LMSW Group Work Theory and Practice — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to Tuckman's model of group development, during which stage do members most commonly challenge the leader's authority and compete for status within the group?
- Forming
- Norming
- Storming (Correct answer)
- Adjourning
Correct answer: Storming
Storming is characterized by interpersonal conflict, competition, and resistance to group influence. Members test boundaries and may challenge the leader as they negotiate roles. Managing this stage effectively is a core group facilitation skill.
Question 2: A social worker notices that a group member who has been isolated begins to open up after hearing another member describe a very similar experience. Yalom would describe this therapeutic factor as:
- Altruism
- Universality (Correct answer)
- Imitative behavior
- Catharsis
Correct answer: Universality
Yalom's therapeutic factor of universality is the experience of discovering that one is not alone — that others share similar problems, thoughts, or feelings. It counters isolation and shame and is among the earliest and most impactful factors in group therapy.
Question 3: A psychoeducational group for newly diagnosed diabetic patients is BEST described as which type of group?
- Therapy group
- Support group
- Task group
- Psychoeducational group (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Psychoeducational group
Psychoeducational groups have a structured curriculum focused on teaching specific knowledge and skills (e.g., disease management, coping strategies). They differ from therapy groups (which target psychological change) and support groups (which provide mutual aid without a formal curriculum).
Question 4: During the middle phase of a treatment group, a social worker should PRIMARILY focus on:
- Establishing ground rules and orienting members to the group purpose
- Facilitating member-to-member interaction and deepening therapeutic work (Correct answer)
- Reviewing member progress and preparing for termination
- Screening members for appropriate level of care
Correct answer: Facilitating member-to-member interaction and deepening therapeutic work
The middle (working) phase is when cohesion has developed enough for meaningful therapeutic work. The worker's role shifts from structure-setter to facilitator, promoting member-to-member interaction, self-disclosure, feedback, and change work.
Question 5: A client asks a social worker whether she should join an individual therapy or a group therapy program for social anxiety. Which of the following is the STRONGEST evidence-based argument for recommending group treatment?
- Group therapy is always less expensive and therefore more accessible
- The group setting itself provides in-vivo exposure to feared social situations (Correct answer)
- Groups eliminate the need for a trained facilitator
- Individual therapy is contraindicated for anxiety disorders
Correct answer: The group setting itself provides in-vivo exposure to feared social situations
For social anxiety disorder, the group modality offers a naturally occurring social environment, making it an especially potent treatment setting. Members practice real interpersonal skills, receive peer feedback, and benefit from exposure within the group itself — not just through discussion.
Question 6: A social worker co-leading a group notices that one member consistently dominates discussions while others become silent. The MOST appropriate intervention at that moment is:
- Privately contact the dominant member and ask them to stop talking
- Redirect to the group by inviting silent members to share their perspectives (Correct answer)
- Terminate the dominant member from the group for disruptive behavior
- Ignore the dynamic and allow the group to self-correct without intervention
Correct answer: Redirect to the group by inviting silent members to share their perspectives
Redirecting to quieter members is a non-shaming, group-centered intervention that addresses the imbalance without singling out the dominant member punitively. It encourages broader participation and models inclusive facilitation.
LMSW Group Work Theory and Practice
According to Tuckman's model of group development, during which stage do members most commonly challenge the leader's authority and compete for status within the group?