Group Work

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

When a leader attempts to relate one person's predicament to another person's predicament, it is known as a. summarization. b. clarification. c. blocking. d. linking

d. linking

a group therapist must make a. fewer decisions than an individual therapist. b. the same number of decisions as an individual therapist. c. modality changes for each group. d. more decisions than an individual therapist

d. more decisions than an individual therapist

The follower goes along with whatever the rest of the group thinks. From a personality standpoint the follower is a. aggressive. b. assertive. c. practicing excitation. d. nonassertive

d. nonassertive

Group members assume roles within a group. Which of the following is not a group role? a. energizer. b. scapegoat. c. gatekeeper. d. reactive schizophrenia.

d. reactive schizophrenia

The final stage suggested by theories of group stages generally deals with issues of a. group tasks. b. transition. c. power and control. d. separation and termination

d. separation and termination

Group norms refer to a. a statistically normal group composed of 8 to 12 mem- bers. b. a statistically normal group composed of 12 to 14 mem- bers. c. a normal group with no cultural differences. d. the range of acceptable behavior within the group

d. the range of acceptable behavior within the group

Although the length of group counseling sessions will vary, most experts would agree that is plenty of time even when critical issues are being examined. a. three hours per session. b. one hour per session. c. six hours per session. d. two hours per session.

d. two hours per session

Groups promote the concept of universality, which suggests that a. we are unique and so are our problems. b. there is a universal way to solve nearly any difficulty. c. a and b. d. we are not the only ones in the world with a given prob- lem.

d. we are not the only ones in the world with a given prob- lem

In some literature, group cohesiveness, or "we-ness," is known as a. group unity. b. a sociogram. c. Karpman's triangle. d. the transition stage

a. Group unity

Coleadership_________ a. reduces burnout and helps ensure safety. b. increases burnout. c. has no impact on burnout. d. should not be used for open groups.

a. reduces burnout and helps ensure safety

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

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

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.

A dyad is a unit of two functioning as a pair. In this case the counselor and the counselee form the pair. The popularity of family therapy and behavior therapy was not evident in the 1950s. I cannot forego mentioning that counselors often confuse the word dyadic with didactic which means to teach. (c)

Which theorist's work has been classified as a preface to the group movement? a. Freud. b. Jung. c. Jessie B. Davis. d. Adler.

Adler was actually engaging in group treatment during the early 1920s at his child guidance facilities located in Vienna. His ra- tionale for group work was simply that "...man's problems and conflicts are recognized in their social nature...." (d)

A group is classified 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.

Choice "a" is not entirely false since a secondary group does have preventive qualities. Nevertheless, this is not the major feature; hence, this is not the best answer. When two therapists are used in a group setting the procedure is known as "coleadership" or "cofacilitation." (b)

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.

Choice "a" stands incorrect because the tertiary group focuses more on the individual than the primary or secondary group. In reference to choice "b," a counselor dealing with the here-and- now often relies on the skill of "immediacy," which takes place (in a group or an individual session) when the counselor explores the client-counselor relationship as it is transpiring right at that moment. Immediacy relates to the counselor's ability to convey what is happening between the counselor and the client. (d)

In the 1940s the two organizations for group therapy were cre- ated: a. NASW and NBCC. b. ASGW and AAS. c. the American Society for Group Psychotherapy and Psy- chodrama and the American Group Psychotherapy Asso- ciation. d. AACD and APA.

Choice "b" mentions the ASGW, or the Association for Special- ists in Group Work. This is the division of ACA that focuses pri- marily on group intervention. The ASGW journal, The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, is the publication you will need to keep you updated in this area. Other abbreviations are the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), established in 1955, and the American Association of Suicidology (AAS). By now you should be familiar with the others. (c)

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.

Cohesiveness is a sense of caring for the group and the other group members. The term cohesiveness is associated with Kurt Lewin's "field theory" in which cohesiveness was seen as a bind- ing force among group members. Lewin called the binding force between group members "positive valence." When cohesiveness goes up, absenteeism and other negative factors go down. High cohesiveness leads to high group productivity and commitment. Lewin was a key player in the T-group movement in the United States. And here's a helpful tidbit of information. Often when a group displays little or no cohesiveness the group will be viewed as "fragmented." Just for review, you will recall that choice "c" (coleadership) is implemented when two persons lead the group. (a)

Group therapy initially flourished 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.

During World War II many individuals were plagued with se- vere psychological problems, yet a personnel shortage made it impossible for each and every person to be treated using indi- vidual therapy. Moreno had brought the idea of group therapy to the United States in 1925, but the supply and demand issues sparked by the war effort were the catalysts which generated this idea whose time had come. (c)

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.

Examinations and literature in the area of group processes will often classify groups using a model popularized by community mental health experts such as Gerald Caplan, a pioneer in the crisis intervention movement. The three classifications are pri- mary, secondary, and tertiary. A primary group stresses a healthy lifestyle or coping strategies which can reduce the occurrence of a given difficulty. A group which teaches birth control to prevent teen pregnancy would be a fine example. In a secondary group a problem or disturbance is present but not usually severe. The secondary group works to reduce the severity or length of a prob- lem and generally includes aspects of prevention. Thus, a group that deals with grief or shyness might fall into this category. The tertiary group usually deals more with individual difficulties that are more serious and longstanding. (The word tertiary literally means the third rank.) Choices "c" and "d" would apply mainly to groups categorized as tertiary. (a)

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.

Group content refers to what the group is discussing. Group process refers to analyzing the communications, interactions, and transactions. The process is the way in which the discus- sion takes place. Choice "c," or T-group, merely means "train- ing group." The first T-group was conducted in 1946. Originally, T-groups were used in industrial and organizational settings to process personnel interactions and improve efficiency. A wealth of work in this area was done by National Training Laboratories (NTL) in Bethel, Maine, created by Leland Bradford, Kenneth Benne, and Ronald Lippitt. (d)

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.

Let's not make this complicated. Norms are explicit and implicit (i.e., not verbalized) rules which tell group members how to be- have and how not to behave in a given situation. Group special- ists are quick to point out that all groups have norms, though often they are not formally presented to group members. Sing- ing loudly while taking the NCE would be violating a norm, al- though I doubt whether anyone will specifically tell you not to sing at the onset of the exam! Norms actually refer to "expected behaviors." Now of course norms vary depending upon your role in a group. In an educational class group, for example, the norms for the teacher may indeed be different than for the student. (d)

A group has? a. a membership which can be defined. b. some degree of unity and interaction. c. a shared purpose. d. all of the above.

Put the choices together and you have a fine definition of the word group. A group is really a cluster of people in a recogniz- able unit. (d)

Self-serving or individual roles are negative inasmuch as a. they promote democratic leadership. b. they work against the group. c. they serve the individual and not the group. d. b and c

Self-serving or so-called individual roles are counterproductive. (d)

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 View- point. d. Fritz Perls, the Father of gestalt therapy.

Ten years before Moreno coined the term group therapy he not- ed that individuals in Vienna involved in theatrical productions without scripts experienced a cathartic reaction which seemed to be curative. In psychodrama the client expresses spontaneous feelings via role-playing. Psychodramatic techniques are appro- priate for family therapy as well as group work. Perls, although he did not coin the term group therapy, is considered a major figure in the history of group therapy. The name Joseph H. Pratt might also find its way onto your exam. Pratt, a top Boston physician, formed what might well be the first counseling/therapy groups from approximately 1905 to 1923. The groups dealt with the issue of tuberculosis. Freud's Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego was published in 1921; however, his interest in individual treatment seemingly kept him from becoming a major player in the history of groups and from creating a com- prehensive model of group therapy. (b)

Which statement made by a group leader in a residential center for adolescents focuses on product rather than process? a. "Ken has not stolen for a week and thus is eligible for supplementary tokens." b. "And Karen looks down when Bill discusses relation- ships." c. "It sounds like there is a deep sense of hurt...." d. "Oh, so you fold your arms and sort of close up when Car- ey mentions the angry side of your personality."

a. "Ken has not stolen for a week and thus is eligible for supplementary tokens."

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

Some theorists object to the word unstructured in group work because a. a group cannot not have structure. b. only structured groups are effective. c. unstructured groups are hardly therapeutic. d. unstructured refers only to counseling and not to therapy groups

a. a group cannot not have structure

According to researchers, groups are effective a. although researchers cannot pinpoint precisely why this is true. b. due to increased transference in group work. c. due to better morale in a group setting. d. due to the emphasis on cognitive restructuring.

a. although researchers cannot pinpoint precisely why this is true

In terms of group risks a. an ethical leader will discuss them during the initial ses- sion with a client. b. an ethical leader should never discuss risks with a client. c. research has demonstrated that the less said about them the better the group will interact. d. an ethical leader allows the group to discover risks and work through them at their own pace

a. an ethical leader will discuss them during the initial ses- sion with a client

According to the risky shift phenomenon, a group decision will a. be less conservative than the average group member's de- cision, 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 confidentiality norms.

a. be less conservative than the average group member's de- cision, prior to the group discussion.

ACA and the ASGW division recommend screening for poten- tial 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

rvin Yalom is a famous existentialist therapist and a pioneer in the group movement. He suggested these four group stages: ori- entation, conflict, cohesion, and termination. In 1977 Tuckman and Jensen reviewed 25 years of research and came up with five stages: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. Which stage in Tuckman and Jensen's paradigm is similar to Yalom's orientation stage? a. forming. b. storming. c. norming. d. performing.

a. forming

A female group member is obviously not participating. A group member playing the is most likely to mention this and urge her to participate. a. gatekeeper. b. interrogator. c. scapegoat. d. storyteller.

a. gatekeeper.

Experts predict that in the future a. group leaders will be more like life-skills trainers. b. group leaders will become more person-centered. c. group leaders will return to a psychodynamic viewpoint. d. groups will lose their popularity and eventually die out.

a. group leaders will be more like life-skills trainers

Maintenance roles, like task roles, are positive since such roles a. help to maintain the group. b. are self-serving. c. help promote autocratic leadership. d. always stress the importance of the here-and-now

a. help to maintain the group

One major disadvantage of a closed group versus an open group is that a. if everyone quits, you will be left with no group mem- bers. 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 mem- bers

Coleadership a. is helpful when one leader is experiencing countertrans- ference. b. exacerbates the harm of countertransference. c. has no impact on the issue of countertransference. d. eliminates all difficulties associated with countertransfer- ence.

a. is helpful when one leader is experiencing countertrans- ference

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

During the initial session of a group the leader explains that no smoking and no cursing will be permitted. This is known as a. setting ground rules. b. ambivalent transference. c. blocking. d. scapegoating

a. setting ground rules

A group leader who asks each group member to recapitulate what he or she has learned during a given session is promoting a. summarization. b. clarification. c. blocking. d. linking

a. summarization

Fights between subgroups and members showing rebellion against the leader generally occur in a. the second stage known as the control stage or the transition stage. b. the first stage known as the orientation stage or formation stage. c. the separation stage. d. the intimacy stage

a. the second stage known as the control stage or the transition stage.

A hierarchy, or pecking order, among members occurs in a. the stage of storming, also known as the power-control stage. b. the orientation stage. c. the separation stage. d. the intimacy stage

a. the stage of storming, also known as the power-control stage.

Coleaders are apt to work at cross-purposes when a. they do not meet between group sessions. b. they do meet between group sessions. c. they are master's level practitioners. d. they are doctoral level practitioners

a. they do not meet between group sessions

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.

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 genu- ine in a group setting. c. smile while listening. d. suppress genuine emotion

a. try to face the group member

group setting has a flexible seating arrangement in which clients are free to sit wherever they wish. In this setting it is likely that a. a male leader in a designer suit and a female client in cut- off jeans will sit close together. b. a Hispanic male leader in a designer suit and an Asian male client in another brand of designer suit will sit close together. c. a Caucasian female leader in a designer outfit and a Cau- casian male client in a pair of old jeans and an undershirt will sit close together. d. a male leader in a designer suit and a female client in a jogging suit and old tennis shoes with holes in them will sit close together.

b. a Hispanic male leader in a designer suit and an Asian male client in another brand of designer suit will sit close together

Group specialists define role conflict as a. tension between two group members who have assumed different roles. b. a situation in which there is a discrepancy between the way a member is expected to behave and the way he or she actually behaves. c. tension between the group leader and a group member. d. members criticizing other members between group ses- sions.

b. a situation in which there is a discrepancy between the way a member is expected to behave and the way he or she actually behaves

The word dynamic means the group is a. normal. b. always changing. c. static. d. defined in an operational manner.

b. always changing

In the late 1930s researchers identified three basic leadership styles: a. directive, nondirective, and semipassive. b. autocratic (authoritarian), democratic, and laissez faire. c. relaxed, anxious, and tense. d. assertive, nonassertive, and aggressive.

b. autocratic (authoritarian), democratic, and laissez faire

The _____may secretly wish that he or she was running the group. a. follower. b. gatekeeper. c. social isolate. d. harmonizer.

b. gatekeeper.

Some theorists feel that group therapy differs from group coun- seling (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 reconstruc- tion 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 reconstruc- tion group, would be of longer duration.

The autocratic or authoritarian leader may give orders to the group, while the laissez faire leader a. assigns a group member as the authoritarian. b. has a hands-off policy and participates very little. c. has the most desirable style of leadership. d. nearly always run open-ended groups

b. has a hands-off policy and participates very little

Strategies that approach the group as a whole are known as a. vertical interventions. b. horizontal interventions. c. crossed transactions. d. parallel transactions

b. horizontal interventions

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

Most experts would agree that an effective counseling group for children has a. more members than an adult group. b. less members than an adult group. c. at least two group leaders. d. 9 to 12 members

b. less members than an adult group

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.

Some research demonstrates that a. structured exercises early in the group impaired later communication between group members. b. structured exercises with feedback early in the group served to improve communication between group mem- bers. c. autocratic or authoritarian leadership styles promote communication best. d. structured exercises are never appropriate

b. structured exercises with feedback early in the group served to improve communication between group mem- bers

A group participant wants to drop out of a group. Since the group is "closed" ASGW ethics state that a. the leader must insist that the client stay. b. the client must be allowed to withdraw. c. the leader should allow other members to put pressure on the participant to stay. d. a and c.

b. the client must be allowed to withdraw

Although task roles and maintenance roles are indeed positive, the group can suffer if the group is not flexible and remains in one or the other too long since a. an effective group needs some self-serving roles. b. if a group gets stuck in task roles, interaction suffers. c. if a group gets stuck in maintenance roles, little work (or tasks) will be accomplished. d. b and c.

believe this clarifies the point made earlier that group mem- bers ideally will be flexible and able to change roles. (d)

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 office. 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

An adept group leader will a. attempt to safeguard clients against risks. b. work to reduce risks and dangers. c. a and b. d. let the group handle the dangers on their own

c. a & b

Cohesiveness, or group unity, is desirable. It promotes bonding and a sense of "we-ness" between group members. When cohe- siveness is strong, nevertheless, it also can be negative as a. it can stunt creativity. b. it can abet conformity. c. a and b. d. it can cause the group to split into faction

c. a and b.

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

A group member who insists on asking other members inappropriate questions is known as a Peeping Tom or a. an energizer. b. a scapegoat. c. an interrogator. d. a follower.

c. an interrogator.

The initial group stage has been called forming, orientation, or the preaffiliation stage. This stage is characterized by a. avoidance-avoidance conflicts. b. a tendency for members to compete with the leader for power. c. approach-avoidance behavior. d. members working on the interpretation of unconscious behavior

c. approach-avoidance behavior.

In a healthy group, members a. assume a role and never change it. b. have no roles. c. are flexible and can change roles. d. spend a great deal of time practicing role reversal.

c. are flexible and can change roles

A leader who wishes to stop inappropriate discussion should rely on a. summarization. b. clarification. c. blocking. d. liking

c. blocking

The study of group operations is often called a. group desensitization. b. the hot seat technique. c. group dynamics. d. structuring the group.

c. group dynamics

A group leader who utilizes an abundance of group exercises is a. probably not running an assertiveness training group. b. is running an unstructured group. c. is running a structured group. d. is invariably running a self-help group

c. is running a structured group

Gerald Corey, who has written extensively on group therapy, believes _________is necessary for an effective group leader. a. a master's degree in guidance and counseling b. a doctorate in counselor education c. participation in a therapeutic group and participation in a leader's group (even if the individual is well-educated and is licensed and certified) d. three credit hours in a graduate course in group theory

c. participation in a therapeutic group and participation in a leader's group (even if the individual is well-educated and is licensed and certified)

When comparing the autocratic, democratic, and laissez faire styles, a. the autocratic is the most desirable. b. the laissez faire is the most desirable. c. the democratic is the most desirable. d. there is no discernable difference in effectiveness.

c. the democratic is the most desirable

client would generally feel the most suspicious of others in a. the final stage of separation or termination. b. the intimacy stage. c. the group formation/exploratory stage. d. a group with coleadership, also known as cofacilitation

c. the group formation/exploratory stage

Everybody picks on a. the gatekeeper. b. the harmonizer, also known as the conciliator. c. the scapegoat. d. the storyteller, the intellectualizer, the attacker, and the joker

c. the scapegoat.

Most experts in the field 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

Which statement made by a doctoral-level counselor is illustra- tive of a leader focused on process rather than product? a. "Jim seems more relaxed today." b. "Sally seems a bit self-critical this evening." c. "I hear a lot of sadness in Betty's voice." d. "You wince whenever Jane raises her voice."

d. "You wince whenever Jane raises her voice."

Most experts would agree that an effective adult counseling group has members. a. 9 to 12. b. 3 to 5. c. 11 to 16. d. 5 or 6 to 8.

d. 5 or 6 to 8

A group with more than one leader is said to utilize coleaders. Coleadership is desirable because a. the group can go on even if one leader is absent. b. two leaders can focus on group dynamics better than one leader. c. leaders can process their feelings between sessions. d. all of the above.

d. All of the above

Coleadership, also referred to as cofacilitation, can be a disad- vantage when a. leaders are working against each other; this can fragment the group. b. leaders are intimate with each other. c. leaders question each other's competence. d. all of the above

d. All of the above

A major limitation related to group work is that a. REBT cannot be utilized in group therapy. b. it is not really cost effective. c. gestalt therapy cannot be used in a group setting. d. a group leader can lose control and members could experience emotional harm.

d. a group leader can lose control and members could expe rience emotional harm

Experts firmly believe that a common weakness in many groups is a. setting too many goals. b. using a male and a female coleader. c. that the leader uses a democratic style. d. a lack of goal setting.

d. a lack of goal setting

In a group, task roles a. help solve problems. b. aid in terms of goal setting and keep the group focused. c. are seen as positive. d. all of the above.

d. all of the above

A group setting has a flexible seating arrangement in which cli- ents are free to sit wherever they wish. In this setting it is likely that a. an African-American client and a Caucasian leader would sit close together. b. a Hispanic client and an African-American leader would sit close together. c. an Asian-American client and an African-American leader would sit close together. d. an Asian-American leader and an Asian-American client would sit close together

d. an Asian-American leader and an Asian-American client would sit close together

A screening for group members can be done in a group or pri- vately. Although private screening interviews are not as cost effective or as time efficient, 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 inter- action

d. are generally superior in terms of counselor/client inter- action

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

The final group stage (also called the termination stage) is geared toward a. developing intimacy. b. working through power and control issues. c. exploration. d. breaking away.

d. breaking away