Among the many acronyms found in the halls and classrooms of K-12 schools, PBIS is one of the most instantly recognizable.
Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS), a tiered framework for supporting students, has steadily increased in popularity since its inception over 30 years ago.
For school counselors, the PBIS system of universal, targeted, and intensive interventions allows innumerable opportunities to reach and connect with students, and for them to connect with each other.
Enter: The Small Group.
Small group counseling works particularly well for students in Tier 2, especially for social and behavioral support.
In addition to providing a safe space to learn and practice new skills, participating in a small group can increase a student’s sense of belonging in the school, nurturing a culture of inclusivity and connection.
Super-powering your small groups can yield big results. With strategic and outcome-driven planning, small group counseling has the potential to pack a mighty punch. Below are some tips for energizing this reliable Tier 2 intervention.
Developing Your Small Group – With Help
Administrator and faculty buy-in is key to getting your small group off the ground. With other administrators, teachers, and support personnel, review PBIS data and behavior tracking platforms, and let data guide the way when it comes to narrowing down your group’s focus.
This can lead to valuable discussions about which social and behavioral issues would be best addressed in a small group setting. Which skills do students need to develop? Which skills can help extinguish ongoing behavior issues?
Involving teachers in planning invests them in the outcome and makes the logistical elements of small group meetings easier.
Include staff in discussions about the practicalities of holding small group counseling:
- the Where (location),
- When (which period), and
- How Long (how many weeks the group will run).
Also, sharing the small group counseling process and expectations with faculty and staff can clear misconceptions. Small groups are an opportunity for students to build bonds and trust with each other. This entails a consistent group of participants each week, not an ongoing carousel of referrals and drop-ins.
Once the foundation has been laid for your small group, you can start assembling the general structure. As you build your group, create a general agenda that includes lessons, activities, and opportunities to learn and practice new skills, as well as time for students to process the experience.
Gathering Your Small Group Participants
As with deciding on your group theme, PBIS data will make identifying possible group members much easier. However, small group counseling is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
Start by gauging interest: approach prospective participants and their families and share the purpose and structure of the group. Frame the small group experience as a safe space to try new skills–this can help erase any preconceived notions about group counseling.
As you bring your group together, communicate with students and families how open-mindedness, respect, and honoring confidentiality can help the group dynamic and themselves.
Don’t be afraid to remind them (repeatedly, if needed) that the small group is a safe space to develop and practice new skills.
Speaking with prospective group members individually can also help you gauge possible group chemistry and anticipate needs. Do you believe the students can work together respectfully? Are there any prior conflicts or current bonds with possible members that might disrupt the group’s progress? Are the members genuinely interested in participating?
Setting the Tone
Essential to the success of a small group is respect and trust. Individually (before the group formally begins) and together, discuss the importance of confidentiality, working together, and honoring others’ thoughts and opinions. This can set the proper tone for future group meetings.
Also, allow them the opportunity to opt out of the group if they feel they cannot abide by those expectations.
Gathering data about group members’ skills, knowledge, and level of confidence regarding the overall theme is as easy as administering a pre-test.
This information will come in handy as you develop and refine the group lessons and activities, which should be skill, age, or grade-level appropriate for maximum impact.
As the group progresses, check in with members individually to ensure they feel included, safe, and that they are learning and practicing new skills. Additionally, communicate with parents when appropriate, and with group confidentiality in mind.
Look towards the future
Throughout the small group process, celebrate the students’ effort. Participating in a small group requires vulnerability, which can be scary for students.
By acknowledging their willingness to be open, share their thoughts, and try new skills, you can help build a young person’s confidence in immeasurable ways.
Ease the transition towards the group’s termination by bringing the topic up a few weeks before the group sessions end. Remind them that the end of group counseling sessions is a planned process, and allow them space to voice their thoughts.
To ensure the efficacy of your small group and track student growth, administer a survey at the conclusion of your group.
Using the same questions as your pre-test survey allows you to see if students’ perceptions and confidence regarding their skills have changed. Include a section in the conclusion survey for recommendations, which can help you plan future small groups.
Finally, follow up with individual members a few weeks after the small group formally concludes. By offering sustained support, you remind students that they are capable of managing their behaviors, can make different choices, and practice new skills.
Small Group and Big Gains
Creating and facilitating a small group for social or behavior skills may seem like a daunting challenge, especially with many other school counseling responsibilities to manage. However, with input from teachers, buy-in from students and families, and thoughtful, outcome-driven planning, your small group has the potential to fly high!