COUNSELING IS AN ACCEPTING, TRUSTING RELATIONSHIP DEALING WITH NORMAL CHILDREN AND EMPHASIZING THE COUNSELOR'S SPECIAL ABILITY TO LISTEN, EMPATHIZE, AND UNDERSTAND. THE SETTING OF GROUP COUNSELING PROVIDES EXCELLENT CONDITIONS FOR LEARNING. EFFECTIVE GROUP COUNSELING INVOLVES TREATMENT BY THE GROUP AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT WITHIN THE GROUP. COUNSELORS MUST BE AWARE OF HOW GROUP MEMBERS' COMMENTS AND ACTIONS INFLUENCE OTHER MEMBERS. THE SELECTION OF YOUNGSTERS FOR GROUP COUNSELING SHOULD BE BASED UPON THE TYPE OF PROBLEM (STUDENTS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS SHOULD NOT BE PLACED IN THE SAME GROUP), READINESS FOR COUNSELING, THE CHILD'S IMPACT ON OTHER GROUP MEMBERS, AND HIS PARENTS' SUPPORT. GROUP COUNSELING METHODS MUST BE MODIFIED FOR USE WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN (FOURTH, FIFTH, AND SIXTH GRADERS). SUCH GROUPS REQUIRE MORE STRUCTURE AND SHOULD BE MORE LIMITED IN TIME AND NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS. THE COUNSELOR PLAYS A MORE ACTIVE ROLE, AND SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE FROM TEACHERS AND PARENTS IS NEEDED OUTSIDE THE GROUP. ROLE-PLAYING IS AN EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR THIS AGE LEVEL. AS VERBALIZATION IS DIFFICULT FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN, MORE PLAY MATERIAL IS NECESSARY. TEACHERS MAY USE GROUP TECHNIQUES TO MOTIVATE LEARNING AND TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO RELIEVE A SPECIAL PROBLEM THROUGH ROLE-PLAYING. THIS IS ONE OF THE REPORTS FROM THE ZION CONFERENCE AND THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DEMONSTRATION CENTERS INCLUDED IN "ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GUIDANCE IN ILLINOIS." (PS)