Group Work Flashcards by Melissa Levy

You are working as a group counselor. You prefer a laissez-faire leadership style. After a few sessions, the group starts exhibiting tension and dissent. What should you do:
Select one:

A.
have the group members work out the problems themselves

B.
become more directive

C.
take control of the group

D.
tell the group what they need to be doing

B.
become more directive

A laissez-faire group leader might prefer to let group members work out problems themselves. However, if there’s tension and dissent in the group, such a leader would have to take on a larger role in order to manage the overall group process. Becoming more directive is a good idea. Choices “C” and “D” give the leader too much power and may lead group members to not feel responsible for their own group behavior.

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One group member remarks to another group member “I enjoyed watching you interact today, you taught me a lot of good techniques.” This is an example of:
Select one:

A.
hope

B.
information

C.
universality

D.
imitation

B.
information

The group member has received information from the other group member. This would only be imitation if the group member quoted in the question actually performed the techniques.

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According to the Johari window, in a group setting, it is desirable to move information from the blind and secret quadrants to the _______ quadrant:
Select one:

A.
open quadrant

B.
unconscious quadrant

C.
growth quadrant

D.
open and growth quadrants

A.
open quadrant

According to the Johari window, in a group setting, it is desirable to move information from the blind and secret quadrants to the open quadrant. It is not desirable to move information into the unconscious quadrant. There is no such thing as a growth quadrant.

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You are a group counselor beginning therapy with a new group. During the earliest sessions of group therapy, it is not uncommon for group members to be somewhat uneasy about the process of group therapy. Which of the following is least likely to be displayed in the early sessions of group therapy:
Select one:

A.
group members tend to focus on their own problems

B.
group members talk to the group leader, rather than other members

C.
members hope to find acceptance and approval

D.
factions may develop as group members begin to turn toward one another

Answers “A” and “B” describe things that happen during the first stage of group therapy (orientation and affiliation). “C” - members hoping to find acceptance and approval - happens during the first stage and the later stages. The development of factions (“D”) happens during the second (power and control) stage and thus occurs after the earliest sessions of group therapy.

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Which of the following promotes cohesion in a therapy group:
Select one:

A.
heterogeneity of conflict

B.
an unstable group

C.
homogeneity of goals

D.
an open group

C.
homogeneity of goals

Having homogeneous, or similar, goals promotes group cohesion. Having an unstable group, an open group, or group members with heterogenerous, or dissimilar, problems for which they are seeking counseling do not promote group cohesion.

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Universality is best described by which of the following statements:
Select one:

A.
I guess we all feel frustrated at times

B.
I understand how you’re feeling

C.
No one can help me

D.
Maybe I can help you

A.
I guess we all feel frustrated at times

Universality one of Yalom’s curative factors in group therapy, refers to the idea that group members have shared, or similar, experiences. Answer “A” is the only one that fits this definition.

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You are a group counselor utilizing the technique of psychodrama in your work. Who is the “father” of psychodrama:
Select one:

A.
Yalom

B.
Freud

C.
Moreno

D.
Sullivan

C.
Moreno

Moreno is considered the originator of psychodrama in a group setting and is often called the “father” of psychodrama.

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Which of the following group types is more of a product-oriented group, rather than a process-oriented group:
Select one:

A.
client-centered

B.
psychoanalytic

C.
behavioral

D.
cognitive-behavioral

C.
behavioral

Behavioral groups are considered product-oriented because they focus on an end-product or goal. Client-centered and psychoanalytic groups tend to emphasize the process of group therapy. Cognitive-behavioral groups are a combination of the two (product-oriented and process-oriented).

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Members of an outpatient therapy group are likely to rank which of Yalom’s therapeutic factors as most important:
Select one:

A.
interpersonal input, catharsis, cohesiveness, and self-understanding

B.
self-understanding, universality, identification, and instillation of hope

C.
family re-enactment, catharsis, altruism, and interpersonal input

D.
interpersonal input, interpersonal output, universality, and identification

A.
interpersonal input, catharsis, cohesiveness, and self-understanding

In his book, The Theory and Practice of Group Therapy (1970), Irvin Yalom distinguishes between 12 therapeutic factors and discusses the results of research examining the importance of these factors for group therapists and for group therapy members. Although the results vary somewhat from study to study, the four factors listed in answer A are usually the most highly rated ones by group therapy members.

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Referral for group therapy would be indicated in all of the following situations except:
Select one:

A.
a client wants to get involved in therapy quickly

B.
a client’s problems are related to ineffective social skills

C.
a client wants to develop a more positive self-concept

D.
a client’s problem is related to difficulty expressing anger

A.
a client wants to get involved in therapy quickly

Remember – you are looking for the person you would not refer to group therapy. It is usually necessary to prepare group members individually before their participation in a group. Preparation involves instructions regarding such issues as payment, attendance, etc. as well as orientation to the purposes of the group. Thus, a person who wants to get involved in therapy quickly is not a great candidate for group therapy. The clients in the other three choices would be good candidates for group therapy.

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Alcoholics Anonymous groups help members to:
Select one:

A.
stay sober

B.
deal with anger

C.
break through their denial

D.
live life on life’s terms

A.
stay sober

The only requirement for membership in AA is a desire to stop drinking. The primary purpose of AA is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety. (b, c, and d) are means by which an individual can be assisted in his or her goal to stay sober.

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You are beginning a therapy group for parents and their teen-age children. From your experiences with new groups, you know that there is an expected communication style among members in the early stages of group therapy. Typically, which of the following occurs:
Select one:

A.
group members are hostile toward the authoritative therapist

B.
group members interact with one another and more or less ignore the therapist

C.
group members communicate through the therapist and seemingly ignore one another

D.
cliques develop within the group

C.
group members communicate through the therapist and seemingly ignore one another

Although all groups are unique, certain traits are typical of most groups. In the beginning stages of therapy, group members haven’t yet started to relate to one another or to form social relationships and, therefore, they typically communicate only with the therapist, as if other group members aren’t present. During this initial stage, the therapist should be prepared to play an active role. (b and d) are behaviors which are likely to be observed in the later stages of group therapy.

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According to Yalom (1995), which of the following are two basic roles a group therapist may assume?
Select one:

A.
technical expert and model-setting participant

B.
technical expert and arbitrator

C.
discloser and judge of competency

D.
discloser and vehicle for empathy

A.
technical expert and model-setting participant

Yalom identified “the technical expert” and “the model-setting participant” as two basic roles a therapist may assume in a group. Each of these roles helps shape the norms of the group. (See Yalom, I. D. [1995]. The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, 4th Ed. New York: BasicBooks, pp. 112-118.)
A. CORRECT As a technical expert, a group therapist may supply explicit instructions and suggestions–particularly in early sessions–as well as subtle reinforcers for useful behavior. As a model-setting participant, a group therapist may engage freely and without adverse effects in behavior that may be new for clients, demonstrating the qualities and benefits of such behavior.

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Which of the following is NOT true about cohesiveness in group therapy?
Select one:

A.
cohesiveness tends to lead to successful group therapy outcome

B.
members of a cohesive group tend to disclose more

C.
members of a cohesive group avoid trying to influence other group members

D.
cohesive groups are less susceptible to disruption when a member leaves

C.
members of a cohesive group avoid trying to influence other group members

Yalom defined cohesiveness in group therapy as “the attraction that members have for their group and for the other members” (Yalom, I. D. [1995]. The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, 4th Ed. New York: Basic Books, p. 67). Research indicates that cohesiveness is associated with successful group therapy outcome, greater self-disclosure among participants, and less susceptibility to disruption when a member terminates.
A. Incorrect See above.
B. Incorrect See above.
C. CORRECT Contrary to this statement, members of a cohesive group try harder than members of a noncohesive group to influence other group members.
D. Incorrect See above.

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Which of the following would be an example of therapeutic confrontation in group therapy?
Select one:

A.
a group leader berates a group member for antisocial behavior

B.
a group member berates another group member for antisocial behavior

C.
a group leader points out an inconsistency between a group member’s verbal and non-verbal behavior

D.
any of the above

C.
a group leader points out an inconsistency between a group member’s verbal and non-verbal behavior

Therapeutic confrontation is an honest or constructive reaction by a therapist to an element of a client’s behavior. It is intended to constructively provoke or provide insight to the client.
A. Incorrect Therapeutic confrontation does not involve “berating” or other types of harsh treatment.
B. Incorrect Therapeutic confrontation does not involve “berating” or other types of harsh treatment.
C. CORRECT See above.
D. Incorrect Only C is correct.

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Which of the following terms is LEAST likely to characterize a cult leader?
Select one:

A.
authoritarian

B.
authoritative

C.
charismatic

D.
narcissistic

B.
authoritative

To answer this question correctly you must understand the difference between the terms “authoritarian” and “authoritative.” A leader who is authoritarian requires blind submission to his/her authority; by contrast, the term authoritative usually connotes the possession of earned, worthy, and non-destructive authority.

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As you lead a therapy group, a patient offers constructive feedback to another patient in the group. However, the first patient is visibly irritated and agitated as he voices his feedback. The rest of the group is now angry at the first patient. You should:
Select one:

A.
see the first patient in an individual session to give him feedback

B.
ask the group to point out what the first patient has done wrong

C.
point out what the first patient did well and then offer constructive criticism

D.
focus on the second patient, who has just received negative feedback

C.
point out what the first patient did well and then offer constructive criticism

Choice C describes the proper action in this situation because the question indicates that the first patient was trying to be helpful (he was offering “constructive feedback”), but nonetheless interfered with the group’s processes by angering the other members. When managing an event that has interfered with the group’s processes, a group leader often must intervene actively and sometimes it is effective to use the technique of positive reframing, as in this case. If you waited to handle this matter later, in an individual session with the first member, you would neglect to address how this event has affected the other group members.

A counseling group is led by co-leaders. In the initial stages of the group, it would be most damaging to the group if the co-leaders:
Select one:

A.
engage in open conflict during a group meeting

B.
subscribe to different theoretical perspectives

C.
give each other feedback during a group meeting and the group members can hear what they say

D.
have an ongoing conflict with each other outside the group

A.
engage in open conflict during a group meeting

According to Yalom and other experts, open conflict between the co-leaders of a therapy group in the initial sessions can create anxiety in the members and interfere with group cohesion by causing the group to divide into factions. On the other hand, Yalom also believes that, later in the life of the group, conflict between the co-leaders can provide an opportunity for them to model conflict resolution.

A counselor is forming a therapy group for the first time. She is deciding how she will select members for her group. She wants them to be compatible. In terms of matching the group members, which variable is most important for the counselor to consider:
Select one:

A.
SES

B.
presenting problem

C.
IQ level

D.
age

C.
IQ level

Overall researchers agree that it is important to choose members who have similar levels of intelligence when forming a therapy group.

A consistently high level of cohesiveness in a group is associated with all of the following except:
Select one:

A.
better attendance

B.
lower dropout rates

C.
enhanced growth of individual group members

D.
punctuality

C.
enhanced growth of individual group members

Since this question includes the word “except,” you had to select the “wrong” answer. Although group cohesion is associated with several benefits (e.g., better attendance, lower dropout rates), it also, if too strong, can limit individual growth. GC / GW

Which of the following is NOT an advantage of co-leadership of therapy groups?
Select one:

A.
co-leadership can provide the group with two different role models

B.
co-leaders can model healthful conflict resolution when conflict arises between the leaders

C.
co-leaders can, between them, increase the accuracy of observations made in leading the group

D.
co-leaders can maximize the flouting of group norms

This question was probably easy if you understood the basic functions of leadership in group therapy, and knew the meaning of the word “flout” (that is, to contemptuously disregard something).
A. Incorrect See answer D.
B. Incorrect See answer D.
C. Incorrect See answer D.
D. CORRECT If you did not understand the word “flout,” it is possible that you could have still picked choice D through a process of elimination–you may have recognized that the other choices were all clearly advantages of co-leadership, thus making choice D suspicious.

Which of the following is NOT true about self-disclosure among members of a therapy group?
Select one:

A.
patients should never be attacked for important self-disclosure

B.
material that is successfully self-disclosed in a therapy group is necessarily suited for disclosure outside of the therapy group

C.
too much self-disclosure by a therapy group member can be as maladaptive as too little

D.
self-disclosure is a prerequisite for meaningful interpersonal relationships in a group

B.
material that is successfully self-disclosed in a therapy group is necessarily suited for disclosure outside of the therapy group

According to Yalom (1995), appropriate self-disclosure in a therapy group may be “disastrously inappropriate in other situations” (see Yalom, I. D. [1995]. The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, 4th Ed. New York: BasicBooks, pp. 353-361). The other statements are all true according to Yalom.
A. Incorrect See above.
B. CORRECT Contrary to choice B, material that is successfully self-disclosed in a therapy group is not necessarily suited for disclosure outside of the therapy group.
C. Incorrect See above.
D. Incorrect See above.

Which of the following is NOT true about open and closed therapy groups?
Select one:

A.
closed groups tend to be less cohesive than open groups

B.
both a closed group and an open group may have seven members at virtually all times

C.
an open group may have complete membership turnover through the course of its life

D.
both open and closed groups may be limited to one gender

A.
closed groups tend to be less cohesive than open groups

Closed therapy groups begin and end with the same members and usually have a preset termination date. Open groups allow members to join and terminate the group at different times. Some authorities also identify open groups as those without a set number of sessions or ending date.
A. CORRECT Closed groups–where membership is set at the beginning and remains consistent through the life of the group–tend to be more cohesive than open groups, where membership fluctuates over time.
B. Incorrect An open group may always replace a member when one member leaves; and closed groups by definition do not add new members, and, save for attrition, may maintain full membership through the group’s life. Thus, both open and closed groups may have a given number (e.g., 7) of members at virtually all times.
C. Incorrect Because of the nature of open groups, it is possible that complete membership turnover will occur over the life of the group.
D. Incorrect Choice D is true (e.g., there are both open and closed women’s therapy groups).

Which of the following is NOT true concerning transference in therapy groups?
Select one:

A.
transference is omnipresent in therapy groups

B.
attitudes of group members toward the therapist may be reality-based

C.
resolution of transference distortion can be highly therapeutic for some group members

D.
transference should be discouraged in groups composed of abuse survivors

A skilled therapist may employ the transference reactions in members of an abuse survivor group to effect significant therapeutic benefit to participants (see Yalom, I. D. [1995]. The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, 4th Ed. New York: BasicBooks). All the other choices represent true statements.
A. Incorrect See above.
B. Incorrect See above.
C. Incorrect See above.
D. CORRECT See above.

Among the differences between family therapy and group therapy are: Select one: A. groups are specifically designed to provide opportunities for reality testing whereas in family therapy, family members frequently share distortions of reality B. transference within group therapy is less amenable for exploration and change whereas transference within family therapy is more amenable for exploration and correction C. it is less safe to speak openly in group therapy than in family therapy D. there is more potential for an atmosphere of warmth and support in family therapy than in group therapy

A. groups are specifically designed to provide opportunities for reality testing whereas in family therapy, family members frequently share distortions of reality In the relatively non-threatening atmosphere of a group, distorted perceptions may be corrected and new ways of behaving may be tried. Within families, individual members may have fewer opportunities to re-examine their perceptions than they would when the feedback is from observers who have different points of view.

In the context of group therapy, the statement, "What is most personal, is most general," focuses on the notion of: Select one: A. universality B. the reality principle C. intellectualization D. transference

A. universality Universality refers to the commonality members feel when interacting in a group. Members learn that all people share certain emotions. In a sense, the human experience is then de-mystified. A. CORRECT The statement "what is most personal, is most general" illustrates the notion that an individual's thoughts, experiences, or emotions are likely to be similar to those of others, and, thus, generalizable to the human experience. B. Incorrect According to Freud's theory of psychosocial development, the ego operates according to the reality principle when it seeks to satisfy the id's instinctual urges in realistic and socially acceptable ways. C. Incorrect Intellectualization is a defense mechanism and a form of resistance. D. Incorrect Transference occurs when the client's relationship with a parent is manifested in the therapeutic situation in the form of the client-group leader relationship.

A therapy group has been meeting every week for the last six months. A new member joins the group. It is most likely that the other group members will: Select one: A. view the new member suspiciously and be somewhat ambivalent about her participation at first B. express their hostility toward the new member by ignoring her for a few sessions C. confront the new member early on with questions about why she joined the group D. accept the new member very quickly as a bona fide member of the group

A. view the new member suspiciously and be somewhat ambivalent about her participation at first Open groups offer members new input (from new members), but can impede the development of trust, acceptance, and cohesiveness (e.g., there may be problems with trust and difficulty accepting new members).

A problem-solving approach in group therapy would likely: Select one: A. shut down group members B. facilitate feelings C. cause members to form coalitions to approach the problems D. cause divisiveness among group members

C. cause members to form coalitions to approach the problems If the group is functioning with a problem-solving model, group members will be motivated to solve problems. In doing so, it is possible that they will form coalitions to facilitate their problem-solving process. A. Incorrect It would not be beneficial for group members to "shut down," nor is this a likely outcome of the problem-solving model. B. Incorrect Although feelings may be (in fact, should be) facilitated, this is not unique to a problem-solving group. C. CORRECT See above. D. Incorrect Divisiveness among group members is not necessarily an outcome of the problem-solving process, and is different from forming coalitions; coalitions will not necessarily be divisive. As noted, they may facilitate problem-solving.

The advantages to interviewing potential group members include all of the following, EXCEPT: Select one: A. enhancing the compatibility of group members B. helping the group leader understand every patient accepted into the group C. enabling the group leader to bill the insurance of new members before they begin the group D. heightening the probability that participants in the group will understand both the other members and the group leader

C. enabling the group leader to bill the insurance of new members before they begin the group This is another example of a reverse type question. Screening each potential group member enhances the possibility that the group leader and the members will become compatible and understand each other.

The ideal size for a therapy group is: Select one: A. 10 to 15 members B. 7 to 10 members C. 3 to 6 members D. 15 to 20 members

B. 7 to 10 members If there are fewer than seven members in a group, there is not enough opportunity for learning. Also, the average size of a large or extended family is seven. If there are more than 10 members, there may not be enough opportunities for individual participation.

Individual therapy is preferred over group therapy when the client: Select one: A. wants to involve him/herself in therapy slowly B. is in a state of crisis C. has trouble expressing anger D. has trouble expressing dependence

B. is in a state of crisis Indications for group therapy include that the client's primary problem involves interpersonal issues (e.g., poor social skills, shyness, difficulties with intimacy, argumentativeness, social isolation, loneliness, or difficulties expressing dependence, love, or anger); the client needs to develop a more positive self-concept; the client is motivated to change; the client is verbally and psychologically sophisticated; the client finds peer support and feedback beneficial; the client has a positive view of group therapy (especially in terms of its ability to resolve his/her problems); and the client prefers to get involved in counseling slowly.

All of the following are indications that a client might benefit from group intervention, EXCEPT: Select one: A. the client has a strong need for attention B. the client has low self-esteem C. the client needs to develop better social skills D. the client has difficulty expressing feelings

A. the client has a strong need for attention Because of the word "except," this is a reverse type question, and you had to determine the person who would probably not benefit from group therapy.

Conformity to group norms is most likely to happen in all of the following situations, EXCEPT: Select one: A. the members of the group have low opinions of themselves B. the members of the group all believe that open and frank expression of emotions is not a desirable goal C. everybody in the group thinks Richard Nixon was a fine president except for one vociferous dissenter D. there are two or three members of a therapy group who are perceived by the rest of the group to be experts in the field of mental health

C. everybody in the group thinks Richard Nixon was a fine president except for one vociferous dissenter Factors identified as influencing conformity to a group include the following: (1) Unanimity. The presence of even a single confederate who dissents from the majority substantially reduces conformity. (2) Ambiguity. Conformity is more likely in ambiguous situations (e.g., we look to others for validation of our opinion in ambiguous situations). (3) Cohesiveness. The greater the group cohesiveness, the greater the conformity to group norms. (4) Personality Characteristics. Personality characteristics associated with high rates of conformity include low self-esteem, low intelligence, a high need for approval, and authoritarianism. (5) Members Status. Low status group members are least likely to conform to group norms because they have the least to lose when they deviate. (6) Member Participation in Developing Norms. By participating in the development of norms, members understand the norms better, feel more "ego-involved" with them, and are more likely to perceive the norms as equitable.

During the course of group therapy, two group counselors have a conflict regarding how to deal with a particular client. What should the counselors do? Select one: A. ask the other group members what they should do, so as to increase their power B. attempt to resolve the conflict in private C. ignore the conflict since disagreements are a part of group therapy D. attempt to openly resolve the conflict in front of the group

D. attempt to openly resolve the conflict in front of the group Yalom asserts that co-therapists should not disagree openly during the first few sessions because the group is not yet cohesive enough to tolerate any dissent in its leadership. In the later stages, however, open disagreement between the co-leaders can contribute in a positive way to therapy--it can provide group members with a model for how to resolve differences of opinion in an appropriate way.

You are seeing a client for the first time who is in a state of crisis over the death of a spouse and wants to seek therapy. However, the client is resistant to individual therapy and insists on being referred to group therapy. You should: Select one: A. refer this client to group therapy, since any therapy is better than none B. refer this client to group therapy, because it is preferable to individual therapy anyway C. investigate why the client is resistant to individual therapy D. immediately begin individual crisis-oriented therapy, whether or not he consents

C. investigate why the client is resistant to individual therapy When dealing with a crisis, individual crisis-oriented therapy is recommended. However, before proceeding, it is a good idea to find out why the client is resistant to individual work.

In group therapy, the term open group means: Select one: A. a group in which many topics are open for discussion B. a group which is open to membership regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or mental disorder C. a group to which members can be added D. a group which has no set beginning

C. a group to which members can be added An open group is one in which members join and leave the group at different times.

An authoritarian group leader would: Select one: A. assume the responsibility for group decisions B. allow the group itself to run things C. focus on democratic decision-making, but retain veto power D. encourage autonomy in group members

A. assume the responsibility for group decisions An authoritarian leader is likely to want to make all of the decisions. Such a leader does not involve group members in decision-making processes and could be described as dictatorial. Laissez-faire leaders, not authoritarian leaders, would allow the group to run things itself, and would be most likely to encourage autonomy. A democratic leader would focus on democratic decision-making.

You are conducting closed group therapy. This means that: Select one: A. group size will change often B. group members will change often C. both "a" and "b" D. neither "a" nor "b"

D. neither "a" nor "b" Closed groups normally have the same group members from the beginning stages through termination. Since members begin and end therapy at the same time, group size should also be the same.

You are overseeing a new therapy group. What do you expect to happen first: Select one: A. group members will attempt to exhibit power over one another. B. group members will be likely to open up to other group members C. group members will be unlikely to open up to other group members D. group members will focus on solving their own problems

C. group members will be unlikely to open up to other group members In early stages of group therapy, group members are unlikely to communicate much with others. In later stages, they will communicate more with others, attempt to exhibit power over others, and eventually work on addressing the conflicts for which they have sought therapy.

In a group, members are more confrontive and rebellious toward the leader and are struggling for prominence in the group. Which stage of development is this group in: Select one: A. transition stage B. beginning stage C. pre-termination stage D. when a new member joins the group

A. transition stage In the beginning (initial) stage of group work, the participants are concerned with fitting in. It is during the second (transition) stage that issues of power and control surface and conflicts arise. Nearing termination, groups tend to be less conflictual. Choice (d) could be ruled out immediately, since it doesn't refer to a specific stage of group development.