NBCC Group Counseling & Group Work 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to ASGW Best Practice Guidelines, what is the recommended approach for screening prospective group members?
- Accept all who apply to avoid discrimination
- Screen individuals to ensure group appropriateness and member readiness (Correct answer)
- Allow the group itself to vote on new members
- Assign members randomly for diversity
Correct answer: Screen individuals to ensure group appropriateness and member readiness
ASGW guidelines recommend that group leaders screen prospective members to assess their suitability for the group format and to protect existing members.
Question 2: In group work, 'linking' refers to which leader technique?
- Connecting similar themes or feelings expressed by different members (Correct answer)
- Establishing norms at the start of the group
- Ending a session by summarizing key points
- Assigning homework between sessions
Correct answer: Connecting similar themes or feelings expressed by different members
Linking is a technique where the leader draws connections between what different group members have shared, fostering cohesion and universality.
Question 3: Which stage of group development is associated with members sharing more deeply and demonstrating increased trust and cohesion?
- Forming
- Storming
- Norming (Correct answer)
- Performing
Correct answer: Norming
During the Norming stage, group members establish shared expectations, trust increases, and members begin to engage more openly with one another.
Question 4: A client who has never participated in group therapy expresses fear about others judging them. What is the BEST initial response?
- Reassure them that no one will judge them in the group
- Explore their concerns and provide psychoeducation about the group process (Correct answer)
- Refer them to individual counseling instead
- Remind them that confidentiality rules prevent judgment
Correct answer: Explore their concerns and provide psychoeducation about the group process
Exploring the client's concerns and providing education about how groups work respects their autonomy and prepares them more effectively for the experience.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes a 'closed' group format?
- A group that meets without a leader present
- A group that does not accept new members after it has begun (Correct answer)
- A group open to anyone in the community
- A group focused exclusively on a single diagnosis
Correct answer: A group that does not accept new members after it has begun
A closed group starts with a fixed membership and does not admit new members after the group has begun, allowing for deeper trust and group cohesion.
Question 6: When a group member consistently speaks for the entire group using 'we' statements, which role is this member likely enacting?
- Gatekeeper
- Harmonizer
- Spokesperson (Correct answer)
- Monopolizer
Correct answer: Spokesperson
A member who speaks for the group as a whole using 'we' language is taking on the spokesperson role, which can suppress individual expression.
Question 7: Which therapeutic factor involves group members feeling a sense of belonging and acceptance within the group?
- Imitative behavior
- Instillation of hope
- Cohesiveness (Correct answer)
- Existential factors
Correct answer: Cohesiveness
Cohesiveness, as described by Yalom, reflects the sense of belonging, acceptance, and attraction members feel toward the group and each other.
NBCC Group Counseling & Group Work 2
According to ASGW Best Practice Guidelines, what is the recommended approach for screening prospective group members?