This study was conducted to quantify the effectiveness of group counseling as an
intervention for high school seniors who are experiencing stress related to their post-secondary
uncertainty. Four participants attended five discussion-based group counseling sessions
facilitated by the primary researcher. Each participant completed the ten-question PSS in a pretest/
post-test fashion.
The group quickly formed a comfort level that allowed them to enter the working stage of
group processing by the second session (Jacobs et al, 2009). This could have been the result of the participants having familiarity with one another; however, none of the participants were
“close friends” prior to the group’s commencement. Participants scored 29.49% lower on the
PSS post-test—following the group counseling intervention. In addition, participants described
the experience of being a group member as positive. They also explained that participation
helped to alleviate some of the stress they were experiencing. Given the results of this study, it
would be in the best interest of school counseling programs to consider utilizing the group
counseling format while working with their senior students who are uncertain about their postsecondary
plan.