placebo‐controlled trials. Depression and anxiety , 35 (6), 502-514.
David, D., Cristea, I., & Hofmann, S. G. (2018). Why cognitive behavioral therapy is the current
gold standard of psychotherapy. Frontiers in psychiatry , 9, 4.
Deblinger, E., Pollio, E., & Dorsey, S. (2016). Applying trauma-focused cognitive–behavioral
therapy in group format. Child maltreatment , 21 (1), 59-73.
Guzick, A. G., Cooke, D. L., Gage, N., & McNamara, J. P. (2018). CBT-Plus: A meta-analysis
of cognitive behavioral therapy augmentation strategies. Journal of obsessive-compulsive
and related disorders , 19, 6-14.
Hayes, S. C., & Hofmann, S. G. (2017). The third wave of cognitive behavioral therapy and the
rise of process‐based care. World Psychiatry , 16 (3), 245.
Kinsinger, S. W. (2017). Cognitive-behavioral therapy. Psychology research and behavior
management , 10, 231.
Lorenzo-Luaces, L., Keefe, J. R., & DeRubeis, R. J. (2016). Cognitive-behavioral therapy:
Nature and relation to non-cognitive behavioral therapy. Behavior Therapy , 47 (6), 785-
803.
Muran, J. C., Safran, J. D., Eubanks, C. F., & Gorman, B. S. (2018). The effect of alliance-
focused training on a cognitive-behavioral therapy for personality disorders. Journal of
consulting and clinical psychology , 86 (4), 384.
Wolgensinger, L. (2015). Cognitive behavioral group therapy for anxiety: recent developments.
Dialogues in clinical neuroscience , 25-30.

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