Deck 7: Transition Stage of a Group

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a legitimate fear associated with members of a therapeutic group?

A) "What if somebody tries to hug me? I hate being touched."
B) "If pushed too hard, I might hurt somebody."
C) "I might bore others if I speak up."
D) "I'm getting married soon. At the wedding, what if somebody recognizes my therapist?"

Answer 1

D

Question 2

A group member is silent. It seems by his nonverbal behavior that he has something to say. The leader asks herself in contemplation, "Is he waiting for me to call on him?" Is this a legitimate concern?

A) No; members were told they could speak freely
B) Probably; the member exhibits many childish behaviors
C) No, the member is 42 years old and quite well-adjusted
D) Maybe; it could be politeness

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Satish has been holding back his feelings in the face of a fellow group member who has been making disparaging remarks about a third member under his breath. He feels, finally, ready to confront the offender. Which of the following is a legitimate form of confronting?

A) Revealing what he has overheard, then becoming silent
B) Challenging the offender's integrity
C) Telling the offender what is wrong with him
D) Doing so with the goal of growing closer

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Mort works in a position of authority. He is a college guidance counselor. He is now a member of a court-mandated group. When others speak of their problems, he is always the first to react, even at the risk of cutting off other would-be responders. He seems to speak more than any other member. His behaviors could legitimately be construed as: 

A) Well-meaning, altruistic and in many ways productive
B) Participatory, therefore acceptable
C) Monopolizing
D) Being worthy of dismissal; they are highly-disruptive

Question 5

Each member must actively work to open him- or herself to ____________ others and to addressing the issues that get in the way of doing so.

A) confronting
B) challenging
C) trusting
D) supporting

Question 6

De Shazer (1984) attributes most instances of a client's failure to overcome resistance to:

A) The practitioner
B) The client
C) An incorrect theoretical approach
D) An ineffective member-to-group fit

Question 7

It should be stressed to group members that while engaging in self-disclosure, they can still retain a sense of: 

A) Dignity
B) Privacy
C) Control
D) Respect

Question 8

Being "parental" toward group members is: 

A) Counterproductive and can represent a dependency issue on the part of the practitioner
B) Always a legitimate method of fostering progress
C) Insulting
D) Acceptable when the members are low functioning and/or have lacked parents as proper role models

Question 9

A term used to describe the group's barrier toward advancement in the Transition stage is:

A) Restive
B) Resistance
C) Hyper-productive
D) Counterproductive

Question 10

During the transition phase, groups are often characterized by all of the following EXCEPT :

A) anxiety
B) resistance
C) various problems of problematic behaviors
D) connections with each other and the leaders

Question 11

It is important to educate non-participatory or minimally participatory members that others in the group are likely to react to them with:

A) Transference
B) Counter-transference
C) Projection
D) Regression

Question 12

__________ originating from the client's conflicts is considered a healthy and normal part of therapy, and the therapist's job is to remain neutral. 

A) Resistance
B) Countertransference
C) Transference
D) Confrontation

Question 13

Penelope is the most difficult client whom group leader Ari has had to deal with in his 30 years of practice. She is disruptive, rude, overbearing and confrontational. Just now, an intense argument was initiated by Penelope. Two other members have threatened to quit the group. Which of the following is correct?

A) Ethically, Ari must dismiss Penelope to preserve the group
B) Ari should quash the conflict temporarily in favor of a "cooling-off" period
C) Ari should state his observations and hunches in a tentative manner
D) Ari should respond in-kind to Penelope to see how she feels when presented with "her" behavior

Question 14

When a group member responds to a question with "I don't know," which is the best response from the leader?

A) What makes it difficult for you to be here?
B) What or whom do you want to get away from?
C) What are you saying to each other?
D) Pretend you know. And if you did know, what might you say? What do you know?

Question 15

When storytelling takes place in a/an ____________ manner, it is considered to be _____________.

A) reactionary/repressive
B) detached/defensive
C) hostile/dissociative
D) any/productive

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT considered a critical-to-address characteristic of the Transition Stage?

A) One's childhood experiences
B) Conflict
C) Fears
D) Control issues

Question 17

A group member openly challenges co-leaders simultaneously. The co-leaders should: 

A) Always meet privately to discuss a reaction
B) React with a united front at all costs; the most important aspect of the reaction is consistency and solidarity between leaders
C) Always address the issue before the entire group; it is the group's business
D) Address the issue objectively - at all costs - either privately or in front of the group

Question 18

According to the psychoanalytic perspective, resistance is defined as the individual's reluctance to bring into conscious __________ that has been previously repressed or denied.

A) awareness
B) agreement
C) conscious material
D) threatening material

Question 19

Which of the following is a clear sign that trust is being built within the group?

A) Storytelling is commonplace
B) Members have split into cliques and smaller groups
C) Members depend on the leader to take charge
D) Members speak openly of their agendas

Question 20

Before groups progress to a level of deeper work, which we refer to as the working stage, they typically experience a:

A) Orientation
B) Working Stage
C) Final Stage
D) Transitional Phase

Question 21

__________ underlies much of members' behavior in the transitional phase.

A) Acceptance
B) Anxiety and defensiveness
C) A willingness to share personal information
D) Relief and joy

Question 22

A __________ therapist who is interested primarily in clients' welfare will not encourage members to remain in an inferior position.

A) self-aware
B) self-confident
C) self- absorbed
D) self-critical

Question 23

Individuals from __________ groups may find it difficult to understand the experience of those who are not.

A) hardship
B) lower class
C) poverty
D) privileged

Question 24

Rather than attempting to eliminate leader __________, the leaders should use their reactions in productive and therapeutic ways.

A) transference
B) countertransference
C) communication
D) projection

Question 25

__________ to change are the beliefs we have about ourselves and the things we say that sabotage our successes along the way.

A) Hyperactive barriers
B) Different barriers
C) External barriers
D) Internal barriers

Question 26

Which of the following is NOT an intervention statement that may increase the odds that an involuntary member will become a voluntary participant?

A) You have to be here so you might as well enjoy it and make the most of it.
B) What do you know about counseling? Have you ever participated in a group?
C) How do you cope with having to do something you don't want to do?
D) Many group members have felt the same way you do now. Maybe they could tell you what it was like for them.

Question 27

The __________ is a critical period in the history of the group.

A) initial phase
B) transition stage
C) final stage
D) working stage

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT a prompt a leader will use when asking members to complete sentences?

A) One thing I am afraid to say in this group is . . .
B) The member in the group that makes you most angry is…
C) It is difficult for me to trust people because . . .
D) If you really knew me, you would . . .

Question 29

It is important not to respond with __________ when dealing with a client who does not want to participate.

A) openness
B) sharing
C) acceptance
D) defensiveness

Question 30

A central role of members at this time is to recognize and deal with the many forms of
__________.

A) transference
B) countertransference
C) resistance
D) change

Question 31

__________ is indicated by a leader's exaggerated and persistent feelings that tend to recur with various clients in various groups.

A) Resistance
B) Transference
C) Countertransference
D) Change

Question 32

Be aware of your power as the group leader, and recognize the impact of the power __________ between members and leaders.

A) differential
B) parallel
C) compatibility
D) equivalence

Question 33

It is important for leaders to process their reactions after the group at a later time. Which of the following is NOT a way to process?

A) Self-reflection
B) Supervision
C) Defensiveness
D) Consultation

Question 34

Which of the following is NOT a problem that can develop between leaders during this time?

A) Countertransference as healing.
B) Challenges to both leaders.
C) Dealing with problem behaviors.
D) Negative reactions toward one leader.

Question 35

Some members may lack understanding or experience in participating in groups, and their struggle to learn new behavior patterns should not be labeled as __________.

A) aggressive
B) peaceful
C) forceful
D) defensive

Question 36

Members of an involuntary group may exhibit a lack of cooperation through __________.

A) openness
B) sharing appropriately
C) sarcasm and silence
D) connecting

Question 37

During a group session, the only Persian member and another member ended up in a heated debate about cultural differences. The leader, also Persian, was caught off guard and unsure of how to address the situation in the moment, struggling with an internal conflict. What was the leader's fear?

A) Connecting with the Persian member.
B) Overidentifying with the non-Persian member.
C) Connecting with the non-Persian member.
D) Overidentifying with the Persian member.

Question 38

The __________ leader who depends on clients' subordinate position for a sense of adequacy and power will tend to keep the group members powerless.

A) insecure
B) secure
C) confident
D) non-defensive

Question 39

_________ might be things such as a lack of support from others, limited resources, oppressive circumstances, or threat of negative reactions from others.

A) Internal barriers
B) External barriers
C) Different barriers
D) Hyperactive barriers

Question 40

Even the thought of __________ is sometimes overwhelming and can stop a person before he or she has begun.

A) peace
B) rest
C) change
D) relationship

Question 41

If a member states, "I don't know what to say to my father" during a role play, the best response from the leader will be:

A) What made you come if you didn't want to be here today?
B) What or whom do you want to get away from?
C) If this is the last chance you have to speak to him, what do you want to tell him?
D) What do you imagine will happen if you don't talk about it?

Question 42

One of the benefits of a therapeutic group is that members can explore how their __________ are playing out in present interactions.

A) employer's experiences
B) past experiences
C) future experience
D) current interactions

Question 43

The __________ reactions members develop toward the group leader and other members can bring out intense feelings in those who are the target of their reactions.

A) transference
B) insight
C) challenging
D) experimental

Question 44

Which of the following is NOT a tip listed in the book for listening and giving feedback?

A) Refrain from making too many comments or asking questions of the person who is sharing.
B) If you do relate to what the person is sharing, be cautious in your comments so you do not take the spotlight away from the person who is sharing.
C) As an observer, your role is to listen without making interpretations about what you see.
D) If you do not relate to what the person is sharing, it is important to let them know in detailed explanation.

Question 45

It is a __________ to dwell almost exclusively on strategies for "curing" problem members while ignoring your own personal reactions to such problematic behaviors.

A) good idea
B) difficult decision
C) perfect idea
D) mistake

Question 46

The major task is to provide the __________ and the challenge necessary for members to face and resolve conflicts and negative reactions that exist within the group and certain
Behaviors that stem from their defenses against anxiety.

A) confrontation
B) encouragement
C) trial
D) experiment

Question 47

Members can gain __________ into the ways their unresolved conflicts create certain patterns of dysfunctional behavior.

A) insight
B) challenges
C) anger
D) disgust

Question 48

Depending on how conflict and resistance are handled, the group can take a turn for:

A) the better only.
B) the worse only.
C) the better or for the worse.
D) experimental training.

Question 49

If a member states, "I don't want to be here" during a role play, the best response from the leader will be:

A) Say the first thing that comes to your mind.
B) Tell your father what stops you from talking to him.
C) What makes it difficult for you to be here?
D) What happens when people express their anger in your life?

Question 50

If a member states, "I'm very uncomfortable with the anger in the group" during a role play, the best response from the leader will be:

A) Say the first thing that comes to your mind.
B) Tell your father what stops you from talking to him.
C) What makes it difficult for you to be here?
D) What happens when people express their anger in your life?