| The survey developed for this research was a descriptive study designed to provide information on: (a) the frequency with which group counseling is used with deaf adolescents in residential schools; (b) the major characteristics of counseling groups with this population; and (c) the group training background of residential school counselors, and their perceptions about the value, problems, and need for this approach with deaf adolescents. A total of 152 surveys were sent to 72 residential schools for the deaf in the United States. Data were gathered from 94 (61.8%) of the 152 surveys which came from 56 (77.7%) of the 72 residential schools.;The major findings are: (1) Sixty percent of the respondents use group counseling with deaf adolescents. (2) At least 75% of the respondents have formal and/or informal training in group counseling. (3) At least 45% of the group users do not meet the required number of supervision training hours recommended by the major professional societies involved in group training. (4) Over 40% of the group counselors rated their group training as preparation to be a group counselor with deaf adolescents as being "not useful" to "somewhat useful". (5) Approximately 33% of the group users perceived their group training to be moderately to seriously problematic as a beginning group counselor. (6) When choosing between individual or group counseling as a preferred treatment, 48.6% chose individual, 22.2% chose group, and 29.2% chose both modes for their preference. (7) The preference for individual counseling was affected by issues of student confidentiality, and the counselor's lack of group training and experience. (8) Over 75% of the respondents are interested in learning more about the use of group counseling with deaf adolescents. The investigation raises questions about the training of group counselors. Recommendations are provided for further research, training and information dissemination on the practice of group counseling with deaf adolescents. |
