Group Work Flashcards
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.