1. The focus of a group counseling session must center upon a person, an activity, or a/an ____________________.
2. Before deepening the group’s focus to an intense level, the authors suggest that the leader consider the group’s
____________________.
3. The key to leading most groups is deepening the focus to a level that is ____________________ and meaningful for
most members.
4. When an individual member has had several minutes of “air time” in this session, the leader is probably trying to decide
whether to ___________________ or ____________________ the focus.
5. The ________________ chart can provide members a concrete way to visualize and understand how superficial or
intense group sharing has been.
6. The authors suggest the use of ________________ and exercises to establish the focus of a group session.
7. Group exercises need to be followed by —______________ and not just conducted one after the other.
8. In a task group, when the members are working to solve an issue, the leader will usually want to
__________________the focus.
9. After a particular topic has been discussed at length the leader may want to _________ the focus.
10. Asking a very thought-provoking question is one technique that can be used to ________________ the focus.
Choices:
A. Deepening the focus
B. Establishing the focus
C. Holding the focus
11. After a break in the session, the leader draws a diagram on a white board as he starts the session again.
b
150
12. A task group member who rarely speaks up begins to share an idea that has merit. Her comments are taking the group
in a worthwhile direction. The leader encourages her to say more.
c
153
13. The leader says to the members, “For the next 20 minutes or so we are going to talk about decision making.” The
leader passes out pieces of paper and asks members to draw their “board of directors,” or the individuals they consult
when they have an important decision to make.
b
150
14. As one member of a parenting group shares her struggle with holding her children accountable through use of
consequences, another member nods her head in agreement. The leader says to the second member, “I’ve noticed that
you’re nodding your head. What are your thoughts about what has been said?”
d
157
15. The members of an Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA) therapy group are talking about the dynamics that existed
in their families of origin. To make the session more meaningful, the leader proposes that the members try sculpting their
family dynamics using other members of the group as subjects.
a
162
16. Saying, “Can we wait a moment on that until John is finished?,” is an example of
a.
shifting the focus to John.
b.
holding the focus on John.
c.
holding the focus on a topic.
d.
shifting the focus from an activity.
b
154
17. A small chair or a large piece of paper with a word on it can __________ the group’s focus.
a.
Hold
b.
Shift
c.
Deepen
d.
A and C
d
162
18. A beginning leader who lacks cutting off or drawing out skills may spend too much time _______________ the focus.
a.
Holding
b.
Shifting
c.
Deepening
d.
Establishing
a
153
19. By saying, “Let’s focus on another issue that is equally important as this one,” the leader is
a.
shifting the focus to a topic.
b.
holding the focus on a topic.
c.
deepening the focus on a topic.
d.
none of the above
a
159
20. Malik has been talking for a while. The leader says, “Malik, you have raised some points that are also relevant to
others. Let’s spend some time discussing those. Which of the following leadership skills has she just used?
a.
Cutting off
b.
Shifting the focus from person to topic
c.
Both of the available choices
d.
Neither of the available choices
c
161
21. Which of the following could be used to deepen the focus of a session?
a.
Working intensely with one member
b.
Asking the group a thought provoking question
c.
Inviting all members to share at a more personal level
d.
All of the available choices.
d
162
22. Deepening the focus should be done during the ________________ phase of group.
a.
Ending
b.
Warm-up
c.
Middle/working
d.
Any of the available choices
c
164
23. A member has been talking for some time. The leader asks all of the group members to pair up with a partner and
discuss their thoughts and feelings about what the member has shared. In this instance, the leader
a.
held the focus on the member.
b.
deepened the focus of the group.
c.
established the focus of the group.
d.
shifted the focus from a person to an exercise.
d
161
24. Which of the following is TRUE regarding the depth of sharing in a group?
a.
Members vary in the degree to which they can handle personal sharing in a group.
b.
Leaders should consider the readiness of all group members when thinking about deepening the group’s focus.
c.
Both of the available choices are true.
d.
Neither of the available choices is true.
c
164
25. The authors do not advise shifting the focus
a.
from a person to a topic.
b.
from a topic to an activity.
c.
from an activity to an activity.
d.
from a person to another person.
c
157
26. The authors suggest using all of the following techniques to establish the group’s focus EXCEPT?
a.
Use of comments
b.
Use of lecture
c.
Use of activities and exercises
d.
Use of rounds and dyads
b
151-153
27. When determining whether to hold the group’s focus on a topic, group leaders should consider
a.
the relevancy of the topic
b.
members’ level of interest in the topic
c.
the length of time that has been spent on the topic
d.
all of the available choices
d
154
28. The authors suggest holding the focus on an individual person in a therapy group no longer than
a.
30 minutes
b.
10 – 15 minutes
c.
5 minutes
d.
45 minutes
a
155
29. The best way to deepen the focus in a personal growth group is to hold the focus on one member until he or she talks.
a.
True
b.
False
False
164
30. When a leader believes the topic a member has brought up has relevance for the entire group, she may want to shift
the focus from that member to the topic.
a.
True
b.
False
True
161
31. When a leader of a counseling or therapy group has focused on one member for a certain period of time, he may
decide to shift the focus to another person but on the same topic, or shift to a fresh topic altogether.
a.
True
b.
False
True
160, 161
32. Rounds and dyads have very little value when a leader is trying to focus a group.
a.
True
b.
False
False
153
33. Use of written material or writing as an exercise is often a very effective technique when working to focus a group.
a.
True
b.
False
True
151
34. Asking group members to finish a sentence completion form, make a list, or give thought to a particular word the
leader places for everyone to see are all examples of the leader getting the group to focus.
a.
True
b.
False
True
152-153
35. A leader may shift the focus from a person to the topic the person is discussing if she feels the issues may be relevant
to most other group members.
a.
True
b.
False
True
161
36. Too often in education, discussion, and task groups, leaders mistakenly deepen the focus on individuals rather than
recognizing the purpose of the group as being to keep the focus on the topic at hand.
a.
True
b.
False
True
164
37. Why is holding the group’s focus a challenge for many leaders?
38. Though closely related, why should holding and shifting the group’s focus be considered separate group leadership
skills?
39. Why is it a mistake to frequently shift the group’s focus from one activity to another?
40. How can using the depth chart be helpful to the leader and to members?
41. Why is it important to consider the purpose of the group before deepening the focus of the session?
42. Discuss the relationship between focusing on a topic in a group, such as “anger”, and focusing on a person in the
group in relation to his or her anger issues.
43. Briefly discuss the relationship between the kind of group a leader is leading (eg: task, education, support, therapy,
etc.) and how long the leader may choose to hold the focus either on a topic or a person.
