Group Work Flashcards
Which statement best reflects the appropriate stance of a group leader toward a group comprised of involuntary members?
A. Expect that members will most likely be unmotivated
B. Attempt to downplay the issue of choice
C. Deal openly with members’ reservations
D. Move quickly beyond the resistance to clinical issues
C. Deal openly with members’ reservations
Identify the one statement which is incongruent with the Ethical Code for Professional Counselors.
A. Most group members are aware of potential risks of participating in the group
B. Group members may need to be cautioned to be selective in what they express to persons outside of the group
C. Generally, members do not violate confidentiality when they talk about what they learned in group sessions
D. Techniques which arouse strong emotions are best used only when a trusting relationship has been established
A. Most group members are aware of potential risks of participating in the group
To be effective as co-leaders of a group, which of the following would be essential?
A. Mutual respect more than the same style
B. A personal friendship
C. Spending time together before and after each session to evaluate the leadership
D. Both A. and C.
D. Both A. and C.
Which of the following statements best reflects the nature of, and need for, research and group practice?
A. Prolific research of “rank and file” group practitioners greatly aides group practice
B. More pure research is needed instead of field studies
C. At the very least, groups trainers need to learn how to evaluate research implications for practice
D. A primary focus on research can serve to limit the flexibility of the group practitioner
C. At the very least, groups trainers need to learn how to evaluate research implications for practice
Advantage(s) of therapeutic groups is/are:
A. Group is an effective way to dispense advice
B. Groups allow people to step outside their real and painful worlds
C. The group setting offers support for new behavior and encourages experimentation
D. All of the above
C. The group setting offers support for new behavior and encourages experimentation
Select the statement(s) most reflective of cohesion as it develops within a group.
A. Talking about a lack of trust or fear of trusting is an indicator of an initial degree of cohesion
B. Genuine cohesion exists as a goal to approach, but not to attain
C. Trust is rarely developed during the early age of a group
D. Little actual relationship exists between group attractiveness and cohesion
A. Talking about a lack of trust or fear of trusting is an indicator of an initial degree of cohesion
Characteristics best reflective of the Transition Stage are:
A. Catharsis and humor
B. Anxiety and a struggle for control
C. Feelings of both separation and concern for group members
D. Hidden agendas and trust
B. Anxiety and a struggle for control
If a group leader or member gives a member or leader feedback in such a way that it invites the person to look at personal behavior and to decide about continuing or changing a pattern, it is considered to be: A. Judgmental B. Confrontation C. Self-disclosure D. Blocking
B. Confrontation
When speaking of self-disclosure in groups, it is best to remember that:
A. For members to progress and grow, disclosures should be limited to safe topics
B. Self-disclosure increases the chances that a person will be misunderstood
C. For the leader, disclosure of relevant personal content is usually more helpful than disclosing feelings which are relevant to what is going on in the group
D. It is helpful to follow guidelines for self-disclosure, such as suggesting that disclosures need to be related to the purpose and goals of the group
D. It is helpful to follow guidelines for self-disclosure, such as suggesting that disclosures need to be related to the purpose and goals of the group
Which of the following questions would NOT be appropriate during the final stage of a group?
A. What has this experience meant to you?
B. How can we help minimize the loss you will feel in leaving this group?
C. Where can you go from here?
D. How does it feel to be in here now compared with what it was like for you when the group began?
B. How can we help minimize the loss you will feel in leaving this group?
Interventions with groups that are "normal" for the purpose of dealing with decision making or mild situational problems are known as: A. Group counseling B. Group dynamics C. Group psychotherapy D. Sensitivity group training
A. Group counseling
J. L. Moreno is credited with:
A. Conducting public psychotherapy with children
B. Officially creating a group therapy movement
C. Conducting the first official marathon group
D. None of the above
B. Officially creating a group therapy movement
The former psychoanalytic patient who developed activity group therapy for children is: A. Alexander Wolf B. George Schwartz C. S. R. Slayson D. Irvin Yalom
C. S. R. Slayson
The interacting forces within groups as they operate to achieve objectives is called: A. Cohesion B. Group dynamics C. Synergy D. Altruism
B. Group dynamics
Which of the following is NOT recommended as a method of dealing with a group member’s hostile feelings?
A. Allow the member to act out his feelings
B. Recognize the member’s hostility and help him to verbalize it
C. State the limits on a specific hostile act
D. Allow the hostile person to take a break and meet with the counselor after the session
A. Allow the member to act out his feelings
The assumptions underlying heterogeneous group composition are that:
A. Such a group is a microcosm of society
B. Self-defeating behavior can more easily be identified and confronted in a group that approximates the composition of society
C. The group focus is on the past rather than on the present
D. All of the above
E. Only A. and B.
E. Only A. and B.
Which of the following is the stage/phase conceptualization of Tuckman?
A. Norming, forming, storming, performing, adjourning
B. Storming, norming, forming, performing, adjourning
C. Performing, storming, norming, forming, adjourning
D. Forming, storming, norming, performing, adjourning
D. Forming, storming, norming, performing, adjourning
A closed group is:
A. Characterized by the formation of a group composed of members who remain together until the group is terminated
B. A group to which new members may be added only with the permission of the group leader
C. Always problem specific and focused on a single issue commonly shared by all members of the group
D. Always superior to an open group
A. Characterized by the formation of a group composed of members who remain together until the group is terminated
Among the differences between family therapy and group therapy are:
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
Which of the following does not clearly apply to group counseling? A. Informed consent B. Privileged communication C. Privilege to participate D. Beneficence
B. Privileged communication
The group process should aim to:
A. Focus on needs, priorities, and self-enhancement growth on the part of the individual
B. Focus on needs, interests, and priorities of a larger society
C. Work for a balancing of both individuals and collective interests and needs
D. Both A. and C.
D. Both A. and C.
When Corey, et al., speak of the two types of goals for facilitators, they are referring to:
A. General process goals and content goals
B. General goals which support a psychological climate and process goals which pertain to members learning for to relate
C. Basic listening goals and goals for developing personal insights into feelings
D. General emotional goals as well as life problem solving skills
B. General goals which support a psychological climate and process goals which pertain to members learning for to relate
If psychodrama is effective, the group members will accomplish which of the following?
A. Develop greater personal insight and forgive family members for the past
B. Become aware of their own energy blocks and learn new methods for relating
C. Progress to greater levels of self-awareness and develop better emotional and behavioral controls
D. Develop more effective problem solving skills and be more open to feedback from others
C. Progress to greater levels of self-awareness and develop better emotional and behavioral controls
What does a member have a right to expect before making the decision of whether or not to join a particular group?
A. A discussion of the rights and responsibilities of group members
B. A clear statement regarding the purpose of the group
C. A pre-group interview
D. All of the above
D. All of the above
Confidentiality in groups is:
A. A legal right of every member
B. Something that members can be guaranteed
C. Limited by state laws
D. An absolute that can never be broken for any reason
C. Limited by state laws
Opening up clear and direct communication among members and helping members to assume increasing responsibility for the group's direction is known as: A. Suggesting B. Facilitating C. Goal setting D. None of the above
B. Facilitating
Offering possible explanations for certain thoughts, feelings, and patterns of behavior is called: A. Interpreting B. Evaluating C. Active listening D. Giving feedback
A. Interpreting
Identify the one concept that is NOT included in Irvin Yalom's list of "therapeutic factors" for group work. A. Altruism B. Imparting information C. Catharsis D. Technical expertise
D. Technical expertise
If the group leader intervenes to help members see ways in which they are connected, or in which they share each other's pain, it is an example of: A. Group cohesiveness B. Universality C. Imitative behavior D. Existential realism
B. Universality
The name given to behavior that group members define as appropriate (this includes implicit expectations and explicit rules of conduct): A. More B. Roles C. Scripts D. Norms
D. Norms
The cooperative spirit de core that allows a wide range of emotional expression within a group is called: A. Group dynamics B. Compliance C. Cohesion D. Conflict resolution
C. Cohesion
In group therapy, the term open group means:
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
Define confrontation.
When a group leader or member gives another member or leader feedback in such a way that it invites the person to look at personal behavior and to decide about continuing or changing a pattern
Who is S. R. Slayson?
A former psychoanalytic patient who developed activity group therapy for children
Define group dynamics.
The interacting forces within groups as they operate to achieve objectives
Define facilitation.
Opening up clear and direct communication among members and helping members to assume increasing responsibility for the group’s direction
Define interpretation.
Offering possible explanations for certain thoughts, feelings, and patterns of behavior
Define universality.
When the group leader intervenes to help members see ways in which they are connected, or in which they share each other’s pain
Define norms.
Behavior that group members define as appropriate, including implicit expectations and explicit rules of conduct
Define cohesion.
The cooperative spirit de core that allows a wide range of emotional expression within a group
Define an open group.
A group in which members join and leave the group at different times
Counselors know that groups are formed for different purposes. For example, in some groups the primary goal is to yield some specified outcome, or "product," while in others the primary goal is to focus on the "process" of interaction within the group. Which of the following types of groups is more product than process oriented? A. Behavioral B. Client-centered C. Adlerian D. Transactional-analysis
A. Behavioral
In the context of group counseling, members that are high in conformity also tend to be high in: A. Superiority B. Independence C. Authoritarianism D. Intelligence
C. Authoritarianism
Social facilitation is most likely to occur when: A. Groups are highly cohesive B. There are fewer than 5 observers C. The task is a simple one D. The task is difficult
C. The task is a simple one
Define social facilitation and describe its effects on simple vs. difficult tasks.
It occurs when the presence of others increases task performance. In general, the presence of other people enhances performance on simple or well-learned tasks; by contrast, the presence of others impairs performance on complex or poorly-learned tasks.
A support group for recently widowed elderly men and women spends a great deal of time asking the leader questions about practical issues. The group leader should ideally:
A. Encourage the questions to ensure that the members understand how being in the group can help them cope with their lives
B. Listen to the questions, but ask other members to respond to them
C. Discourage questions
D. Neither encourage nor discourage the questions as they are an inevitable part of the group process
C. Discourage questions
If group members ask the leader too many questions, the leader becomes the center of all attention and knowledge. Thus, although group leaders should answer all questions in the initial sessions in an interested and sympathetic way, they should generally discourage questions.
All of the following represent constructive strategies for managing resistance in a group except:
A. An open discussion of a member’s arguments who does not feel that the group is worthwhile
B. An open discussion of the underlying reasons why a group member has argued that the group is not worthwhile
C. Stating that a member who always leaves sessions fifteen minutes before the group is finished is asserting her independence
D. Stating that a group member who always disagrees with the therapist is a good role model for other members who lack assertiveness
A. An open discussion of a member’s arguments who does not feel that the group is worthwhile
Name three healthy ways to handle complaints resistance in a group.
- Discussing underlying reasons for the complaints
- Reframing the complaints in a positive light
Redefining problems as an opportunity for growth
- Prior to the 1960s most counseling took place
a. in a group setting.
b. with the entire family present.
c. in a dyadic relationship.
d. in Behavior Therapy clinics.
c. in a dyadic relationship.
A group has
a. a membership which can be defi ned.
b. some degree of unity and interaction.
c. a shared purpose.
d. all of the above.
d. all of the above.
The term group therapy was coined in 1931 by
a. Frank Parsons, the Father of guidance.
b. Jacob Moreno, the Father of psychodrama.
c. E. G. Williamson, associated with the Minnesota Viewpoint.
d. Fritz Perls, the Father of gestalt therapy.
b. Jacob Moreno, the Father of psychodrama.
In the 1940s the two organizations for group therapy were created:
a. NASW and NBCC.
b. ASGW and AAS.
c. the American Society for Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama and the American Group Psychotherapy Association.
d. AACD and APA.
c. the American Society for Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama and the American Group Psychotherapy Association.
Which theorist’s work has been classifi ed as a preface to the group movement?
a. Freud.
b. Jung.
c. Jessie B. Davis.
d. Adler.
d. Adler.
Primary groups are
a. preventive and attempt to ward off problems.
b. always follow a person-centered paradigm.
c. generally utilized for long-term psychotherapy.
d. always focused on the client’s childhood.
a. preventive and attempt to ward off problems.
A group is classifi ed as secondary. This implies that
a. it is preventive and attempts to ward off problems.
b. a difficulty or disturbance is present.
c. two therapists are utilized.
d. all of the above.
b. a difficulty or disturbance is present.
When comparing a tertiary group with a primary or secondary group
a. the tertiary focuses less on individual members.
b. the tertiary focuses more on the here-and now.
c. the tertiary is less likely to deal with severe pathology.
d. the tertiary is more likely to deal with severe pathology
d. the tertiary is more likely to deal with severe pathology
Group norms
a. exist only in encounter groups.
b. exist only in career counseling groups.
c. are not related to group cohesiveness.
d. govern acceptable behavior and group rules.
d. govern acceptable behavior and group rules.
Group therapy initially fl ourished in the United States due to
a. Freud’s lectures in this country.
b. a shortage of competent career counselors.
c. a shortage of individual therapists during World War II.
d. pressure from nondirective therapists pushing encounter groups.
c. a shortage of individual therapists during World War II.
Group content refers to material discussed in a group setting. Group process refers to
a. analysis of the unconscious.
b. analysis of the ego.
c. the T-group paradigm.
d. the manner in which discussions and transactions occur.
d. the manner in which discussions and transactions occur.
Group cohesiveness refers to
a. forces which tend to bind group members together.
b. an analysis of group content.
c. a common coleadership style.
d. a style of leadership.
a. forces which tend to bind group members together.
Some theorists feel that group therapy differs from group counseling (which is also called an interpersonal problem solving group) in that
a. group counseling would be of longer duration.
b. group therapy, also dubbed as a personality reconstruction
group, would be of longer duration.
c. group counseling requires far more training.
d. group therapy addresses a less disturbed population of clients.
b. group therapy, also dubbed as a personality reconstruction
group, would be of longer duration.
Most experts would agree that overall
a. structured exercises are more effective than unstructured techniques.
b. structured exercises are less effective than unstructured techniques.
c. all well-trained therapists favor structured exercises over unstructured techniques.
d. ethical guidelines must forbid unstructured techniques because they can be dangerous to the depressed or anxious client.
b. structured exercises are less effective than unstructured techniques.
One advantage of group work is that a counselor can see more clients in a given period of time. One disadvantage is that a counselor can be too focused on group processes and
a. thus individual issues are not properly examined.
b. the group becomes too behavioristic.
c. a and b.
d. thus the group focuses too much on content.
a. thus individual issues are not properly examined.
According to the risky shift phenomenon, a group decision will
a. be less conservative than the average group member’s decision, prior to the group discussion.
b. be more conservative than the average group member’s decision, prior to the group discussion.
c. often be aggressive or illegal.
d. violate the group’s confi dentiality norms.
a. be less conservative than the average group member’s decision, prior to the group discussion.
T-groups often stress ways employees can express themselves in an effective manner. The “T” in T-groups merely stands for
a. techniques.
b. taxonomy.
c. training.
d. testing.
c. training.
A counselor suggests that her client join an assertiveness training group. Most assertiveness training groups are
a. unstructured.
b. psychodynamic or person-centered.
c. focused heavily on existential concerns.
d. behavioristic and highly structured.
d. behavioristic and highly structured.
Weight Watchers is a
a. T-group also called a training group.
b. self-help or support group as is AA.
c. psychotherapy group.
d. marathon group.
b. self-help or support group as is AA.
ACA and the ASGW division recommend screening for potential group members
a. for all groups.
b. only when the group is in a hospital inpatient setting.
c. only when the group is composed of minors.
d. only if the group deals with chemical dependency.
a. for all groups.
A counselor is conducting a screening for clients who wish to participate in a counseling group which will meet Tuesday nights at his private practice offi ce. Which client would most likely be the poorest choice for a group member?
a. A shy librarian.
b. An anxious salesman with no group experience.
c. An extremely hostile and belligerent construction worker.
d. A student with 16 hours toward her M.Ed in counseling.
c. An extremely hostile and belligerent construction worker.
A counselor is screening clients for a new group at the college counseling center. Which client would most likely be the poorest choice for a group member?
a. A first-year student who is suicidal and sociopathic.
b. A second-year student who stutters.
c. A graduate student with a facial tic.
d. A fourth-year student with obsessive compulsive (OCD) tendencies.
a. A first-year student who is suicidal and sociopathic.
A screening for group members can be done in a group or privately. Although private screening interviews are not as cost effective or as time effi cient, many group leaders feel they are superior inasmuch as private screening sessions
a. intensify transference.
b. encourage catharsis.
c. intensify abreaction.
d. are generally superior in terms of counselor/client interaction.
d. are generally superior in terms of counselor/client interaction.
Most experts in the fi eld of group counseling would agree that the most important trait for group members is the ability
a. to open up.
b. to listen.
c. to trust.
d. to convey empathy.
c. to trust.
Groups can be open or closed. The two differ in that
a. open groups are limited to hospital settings.
b. in an open group members can socialize between group meetings.
c. closed groups always employ coleaders.
d. closed groups allow no new members after the group begins
d. closed groups allow no new members after the group begins
- One major advantage of a closed group versus an open group is
a. cost effectiveness.
b. it promotes cohesiveness.
c. it lessens counselor burnout.
d. it allows the members to meet less frequently.
b. it promotes cohesiveness.
One major disadvantage of a closed group versus an open group is that
a. if everyone quits, you will be left with no group members.
b. closed groups cannot provide depth therapy.
c. it promotes paranoid feelings in group members.
d. closed groups are much more structured.
a. if everyone quits, you will be left with no group members.
The number of people in an open group is generally
a. more stable than in a closed group.
b. much smaller after an extended period of time than in a closed group.
c. significantly larger than in a closed group.
d. more dependent on the group leader’s marketing skills than in a closed group.
a. more stable than in a closed group.
One distinct disadvantage of an open group is that
a. new members are not accepted after the first meeting.
b. the leader does not control the screening process.
c. a member who begins after the first meeting has missed information or experiences.
d. the group is generally too behavioristic for depth therapy to occur.
c. a member who begins after the first meeting has missed information or experiences.
When a group member is speaking, it is best for the counselor to
a. try to face the group member.
b. not face the group member, as this does not appear genuine in a group setting.
c. smile while listening.
d. suppress genuine emotion.
a. try to face the group member.
