CPSS Group Facilitation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A group member consistently interrupts others while they are sharing. As a peer support specialist facilitating the group, what is the most appropriate first response?
- Ask the group to vote on whether the interrupting member should be removed
- Gently remind the group of the agreed-upon communication guidelines (Correct answer)
- Ignore the behavior to avoid embarrassing the member
- End the session early to prevent further disruption
Correct answer: Gently remind the group of the agreed-upon communication guidelines
Referring back to group agreements respectfully redirects behavior without singling out or shaming the individual.
Question 2: Which facilitation technique best encourages a quiet group member to participate without putting them on the spot?
- Calling on them directly and requiring an answer
- Asking an open-ended question to the whole group and allowing anyone to respond (Correct answer)
- Asking other members to pressure them to share
- Skipping their turn and moving on without acknowledgment
Correct answer: Asking an open-ended question to the whole group and allowing anyone to respond
Open-ended group questions invite participation voluntarily, preserving autonomy and psychological safety.
Question 3: In a peer support group, one member begins sharing a story that is clearly triggering visible distress in several other members. What should the facilitator do?
- Allow the story to continue without intervention to honor the speaker's autonomy
- Gently redirect or pause the discussion and check in with the group about comfort levels (Correct answer)
- Ask the distressed members to leave the room temporarily
- Shut down the session immediately
Correct answer: Gently redirect or pause the discussion and check in with the group about comfort levels
A trauma-informed facilitator balances the speaker's need to share with the group's collective emotional safety.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of establishing ground rules at the beginning of a peer support group?
- To give the facilitator authority to remove disruptive members
- To create shared expectations that promote safety and respect for all members (Correct answer)
- To limit what topics can be discussed in the group
- To satisfy administrative requirements for the program
Correct answer: To create shared expectations that promote safety and respect for all members
Ground rules co-created with the group build a foundation of mutual trust and psychological safety.
Question 5: A peer support group has been meeting for several weeks and members have developed strong bonds. A new member joins and the existing members seem resistant. How should the facilitator handle this?
- Ask the new member to wait until a new group cycle begins
- Acknowledge the group's cohesion and facilitate a welcoming discussion that includes the new member (Correct answer)
- Ignore the tension and proceed with the planned agenda
- Remove the new member and report the situation to a supervisor
Correct answer: Acknowledge the group's cohesion and facilitate a welcoming discussion that includes the new member
Facilitators normalize the adjustment that comes with new members while actively integrating them into the group culture.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the role of a peer support specialist facilitating a group versus a clinical group therapist?
- The peer specialist diagnoses members and prescribes treatment goals
- The peer specialist shares lived experience and facilitates mutual support, not clinical treatment (Correct answer)
- The peer specialist is subordinate to group members and has no guiding role
- The peer specialist focuses only on medication management topics
Correct answer: The peer specialist shares lived experience and facilitates mutual support, not clinical treatment
Peer support specialists draw on shared lived experience to facilitate mutual aid, which is distinct from clinical therapy.
Question 7: During a group session, two members begin to have a heated disagreement. What is the most appropriate facilitator response?
- Take sides with the member who has been in the group longer
- Calmly intervene, acknowledge both perspectives, and redirect to the group's shared purpose (Correct answer)
- Leave the room and allow the members to resolve it themselves
- Immediately terminate the session and document both members as noncompliant
Correct answer: Calmly intervene, acknowledge both perspectives, and redirect to the group's shared purpose
Neutral, calm intervention that validates both parties de-escalates conflict while maintaining group safety.
CPSS Group Facilitation 2
A group member consistently interrupts others while they are sharing.
As a peer support specialist facilitating the group, what is the most appropriate first response?