chapter 12 - challenging group members Flashcards
why must every group member be a challenge
so that they can come to group and master an issue in the here and now. no point in coming to group if you already have mastery.
what are the 3 dynamics in which a challenging group member derives issues
their own psychodynamic and personality traits, group dynamics, and the dynamics between the individual and the therapist.
what are the 8 kinds of challenging members
1- monopolist 2- silent client 3- boring client 4- help rejecting complainer 5- psychotic or bipolar client 6- schizoid client. 7- borderline personality 8- narcissistic client
what is a monopolist
they talk all the time. they can’t stand silence (due to anxiety)
what is the crisis method of the monopolist
they try to monopolize the time of the group by having unique crises that require the full attention of the group so that none other can do any work.
when is a monopolist most likely to be welcome to a group during its development
in the initial stages due to the energy it brings but it gets tiresome quickly.
why do some let the monopolist take over
fear of having to fill the silence themselves.
why is “attacking” the monopolist a bad idea
it only compounds the issue and they tend to do it more so especially if their compulsive want to speak is anxiety ridden.
how is the monopolist usually dealt with
an explosive stance made by a member that is meant with unanimous support from others.
why is silencing the monopolist by the therapist a bad idea
others may be afraid to speak due to fear that the therapist will silence them as well in a heavy handed way.
what age group has the hardest time dealing with monopolists
the young
whom should handle the monopolist
the therapist
what ist he best way to deal with the monopolist
consider the individual and the group that has allowed itself to be monopolized (this stops the individual from being scapegoated and shows what the role of the group was in this situation)
how would one consider the group in a monopolistic situation
ask them why they wanted this one person to carry the burden of the entire meeting.
why do monopolists take all the time
typically this is a method of self-concealment for a reason or another.
how do you engage the monopolist directly so as to allow for therapeutic gains for them and everyone involved
issue an invitation for them to be more in the group and participate more in a FULLY engaged manner.
what would attempting to silence the monopolist show of the counselor
their counter transference
how are interpretations best given
if they are said in a subjective response that is echoed by others of the group (i.e. I feel that you…rather than…when you….)
what are the 2 thigns we should focus on with monopolistic behavior
the manifestation fo the self in terms of their behavior and how the group responds to the manifestation.
what is there to say about the ability to speak in group
the more words you speak, the greater the positive change one goes through.
what is the issue with silence in group regarding transference
they can be the object of projection or seen as judging the group members.
what helps a silent client
knowing thta those that are speaking direclty and with clarity were once silent clientsd as well.
what should we do when a silent client offers communication
offer praise and reinforcement and show the value of pushing into their fear.
what does a boring client look like x4
ihibited, lacking spontaneity, and never takes risks. they tend to be very cognitve (left brained)
what is alexithymic
difficulty with affection due to cognitive processing issues. htye focus on details and not emotional issues.
what is meant by the technique of socratic quesitoning
not to put something into the client but to let something out so that the client can reflect and grow.
how do help rejecting complainers commonly appear with their symptoms
somatizatoin with unexplainable symptoms.
to whom does the help rejection complainer often convey their thoughts
the therapist.
what major therapy factor is destroryed by help rejecting complainers
group cohesion as people feel powerless to offer assistance.
what is the major issues for help rejection complainers
issues with dependency. seeks to be in the care of others but often distrusts others.
what type of attachment style is a help rejecting complainer
anxious attachment (exaggerates distress to ensure others will offer care) and avoidant/dismissive type (resist and rejects care) - this can all become fearful attchment type.
how should a therapist approach the fear of closeness and the hope for it as well
validating it as a real existence for the person - don’t blame them. use universality, identification and catharsiss to help the client and build interpersonal learning.
what is the most important moment for a client in psychosis
when the psychosis appears in session so that the group can address it (if mature enough to tolerate the experience)
why should a therapist not take on the psychostic episode solo
it infantitalizes the group and denies the power of the group to handle the situatin.
what helps add to cohesion
letting the group solve it’s own problems and address things with it’s own intellect (let them struggle)
what makes people more likley to carry out a plan of action
if they are more of a part of the plan - they have to recognize the issue as their problem and not hte therapist’s.
when should a psychotic client se the therapist indiviudally during group
if the group has tried in numerous manners to offer assistance but have exhausted their resources and all agree to this course of action.
what kind of group is best for acute psychosis from bipolarity
homogenous groups (everyone has bipolar) - helps with med compliance.
how does a schizoid client appear
emotinally blocked, isolated, they cannot feel (as if a spectator of the self)
what does a schizoid client need to change
a massive amount of time - power will not work.
what are some thigns you can do to help the schizoid client x6
1- use the here and now 2- encourage them to differentiate among the group members, 3 -help them move into feelings they consider trivial 5- have them deeply describe the sensation 6- have them imagine what others are feeling,
what is thought to bring about BPD or narcissisms?
fear of being abandoned or disappointing their parents- see the world as black and white. focus on the power of dynamics in their world.
what are 4 tendencies of BPD and narcissism
anger issues, fear of abandonment, fear of injury from another, and use projective identification
why are 3 reasons an individual therapist would recommend someone with BPD or narcissism to group
1- transference is too strong and cannot move forward. 2- client is too defensive and this isolates the client 3- hit a plateau in therapy
what are 4 defense mechanisms of BPD
splitting (polarized states of loving someone and hating them), projective identification, devaluation, and flight
how does group help a borderline best
the use of reality testing that is given from group members.
should someone with BPD have concurrent individual therapy
absolutely yes
what are the 4 challenging poitns for a narcissist
1- interpreation of self and others 2- interpersonal functioning 3- impulse control. 4- affect regulation
how does narcissism present
lack of empathy, sense of grandiosity, shallow emotions, little joy in life, small self esteem, easily outraged by insult,k
how do narcissists respond to gourp as a whole interpretations
they often object and reject such a notion.
what therapy facotrs of group do narcissists resisst the most
cohesion and univrsality
how does a narcissisti serve teh group in a postie way
allows for passive people to practie being assertive by modeling him and others to be assertive to his greed.
what is the diffrence between an overgratitied narcissist and an undergratified nnarcissist
overgrattifed has an inflated sense of self an the undergratified narcissist is more enraged and explosive.
