Exam 33: Therapeutic Groups

A patient in a group therapy session listens to others and then remarks, "I used to think I was the only one who felt afraid. I guess I'm not as alone as I thought." This comment is an example of which of the following?

Three members of a therapy group share covert glances as other members of the group describe problems. When one makes a statement that subtly criticizes another speaker, the others nod in agreement. Which group dynamic should the leader suspect?

Which outcome would be most appropriate for a symptom-management group for persons with schizophrenia?

Guidelines followed by the leader of a therapeutic group include focusing on recognizing dysfunctional behaviour and thinking patterns, followed by identifying and practising more adaptive alternate behaviours and thinking. Which theory is evident by this approach?

A leader plans to start a new self-esteem building group. Which intervention would be most helpful for assuring mutual respect within the group?

A group is in the working phase. One member says, "That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Everyone whines and tells everyone else what to do. This group is a total waste of my time." Which comment by the group leader would be most therapeutic?

A young female member in a therapy group says to an older female member, "You are just like my mother, always trying to control me with your observations and suggestions." Which therapeutic factor of a group is evident by this behaviour?

During a support group, a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia says, "Sometimes I feel sad that I will never have a good job like my brother. Then I dwell on it and maybe I should not." Select the nurse leader's best comment to facilitate discussion of this issue.

The nurse has been working with a large group of patients and has noticed that there are six members who have experienced sexual abuse and tend to talk only amongst themselves. Which type of group does this reflect?

A patient has talked constantly throughout the group therapy session, often repeating the same comments. Other members were initially attentive but then became bored, inattentive, and finally sullen. Which comment by the nurse leader would be most effective?

A therapy group adds new members as others leave. What type of group is evident?

A leader begins the discussion at the first meeting of a new group. Which comments should be included?

During a therapy group that uses existential/Gestalt theory, patients shared feelings that occurred at the time of their admission. After a brief silence, one member says, "Several people have described feeling angry. I would like to hear from members who had other feelings." Which group role is evident by this comment?

Which type of group is a staff nurse with 2 months' psychiatric experience best qualified to conduct?

A nurse at the well-child clinic realizes that many parents have misconceptions about effective ways of disciplining their children. The nurse decides to form a group to address this problem. What should be the focus of the group?

During group therapy, one patient says to another, "When I first started in this group, you were unable to make a decision, but now you can. You've made a lot of progress. I am beginning to think that maybe I can conquer my fears too." Which therapeutic factor is evident by this statement?

A patient in a detoxification unit asks, "What good will it do to go to Alcoholics Anonymous and talk to other people with the same problem?" The nurse's best response would be to explain that self-help groups such as AA provide opportunities for which of the following?

A nurse leads a psychoeducational group for patients in the community diagnosed with schizophrenia. A realistic outcome for group members is that they will do which of the following?

A patient tells members of a therapy group, "I hear voices saying my doctor is poisoning me." Another patient replies, "I used to hear voices too. They sounded real, but I found out later they were not. The voices you hear are not real either." Which therapeutic factor is exemplified in this interchange?

A patient in a support group says, "I'm tired of being sick. Everyone always helps me, but I will be glad when I can help someone else." This statement reflects which of the following?