Case Vignettes & Practice Exercises
Aligned with ASGW Best Practices
This training document provides case vignettes and experiential practice exercises for counselor education classes and professional workshops. All examples illustrate ethical, intentional uses of AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) in group work and are explicitly aligned with the Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW) Best Practices.
Vignette 1 – Forming Stage: Establishing the Group Container
ASGW Alignment:
• Establishing group purpose, norms, and structure
• Promoting member engagement and shared leadership
• Informed consent and transparency
Context:
You are facilitating a newly formed psychoeducational anxiety group. Members appear cautious and ask for clarity about expectations.
AI-Supported Practice:
The group leader uses an LLM prior to session to draft multiple versions of group norms and values-based prompts. During the session, norms are collaboratively refined.
Practice Exercise:
Participants role-play co-creating group norms using AI-generated drafts.
Reflection & Ethics:
• How does AI support collaboration rather than control?
• How does the leader maintain authority while sharing power?
Vignette 2 – Storming Stage: Managing Conflict and Power
ASGW Alignment:
• Managing conflict ethically
• Maintaining neutrality and emotional safety
• Addressing power and dominance issues
Context:
Two members in a recovery group engage in a heated exchange questioning each other’s commitment.
AI-Supported Practice:
The leader privately consults an LLM to generate process-oriented interventions.
Practice Exercise:
Participants analyze AI-generated interventions, rewrite them, and role-play delivery.
Reflection & Ethics:
• How can AI support neutrality?
• What risks arise if AI language replaces clinical intuition?
Vignette 3 – Norming Stage: Building Cohesion and Mutual Support
ASGW Alignment:
• Fostering cohesion and trust
• Encouraging interpersonal learning
• Strengths-based facilitation
Context:
A caregiver support group is functioning well but seeks deeper connection.
AI-Supported Practice:
The leader uses AI to generate strengths-based reflection prompts.
Practice Exercise:
Participants practice strengths mirroring using AI-generated prompts.
Reflection & Ethics:
• How does AI scaffold vulnerability?
• How do leaders prevent superficial affirmations?
Vignette 4 – Performing Stage: Supporting Deep Therapeutic Work
ASGW Alignment:
• Applying appropriate interventions
• Trauma-informed practice
• Respecting member autonomy
Context:
A trauma-informed skills group requests grounding exercises.
AI-Supported Practice:
AI generates multiple grounding scripts; members are offered choice.
Practice Exercise:
Participants critique and adapt AI-generated scripts.
Reflection & Ethics:
• How does AI expand options?
• What safeguards protect against retraumatization?
Vignette 5 – Adjourning Stage: Ethical Termination and Meaning-Making
ASGW Alignment:
• Facilitating healthy termination
• Integrating learning and closure
• Protecting confidentiality
Context:
A time-limited grief group prepares for termination.
AI-Supported Practice:
The leader uses AI to draft a thematic, anonymized group journey narrative.
Practice Exercise:
Participants evaluate AI-generated narratives.
Reflection & Ethics:
• How does abstraction protect confidentiality?
• What content should never be included?
Capstone Exercise – Ethical Decision-Making Across Stages
ASGW Alignment:
• Ethical practice and professional judgment
Exercise:
Participants decide whether AI use is appropriate across brief scenarios.
Reflection:
• When does non-use of AI represent best practice?
Aligned with ASGW Best Practices
This training document provides case vignettes and experiential practice exercises for counselor education classes and professional workshops. All examples illustrate ethical, intentional uses of AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) in group work and are explicitly aligned with the Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW) Best Practices.
Vignette 1 – Forming Stage: Establishing the Group Container
ASGW Alignment:
• Establishing group purpose, norms, and structure
• Promoting member engagement and shared leadership
• Informed consent and transparency
Context:
You are facilitating a newly formed psychoeducational anxiety group. Members appear cautious and ask for clarity about expectations.
AI-Supported Practice:
The group leader uses an LLM prior to session to draft multiple versions of group norms and values-based prompts. During the session, norms are collaboratively refined.
Practice Exercise:
Participants role-play co-creating group norms using AI-generated drafts.
Reflection & Ethics:
• How does AI support collaboration rather than control?
• How does the leader maintain authority while sharing power?
Vignette 2 – Storming Stage: Managing Conflict and Power
ASGW Alignment:
• Managing conflict ethically
• Maintaining neutrality and emotional safety
• Addressing power and dominance issues
Context:
Two members in a recovery group engage in a heated exchange questioning each other’s commitment.
AI-Supported Practice:
The leader privately consults an LLM to generate process-oriented interventions.
Practice Exercise:
Participants analyze AI-generated interventions, rewrite them, and role-play delivery.
Reflection & Ethics:
• How can AI support neutrality?
• What risks arise if AI language replaces clinical intuition?
Vignette 3 – Norming Stage: Building Cohesion and Mutual Support
ASGW Alignment:
• Fostering cohesion and trust
• Encouraging interpersonal learning
• Strengths-based facilitation
Context:
A caregiver support group is functioning well but seeks deeper connection.
AI-Supported Practice:
The leader uses AI to generate strengths-based reflection prompts.
Practice Exercise:
Participants practice strengths mirroring using AI-generated prompts.
Reflection & Ethics:
• How does AI scaffold vulnerability?
• How do leaders prevent superficial affirmations?
Vignette 4 – Performing Stage: Supporting Deep Therapeutic Work
ASGW Alignment:
• Applying appropriate interventions
• Trauma-informed practice
• Respecting member autonomy
Context:
A trauma-informed skills group requests grounding exercises.
AI-Supported Practice:
AI generates multiple grounding scripts; members are offered choice.
Practice Exercise:
Participants critique and adapt AI-generated scripts.
Reflection & Ethics:
• How does AI expand options?
• What safeguards protect against retraumatization?
Vignette 5 – Adjourning Stage: Ethical Termination and Meaning-Making
ASGW Alignment:
• Facilitating healthy termination
• Integrating learning and closure
• Protecting confidentiality
Context:
A time-limited grief group prepares for termination.
AI-Supported Practice:
The leader uses AI to draft a thematic, anonymized group journey narrative.
Practice Exercise:
Participants evaluate AI-generated narratives.
Reflection & Ethics:
• How does abstraction protect confidentiality?
• What content should never be included?
Capstone Exercise – Ethical Decision-Making Across Stages
ASGW Alignment:
• Ethical practice and professional judgment
Exercise:
Participants decide whether AI use is appropriate across brief scenarios.
Reflection:
• When does non-use of AI represent best practice?