• Building rapport: The group counselor must build rapport with each member of the group in order to create a safe and supportive environment. This can be done by being warm, genuine, and accepting.
• Encouraging participation: The group counselor must encourage all members of the group to participate. This can be done by asking open-ended questions, summarizing what has been said, and calling on members who have not spoken yet.
• Facilitating communication: The group counselor must facilitate communication between members of the group. This can be done by helping members to listen to each other, to share their thoughts and feelings, and to resolve conflicts.
• Problem-solving: The group counselor can help members of the group to problem-solve by providing them with tools and techniques for solving problems.
• Empowering members: The group counselor must empower members of the group to help themselves. This can be done by helping them to develop their self-esteem, their coping skills, and their problem-solving skills.
• Monitoring the group process: The group counselor must monitor the group process to ensure that the group is moving towards its goals. This can be done by paying attention to the group’s dynamics, the members’ interactions, and the overall mood of the group.

The resources you have provided are all relevant to group counseling. Yoga and mindfulness can be helpful tools for promoting relaxation and stress reduction in group members. Mindfulness can also be helpful for teaching group members how to focus their attention and how to manage their thoughts and emotions.

I could not find any recent evidenced based study on conducting groups for children and adolescents in the Alliant Library. However, there are many studies that have been conducted on the effectiveness of group counseling for children and adolescents. These studies have found that group counseling can be an effective way to address a variety of mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, and behavioral problems.

In summary, the essential counseling skills in group counseling are building rapport, encouraging participation, facilitating communication, problem-solving, empowering members, and monitoring the group process. These skills can be used to help group members to achieve their goals and to improve their mental health.

Here are some additional tips for conducting effective group counseling:

• Be flexible and adaptable. Every group is different, so be prepared to adjust your approach as needed.
• Be patient. It takes time to build trust and rapport in a group setting.
• Be positive and encouraging. Help group members to focus on their strengths and their potential.
• Be professional. This includes setting clear boundaries and maintaining confidentiality.

If you are interested in learning more about group counseling, there are many resources available. You can find books, articles, and online courses on the subject. You can also attend workshops or trainings on group counseling.