Bullying and social vulnerability of students with ASD 43Success stories
The researchers witnessed great success from the counseling groups. The major-
ity of the group members benefitted from participating in group counseling and
reported that they greatly enjoyed their time in the groups. Many chose to par-
ticipate in the groups for several terms, and all participation was self-initiated. The
following case studies are just two of the many examples which show the effective-
ness of group counseling and social inclusion for the ASD population.
Future needs
Further research is needed to explore additional benefits of counseling groups
for individuals with ASD. Literature reviews demonstrate the lack of research
connecting adults with ASD who have experienced bullying and depression, and
strategic, empirically based programming towards intervention for this subject
and population is either unknown or unavailable. Specifically, the researchers
believe it would be worthy to pursue identification of the beneficial piece(s)
of the counseling groups to the participants, be it the increase in social activity,
the comradery of the peer cohort, the accessibility of group facilitators as a sup-
port system, involvement in diverse activities linked to social skill building and
the group sessions, as well as with the facilitators at the conclusion of group
sessions.
The last week of group, Nathan and his fellow members participated in
an activity called “Fill Me Up.” In this activity, group members were asked to
create a paper bag with two sides. On one side of the bag they were asked
to write down the traits that they brought to the group. On the other side
of the bag, group members were asked to write benefits they got from the
group (i.e., things that they learned throughout the group process, things
they gained from being a member in the group, etc.). Nathan completed
this activity two times, at the conclusion of two eight-week group sessions in
which he participated. In both of the times that he participated in the activity,
the one thing Nathan wrote was that what he gained from the group was
friends.
Nathan’s group facilitators believed that being a member of the coun-
seling group was the very first time Nathan felt accepted by his peers and
felt like he truly belonged in a group. At the end of Nathan’s time in group
counseling, he hugged his two group facilitators and told them that he
would miss them. The facilitators believed that this behavior was a direct
result of Nathan’s feelings of belonging and safety within the group, both
with the facilitators and with the group members.