Technique – No Gossiping
Counseling Intention: To facilitate direct confrontation of feelings
Description. The “no gossiping norm.” facilitate direct confrontation of feelings. Clients often gossip about others when they have not been able to handle directly the feeling they arouse. Gossiping is defined (Fagen & Shepherd, 1979) as “talking about” an individual that is present rather than “talking to them.” For example, a group member might speak about another group member. Sue comments, “It frustrates me that we cannot begin on time because John is always late.” The counselor intervenes and asks Sue to “talk to” John rather than about him. “John, I get frustrated when you come late because the group cannot begin on time.”