Groups: A Counseling Specialty

by Samuel T. Gladding

Groups: A Counseling Specialty is a comprehensive look at groups, covering the history of group work, the dynamics of groups, leadership in groups, ethical issues in groups, multicultural aspects of groups, stages of group development, groups across the life span, and the theoretical basis for working with groups. The coverage is current, the style is clear and interesting, and the book challenges students to reflect on what they have learned, as well as on their own experiences in groups. The new edition of Gladding's Group includes over 120 new references; chapter overviews; brief introductory stories; a new appendix on self-help group organizations; and new material and updates throughout, including additions that focus on social justice, creativity (particularly the work of Keith Sawyer), different specialty groups throughout the lifespan, technology and group work, brief groups, and groups for older adults.

Genres: Counselling, Grad School, Textbooks, School, Nonfiction, Psychology

520 pages, Hardcover

First published September 28, 1990

About the author

Samuel Templeman Gladding

Reviews

[Sofia Wren]

For school.

[Paige Stewart]

As with so many others of Gladding’s textbooks, this is thorough, comprehensive, and full of examples while continuing to be utterly vague and unspecific. I suppose it’s difficult to provide specific guidance when every situation is different, but it is frustrating after a while to have more examples of poor execution than effective. Also, I’d like to stop seeing typos in textbooks.

[Bekah]

she’s good… not sure why you would be reading it though

[Susan Marie]

An excellent edition confronting all aspects of group counseling including how to lead and co-lead various types of groups ranging from self-help/support to psychoanalytical groups. This volume focuses on leadership skills and behaviors including what it takes to combine, when necessary, an authoritative, democratic and laissez-faire style of leadership, all necessary for specific groups.

Easy to read, not like an APA text, with everyday skills one can lend to any group that exists with a focus on psychologically directed group therapy. I prefer books published by Gladding for psychology. They are always excellent.

[Megan]

CSNL 500

[Stephanie]

Typical Gladding text covers everything thoroughly and in a very readable way. I'll actually probably reread this one at some point.

[Mary]

More like a 3.5. It is like any textbook: sterile presentation of the information (the writing is quite dry) and often it is repetitive, but good for learning the basics.

[Laura]

Insightful, relevant, readable, a good resource; wouldn't mind rereading.

[Bronte]

This book was a dry, school textbook. Had some valuable information, but there wasa lot of random discussion to weed through to get to it.

[Victoria Laubach]

I read this for my master’s program. It was very informative.

[Candace]

Read for graduate program Counseling and Art Therapy.

[Carter]

Gladding's text on group work is comprehensive and well-organized, making it an easy reference tool. I appreciate that Gladding covers specific group work for different age groups and group dynamics from different theoretical orientations. However, the text lacks practical application of the material. If you are looking for a more applicable book for group work I recommend "Group Counseling" by: Jacobs, Masson, Harvill, and Schimmel.

[MK]

The better of Gladding's books I've encountered so far, certainly the best organized. The text details a lot of information in an easily consumable way, and you come away with a basic comprehensive understanding of groups.

[Krista]

This was my textbook for my class on group counseling. It was a good book, not amazing, but a solid start.

[Rebecca Reisberg]

Easy to read and understand. Best thing about it? Introduced me to The name Yalom. Perfect for introduction to group counseling class text at an undergraduate level.