Posted: June 14th, 2023

Week 4 Assignment: Demonstrate Diversity and Inclusion in Group Therapy

Demonstrate Diversity and Inclusion in Group Therapy

Week 4 Assignment: Demonstrate Diversity and Inclusion in Group Therapy

Develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for your agency based on the inclusion of LGBTQ clients. You currently offer group support therapy in your outpatient practice. You are writing the SOP to create inclusionary criteria for LGBTQ populations in your support group services. You may use the attached example as a format for your SOP.

Based on your readings so far, what would be a support group that would be most needed by this population? Write your SOP for this particular support group (e.g., co-occurring support group, recovery support group, survivor support group).

The SOP will include culturally sensitive objectives, outcomes, and supporting materials needed to competently treat LGBTQ clients. This will include (but not be limited to) inclusive language, activities, and treatment interventions.
The SOP will include how the agency and therapists should address documentation in terms of confidentiality, informed consent, and collaboration with other providers based on clients who participate in a group setting.
The SOP should include how to write progress notes and what documentation is needed for group participants paying close attention to issues related to gender identity language and implicit bias.
The SOP should include how to write a group treatment plan.
The SOP should include how to disseminate information to group participants.
Be sure to include how this SOP follows the AAMFT Code of Ethics on the above-stated issues.
Conclude your SOP with recommendations for mandatory training resources that staff should participate in before they engage in any client /group treatment.

Note: The template is meant to serve as a guide for formatting your assignment. You do not need to follow it precisely, it is most important that all bullet points above are reflected in at least one of the sections of the SOP.

Length: 5 pages, not including title or reference pages

References: Use at least 4 references from this week’s readings and at least 2 other references that you read for previous course assignments.

The completed assignment should address all of the assignment requirements, exhibit evidence of concept knowledge, and demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the content presented in the course. The writing should integrate scholarly resources, reflect academic expectations and current APA standards, and adhere to Northcentral University’s Academic Integrity Policy.
Week 4
Diversity and Culture in Group Therapy
At times, therapists struggle with the question of whether they should see clients from a different race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. Other types of diversity could be addressed as well, but this set of issues will provide a springboard for the opportunity to consider the broad topic of diversity in therapy sessions. It is important to remember that questions of diversity must be considered within a larger framework of professional competence and responsibility of MFTs vis-à-vis of their clients. Therapists sometimes struggle with the decision of whether to see clients of a different race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. Other types of diversity could be addressed as well, but this set of issues will serve as a springboard for discussing the broad topic of diversity in therapy sessions. It is critical to remember that questions of diversity must be considered within the context of MFTs’ professional competence and responsibility to their clients.

Addressing issues of diversity in a group setting can be even more challenging for MFTs. Group therapy dynamics add in multiple layers of complexity when addressing issues of diversity in an ethical manner. Understanding and being able to implement these layers with sensitivity and prudence will provide a safe and therapeutic space for clients.

This week’s assignment will challenge you to think about how you might implement the AAMFT Code of Ethics within a group setting with specific attention to the issues of diversity and inclusion.

Weekly Resources and Assignments
Review the resources from the Course Resources link, located in the top navigation bar, to prepare for this week’s assignments. The resources may include textbook reading assignments, journal articles, websites, links to tools or software, videos, handouts, rubrics, etc.

Week 4 Assignment: Demonstrate Diversity and Inclusion in Group Therapy
Assignment
Develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for your agency based on the inclusion of LGBTQ clients. You currently offer group support therapy in your outpatient practice. You are writing the SOP to create inclusionary criteria for LGBTQ populations in your support group services. You may use the attached example as a format for your SOP.

Based on your readings so far, what would be a support group that would be most needed by this population? Write your SOP for this particular support group (e.g., co-occurring support group, recovery support group, survivor support group).

• The SOP will include culturally sensitive objectives, outcomes, and supporting materials needed to competently treat LGBTQ clients. This will include (but not be limited to) inclusive language, activities, and treatment interventions.
• The SOP will include how the agency and therapists should address documentation in terms of confidentiality, informed consent, and collaboration with other providers based on clients who participate in a group setting.
• The SOP should include how to write progress notes and what documentation is needed for group participants paying close attention to issues related to gender identity language and implicit bias.
• The SOP should include how to write a group treatment plan.
• The SOP should include how to disseminate information to group participants.
• Be sure to include how this SOP follows the AAMFT Code of Ethics on the above-stated issues.
• Conclude your SOP with recommendations for mandatory training resources that staff should participate in before they engage in any client /group treatment.
Note: The template is meant to serve as a guide for formatting your assignment. You do not need to follow it precisely, it is most important that all bullet points above are reflected in at least one of the sections of the SOP.

Length: 5 pages, not including title or reference pages

References: Use at least 4 references from this week’s readings and at least 2 other references that you read for previous course assignments.

The completed assignment should address all of the assignment requirements, exhibit evidence of concept knowledge, and demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the content presented in the course. The writing should integrate scholarly resources, reflect academic expectations and current APA standards, and adhere to Northcentral University’s Academic Integrity Policy.
Sources
• Bias Free Language: Gender
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Gender.
• Essentials of Group Therapy
Brabender, V. M., Smolar, A. I., & Fallon, A. E. (2004). Ethical, legal, and group management issues. Essentials of group therapy. John
Wiley and Sons, Incorporated.
Read Chapter 8, Ethical, Legal, and Group Management Issues;
Chapter 9, The Diversity Among Members in a Therapy Group; and
Chapter 12, Training Group Therapists for Current and Future Practice.
• Re-Visioning Family Therapy, Third Edition: Addressing Diversity in Clinical Practice
McGoldrick, M., & Hardy, K. V. (2019). Re-visioning family therapy, third edition: Addressing diversity in clinical practice. The Guilford Press.
Read Chapter 26, Working with LGBT Families; Chapter 37, Ways of Knowing: Cultural Bias Pitfalls to Avoid When Using Research to Inform Practice, and Chapter 38, Relational Healing and Organizational Change in the Time of Evidence.
• Socioculturally Attuned Family Therapy: Guidelines for Equitable Theory and Practice
McDowell, T., Knudson-Martin, C., & Bermudez, J. M. (2018). Socioculturally attuned family therapy: Guidelines for equitable theory and practice. Routledge.
Read Chapter 3, Self-of-the-Therapist and Ethical Considerations in Socioculturally Attuned Family Therapy and Chapter 14, Integrated Equity Based Approaches to Family Therapy.
• SOP Example
Northcentral University. (2021). SOP example
This example will help you write your assignment this week.
Optional Resources
Ethical, Legal and Professional Issues in the Practice of Marriage and Family Therapy
Wilcoxon, A. S., Remley, T. P., & Gladding, S. T. (2021) Ethical, legal and professional issues in the practice of marriage and family therapy. Pearson.
Review Chapter 4, Unique Ethical Considerations in Marriage and Family Therapy: Principle Distinctions (pp. 71-87).
Review Chapter 5, Unique Ethical Considerations in Marriage and Family Therapy: Practice Distinctions (pp. 89-103).
Access your Redshelf book in the Getting Started module of the course or click on Bookshelf in the top navigation bar of the course.
Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions
Corey, G., Corey, M. S., & Corey, C. (2019). Issues and ethics in the helping professions. Cengage Learning.
Read pages 110-125 and Chapter 12, Legal Considerations.
Access your Redshelf book in the Getting Started module of the course or click on Bookshelf in the top navigation bar of the course.
• LGBTQI
National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2020).LGBTQI.
• Resources
The Trevor Project (2021). Resources.
• Social & Cultural Diversity: Counseling Transgender Clients
Alexander Street. (2015). Social & cultural diversity: Counseling transgender clients [Video file]. Microtraining Associates.

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Sample Assignment Answer

This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is designed to guide therapists in providing group therapy services that are inclusive and culturally sensitive to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) clients. The SOP is intended to provide objectives, outcomes, and supporting materials needed to competently treat LGBTQ clients. The SOP will address issues of documentation, confidentiality, informed consent, and collaboration with other providers based on clients who participate in a group setting. The SOP will include how to write progress notes and what documentation is needed for group participants paying close attention to issues related to gender identity language and implicit bias. The SOP will also include how to write a group treatment plan and how to disseminate information to group participants. The SOP follows the AAMFT Code of Ethics on the above-stated issues.

Support Group:

The support group that would be most needed by the LGBTQ population is a “Survivor Support Group.” LGBTQ individuals are at a higher risk for victimization, including physical and sexual violence. Survivors of violence often have difficulty dealing with their trauma, which can lead to a variety of mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This support group will provide a safe space for survivors to share their experiences, gain support from others who have experienced similar situations, and learn coping strategies to deal with the impact of trauma.

Objectives:

The objectives of the Survivor Support Group are to:

Provide a safe and supportive environment for LGBTQ survivors of violence to share their experiences, thoughts, and feelings.
Increase the awareness and understanding of the effects of violence on the LGBTQ community.
Help survivors develop coping strategies to deal with the impact of trauma.
Provide support and resources to LGBTQ survivors of violence.
Outcomes:

The expected outcomes of the Survivor Support Group are to:

Increase the sense of community and belonging among LGBTQ survivors of violence.
Improve coping skills and resilience among LGBTQ survivors of violence.
Reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD among LGBTQ survivors of violence.
Increase the understanding and awareness of the effects of violence on the LGBTQ community.
Supporting Materials:

The following supporting materials will be used in the Survivor Support Group:

Educational materials on the effects of violence on the LGBTQ community.
Coping skills handouts and worksheets.
Relaxation techniques and mindfulness exercises.
Referral information for community resources and services.
Documentation:

Confidentiality:

All members of the Survivor Support Group will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement at the beginning of the group. The group facilitator will explain the limits of confidentiality and the reasons for sharing information outside the group. Any breaches of confidentiality will be handled according to agency policies and procedures.

Informed Consent:

All participants will be required to sign an informed consent form before participating in the Survivor Support Group. The informed consent form will outline the purpose of the group, the expectations of the participants, the limits of confidentiality, and the potential risks and benefits of participating in the group.

Collaboration with Other Providers:

The group facilitator will collaborate with other providers, including individual therapists, medical providers, and case managers, as needed to provide comprehensive care to the participants. The facilitator will obtain a release of information form signed by the participant before sharing any information with other providers.

Progress Notes and Documentation:

Progress notes will be written after each group session, and will include the following information:

Attendance.
Topics discussed.
Interventions used.
Outcomes and progress made.
Any issues related to gender identity language or implicit bias.
Group Treatment Plan:

A group treatment plan will be developed at the beginning of the Survivor Support Group. The group treatment plan will include the following information: