ATI Ch 8, Group and Family Therapy Flashcards
What is group process?
The verbal and nonverbal communication that occurs during group sessions, including how the work progresses and how members interact with one another.
Define group norm.
The way the group behaves during sessions, providing structure over time.
Give an example of a group norm.
Members raise their hand to be recognized by the leader before they speak.
What is a hidden agenda in group therapy?
Goals different from the stated group goals that can disrupt group processes.
How does group dynamics change based on membership type?
It is affected by the group being open or closed.
What characterizes a homogeneous group?
All members share a certain chosen characteristic (diagnosis or gender).
What is a heterogeneous group?
A group where membership is not based on a shared chosen personal characteristic.
Provide an example of a heterogeneous group.
All clients on a unit, including a mixture of men and women with a wide range of diagnoses.
What is a subgroup?
A small number of people within a larger group who function separately from the group.
What is an open group?
A group where new members join as old members leave.
What is a closed group?
A group where no new members join after formation.
What is the focus of individual therapy?
Client needs and problems, the therapeutic relationship
Individual therapy centers on the unique challenges and relationships of the client.
What are the goals of individual therapy?
- Make more positive individual decisions
- Make productive life decisions
- Develop a strong sense of self
These goals aim to enhance the individual’s personal growth and decision-making abilities.
What is the focus of family therapy?
Family needs and problems within family dynamics, improving family functioning
Family therapy addresses the interactions and issues that arise within family units.
List the goals of family therapy.
- Learn effective ways for dealing with mental illness within the family
- Improve understanding among family members
- Maximize positive interaction among family members
These goals strive to enhance communication and support within the family.
What is the focus of group therapy?
Helping individuals develop more functional and satisfying relations within a group setting
Group therapy emphasizes the relational dynamics and interactions among group members.
What are the general goals of group therapy?
- Goals vary depending on type of group
- Discover that members share some common feelings, experiences, and thoughts
- Experience positive behavior changes as a result of group interaction and feedback
Group therapy aims to foster connection and facilitate personal growth through shared experiences.
What is a key component of therapy sessions?
Use of open and clear communication
Open communication fosters trust and understanding between therapist and client.
What ensures the structure of a therapy session?
Cohesiveness and guidelines for the therapy session
Guidelines help maintain focus and create a safe environment for clients.
Therapy sessions should be directed toward what?
A particular goal
Goals provide a framework for progress and evaluation in therapy.
What opportunities do therapy sessions provide?
Development of interpersonal skills, resolution of personal and family issues, and development of appropriate, satisfying relationships
These opportunities contribute to personal growth and improved mental health.
What is a primary goal of therapy sessions?
Encouragement of the client to maximize positive interactions, feel empowered to make decisions, and strengthen feelings of self-worth
This goal focuses on enhancing the client’s self-esteem and decision-making abilities.
What aspect of communication is emphasized in therapy sessions?
Communication regarding respect among all members
Respect is fundamental for fostering a supportive therapy environment.
What type of support is provided during therapy sessions?
Support and education regarding available community resources for support
Clients are informed about external resources that can aid their therapeutic journey.
What is one of the key goals of group therapy?
Sharing common feelings and concerns
This goal helps members connect through shared experiences.
What is another key goal of group therapy?
Diminishing feelings of isolation
Group therapy aims to create a sense of belonging among participants.
What is a benefit of group therapy compared to individual therapy?
Providing a more cost-effective environment than that of individual therapy
Group therapy often reduces the cost per participant while maintaining therapeutic benefits.
What is a concern related to privacy in group therapy?
Privacy
Participants may feel vulnerable sharing personal information in a group setting.
What issue may arise regarding attention among group members?
Not all members may receive equal attention
This can lead to feelings of neglect or frustration among some participants.
What can discourage personal opinions in group therapy?
Group norms
Norms may influence members to conform rather than express individual views.
What can negatively impact a group’s effectiveness?
Disruptive members
Disruptions can hinder the therapeutic process and affect group cohesion.
What is the primary focus of the planning phase in group therapy?
Identify group characteristics like member inclusion, group name, seating configuration, and group schedule.
This phase is crucial for establishing the framework within which the group will operate.
What is a key responsibility of the group leader during the planning phase?
Consider group composition.
This includes understanding the dynamics between members, such as a withdrawn client interacting with a probing client.
How can room size affect group therapy?
An overcrowded room may cause discomfort and anxiety while a large room for a small group does not encourage intimacy.
The physical environment can significantly influence the effectiveness of group interactions.
What seating configuration emphasizes equality in group therapy?
Circular seating configuration.
This arrangement is particularly effective in promoting a democratic leadership style.
What is the primary focus of the orientation phase in group therapy?
Define the purpose and goals of the group.
Establishing clear objectives helps guide the group’s discussions and activities.
What tone should the group leader set during the orientation phase?
Respect, trust, and confidentiality among members.
This foundational atmosphere encourages open communication and sharing.
What do group members do during the orientation phase?
Get to know each other and the group leader.
This is essential for building rapport and establishing a safe environment.
True or False: The group leader is passive during the orientation phase.
False.
The group leader is active and provides the purpose of the group.
What is a common method for children to engage in group therapy?
In the form of play while talking about a common experience.
This method helps children express themselves in a comfortable way.
Why is group therapy especially valuable for adolescents?
This age group typically has strong peer relationships.
Group therapy can leverage these relationships for positive development.
What benefit does group therapy provide for older adults?
Helps with socialization and sharing of memories.
This can enhance quality of life and mental well-being.
What is the primary focus of the working phase in group therapy?
Promote problem-solving skills to facilitate behavioral changes
Power and control issues can dominate in this phase.
What is one responsibility of the group leader during the working phase?
Uses therapeutic communication to encourage group work toward meeting goals
What can interfere with or favor group progress toward goals in the working phase?
Members take informal roles within the group
What has been established by the working phase of group therapy?
Cohesiveness
What happens to the role of the leader during the working phase?
Gradually diminishing
What is the primary focus of the termination phase in group therapy?
Marks the end of group sessions
What do group members discuss during the termination phase?
Termination issues
What does the leader do at the end of the group sessions in the termination phase?
Summarizes work of the group and individual contributions
What can members of a group take on during the termination phase?
Any of a number of roles
What feedback is elicited during the termination phase?
Feedback regarding the group therapy
What are maintenance roles in a group?
Roles that help maintain the purpose and process of the group
Example: The harmonizer attempts to prevent conflict in the group.
What are task roles in a group?
Roles that involve taking on various tasks within the group process
Example: The recorder, who takes notes and records what occurs during each session.
What are individual roles in a group?
Roles that tend to prevent teamwork by promoting individual agendas
Examples include the dominator, who tries to control other members, and the recognition seeker, who boasts about personal achievements.
How do group characteristics vary in an acute mental health setting?
Members can vary daily, focus is on relief, and leaders must provide a higher level of structure.
What are the characteristics of a group in an outpatient setting?
Members are often consistent, focus is on growth, external influences are limited, and leaders can allow members to determine the group’s direction.
What defines virtual groups?
Members meet remotely through teleconferencing technologies
Ideal for members with limited transportation resources or those living in rural areas.
What are some challenges of virtual groups?
Difficulties in reading non-verbal cues, losing control of group settings, and a lack of full presence.
Fill in the blank: Members in _______ roles help maintain the purpose and process of the group.
[maintenance]
Fill in the blank: The _______ takes notes and records what occurs during each session.
[recorder]
True or False: In an outpatient setting, leaders have limited opportunity to allow members to determine the group’s direction.
False
What characterizes communication in healthy families?
Clear, understandable messages and encouragement to express individual feelings and thoughts.
In dysfunctional families, what is the pattern of blaming?
Members blame others to shift focus away from their own inadequacies.
What does manipulating refer to in the context of dysfunctional families?
Members use dishonesty to support their own agendas.
What is placating in dysfunctional family communication?
One member takes responsibility for problems to keep peace at all costs.
Define distracting in dysfunctional family interactions.
A member inserts irrelevant information during attempts at problem-solving.
What does generalizing mean in families with dysfunctional communication?
Members use overall descriptions like ‘always’ and ‘never’ in describing family encounters.
What characterizes management in healthy families?
Adults agree on important issues such as rule-making, finances, and plans for the future
Healthy families exhibit collaborative decision-making among adults.
How is management described in dysfunctional families?
Management can be chaotic, sometimes with a child making management decisions
Dysfunctional families often lack adult leadership and structure.
What are the boundary characteristics of healthy families?
Boundaries are distinguishable between family roles, clearly defining each member’s role
Clear boundaries allow family members to function appropriately.
What are enmeshed boundaries in dysfunctional families?
Thoughts, roles, and feelings blend so much that individual roles are unclear
This leads to confusion about personal identity and responsibilities.
What defines rigid boundaries in dysfunctional families?
Rules and roles are completely inflexible, leading to isolation and minimal communication
Members do not share thoughts or feelings, impacting emotional connection.
How do healthy families support socialization?
All members interact, plan, and adopt healthy coping mechanisms, learning to function in society
Healthy families foster social skills and adaptability in children.
What socialization issues do children face in dysfunctional families?
Children do not learn healthy socialization skills and have difficulty adapting to societal roles
This can lead to challenges in forming relationships outside the family.
What emotional characteristics are found in healthy families?
Emotional needs of family members are met most of the time, with members showing concern for each other
Healthy families experience manageable conflict without dominating negative emotions.
What emotional environment is typical of dysfunctional families?
Negative emotions predominate, with members feeling isolated and showing little concern for each other
This environment can foster fear and a lack of emotional support.
What is scapegoating in the context of family dysfunction?
A member of the family with little power is blamed for problems within the family.
Provide an example of scapegoating.
One child who has not completed their chores can be blamed for the entire family not being able to go on an outing.
What does triangulation refer to in family dynamics?
A third party is drawn into the relationship with two members whose relationship is unstable.
Give an example of triangulation in a family.
One parent can develop an alliance with a child, leaving the other parent relatively uninvolved with both.
What are multigenerational issues in a family?
Emotional issues or themes within a family that continue for at least three generations.
List some examples of multigenerational issues.
- A pattern of substance use or addictive behavior
- Dysfunctional grief patterns
- Triangulation patterns
- Divorce
What is the action of disciplining in a family context?
Setting limits on children’s behavior to protect their safety and provide security
Discipline can be healthy or dysfunctional depending on how it is applied.
What are the key characteristics of effective discipline?
Consistent, timely, and age-appropriate
Effective discipline helps to establish boundaries and expectations.
When should parents administer discipline?
In private and when they are calm
This approach helps ensure that the discipline is effective and not reactive.
What defines a family?
A group with reciprocal relationships in which members are committed to each other
Family structures can vary widely, including nontraditional forms.
What areas of functioning are important for families?
Management, boundaries, communication, emotional support, and socialization
Dysfunction can occur in any one or more of these areas.
What is the primary focus of family therapy?
The family as a system rather than each person as an individual
This holistic approach allows for a better understanding of family dynamics.
What methods are used in family assessments?
Focused interviews and various family assessment tools
These assessments help identify areas of dysfunction and strengths within the family.
How do nurses contribute to family therapy?
By providing teaching and mobilizing family resources
Nurses can instruct families on medication administration and managing mental health disorders.
What is multi-family therapy?
An effective modality for families experiencing similar challenges
It allows families to learn new skills and share experiences.
Fill in the blank: Dysfunction can occur in any one or more areas of _______.
family functioning
Recognizing dysfunction is crucial for seeking appropriate therapy.
True or False: Family therapy focuses on individual treatment rather than family dynamics.
False
Family therapy emphasizes the interactions and relationships within the family unit.
