MC Master of Counseling: Group Therapy Principles 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The therapeutic factor of 'altruism' in Yalom's model refers to:
- The leader giving advice freely
- Members gaining self-esteem by helping other members (Correct answer)
- Unconditional positive regard from the therapist
- Donating to charitable causes as part of therapy
Correct answer: Members gaining self-esteem by helping other members
Altruism occurs when members discover their own value by offering support, insight, or help to other group members.
Question 2: In a group using the empty chair technique, the leader is most likely drawing from which theoretical orientation?
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Adlerian therapy
- Gestalt therapy (Correct answer)
- Psychodrama
Correct answer: Gestalt therapy
The empty chair is a signature Gestalt technique used to facilitate unfinished business and dialogue with absent others or parts of self.
Question 3: Which leadership style is most associated with the highest levels of group cohesion and member satisfaction?
- Authoritarian
- Laissez-faire
- Democratic (Correct answer)
- Charismatic
Correct answer: Democratic
Democratic leadership balances structure with member autonomy, fostering both safety and active participation.
Question 4: During the termination stage of a therapy group, it is therapeutically important for the leader to:
- Avoid discussing endings to prevent premature grief
- Help members process feelings about loss and consolidate gains (Correct answer)
- Introduce new goals for members to pursue
- Transition immediately to a new group topic
Correct answer: Help members process feelings about loss and consolidate gains
Termination provides a corrective emotional experience with loss and an opportunity to solidify skills learned in group.
Question 5: A member uses intellectualization to avoid emotional engagement in group. The most effective leader response is to:
- Provide more psychoeducational content to meet the member's cognitive style
- Point out the behavior and invite the member to connect with underlying feelings (Correct answer)
- Ignore the behavior and engage other members
- Refer the member to individual therapy only
Correct answer: Point out the behavior and invite the member to connect with underlying feelings
Gently naming intellectualization and inviting emotional access addresses the resistance while maintaining therapeutic alliance.
Question 6: The concept of 'group-as-a-whole' interventions means the leader is addressing:
- Every individual member in sequence
- The shared theme or dynamic operating in the group system (Correct answer)
- Only the most vocal members
- Administrative group logistics
Correct answer: The shared theme or dynamic operating in the group system
Group-as-a-whole interventions target collective dynamics, emotions, or defenses that belong to the group system rather than one member.
Question 7: When conducting groups with multicultural populations, a culturally competent leader should:
- Apply the same norms and confrontation styles used with majority populations
- Adapt facilitation style and norms to honor cultural values and communication styles (Correct answer)
- Avoid discussing cultural differences to prevent discomfort
- Require all members to adopt dominant-culture communication norms
Correct answer: Adapt facilitation style and norms to honor cultural values and communication styles
Cultural competence requires flexible adaptation of leadership style to honor diverse values around self-disclosure, authority, and expression.
MC Master of Counseling: Group Therapy Principles 4
The therapeutic factor of 'altruism' in Yalom's model refers to: