Talk: Planning, implementation and evaluation of a Solution-Focused Group Counseling program, for adolescents living in child protection centers

Eugenia Savvidou

This study was conducted as part of a thesis in counseling psychology, at the University of Ioannina (Greece), during 2015-2016. The aim is to design, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a Solution-Focused Brief Counseling (SFBC) Groupwork program, for adolescents living in child protection centers. The sample was consisted of 44 teenagers (26 were the control group and 18 were the intervention group), who are currently based on 3 different centers. At each center, one separate intervention group was created (with 5-7 participants each), in which six sessions took place. Predominantly, the SFBC techniques were applied, configured for group intervention, by an appropriately trained group coordinator. The goals were set by the participants at the start of the program, and were aimed at the improvement of their interpersonal relationships, the increase of self-esteem and anger management. The evaluation was made through a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest comparison group design. The results showed that the self-control and self-esteem of the participants in the SFBC intervention group were significantly increased. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with members of the intervention group, where the participants reported that throughout the program, were helped to set goals and to come closer with the rest of the team, through sharing common issues and finding support and contribution from their peers.

My name is Eugenia Savvidou and I am from Greece. My main degree is at Philosophy, Pedagogic and Psychology, from the University of Ioannina. After completing my bachelor, I had a four-year training period as a Systemic Psychotherapist from a Greek systemic association (SOSYTI) and during the same period I started my master at Counseling Psychology, at the Department of Primary Education, again at the University of Ioannina. During my studies, both as a psychotherapist and as a counselor, I trained at the principles of Solution-Focused Counseling and I became acquainted with its basic techniques. At the end of 2015, when I started planning my thesis, I was pretty sure that I wanted to try and do a group counseling program for adolescents, based on a Solution-Focused point of view. I have also worked as a volunteer at KETHEA, a therapy center for dependent individuals, the Laboratory of Educational Psychology, Counseling and Research at the University of Ioannina and at the “Ark of the World”, a Non-Profit Organization for” Special Care and Protection of Mothers and Children”.

for SF beginners, for SF practitioners