The Effect of Type of Screening on the Satisfaction of Students in Experiential Counseling Training Groups

Abstract

Students' participation in training groups as a function of enrollment in a group counseling course is almost a universal requirement in counselor education programs. The skill of screening for group membership is an essential component to the development of effective group leadership. Guided by the functional theoretical perspective, this study investigated the role that type of screening (verbal or written) plays in determining student satisfaction with the group and the group counseling class in general, the degree of satisfaction with the groups' success and goal attainment, and the composition of the group membership. The results suggest that both types of screening methods produce neutral to favorable responses; however, students screened using face-to-face verbal screening methods reported significantly greater satisfaction with the group and the group counseling course. Specifically, students screened using the face-to-face verbal method reported that their groups were more successful and reached their goals to a greater degree than those screened using a written approach.