Dear Tipsters, I have to write a short unit on group support counselling in a module on support counselling and I need some help. The module will be used as part of an HIV/AIDS counselling programme, but does not necessarily have to focus on the support counselling of HIV/AIDS patients only. A focus on generic group counselling skills would be more useful, since this module will later be modified to fit into other counselling programmes. Can anyone suggest any recent sources or web resources with a skills based focus that I can use in the compilation of my unit? This is my first request on TIPS, so I'll briefly introduce myself. I teach at vista University in South Africa. It is a young university (started in 1983), but in terms of student numbers it is the second largest university in SA after UNISA (University of South Africa). It is referred to in South Africa as a Historically Black University (HBU) or alternatively an Historically disadvantaged university. It functions on a multi-campus system and we have seven campuses nationwide. These are all in previously black townships.On my campus, Mamelodi in Pretoria (The capital of SA) we only have black African learners, but because of the differences in demographics in other parts of the country the learners are from different ethnic backgrounds. (We do, however have ethnic variety within our black student body.) Our learners are mostly first generation learners at tertiary level. Our language of tuition is English which is the second, third, fourth or even fifth language of the learners. ( I am a white African and English is also my second language.) These factors pose very interesting challenges to teaching in general and the teaching of psychology specifically. There is much more to tell, but perhaps the conversation can continue with those who are more interested. Regards, Gerhard Viljoen Postal Address: Work: Department of Psychology P.O. Box 38729 Vista University Faerie Glen Mamelodi Campus 0043 R.S.A. Cel: (+27) 082 202 2084 He who laughs, lasts.
