TYPICAL ROLES PLAYED
INSIDE GROUP
PSYCHOTHERAPY
AND DEALING WITH COMMON PROBLEMS
TYPICAL ROLES PLAYED
INSIDE GROUP
PSYCHOTHERAPY
AND DEALING WITH COMMON PROBLEMS
Chronic Talker
Characterized by persistent rambling and repetition
Other members may not get chance to talk
Group members will tune out or become
disinterested
Three types
Nervous (first to answer, alleviate anxiety, watch
how much time is given)
Rambler (unaware of effect on others/ trivial)
Show-off (insecure, wants to impress leader, other
members, divert groups attention)
Dealing with chronic talker
Clues - how long have they been talking?
Compare comments with other members
Are comments in line with theme / here and now
Is he/she truly preventing others from talking... Do
other folks use this person to hide?
Eventually use group’s power to look into... So does
anyone notice what is going on here? Does anyone
notice M’s pattern?
The Dominator
Tries to rule the group
May not talk alot
Can be quiet, potentially “the observer”, easily triggered
uses this to keep group away
Leader needs to sometime take risk pointing out this
behavior to the group member or group as a whole
technique
Sometimes told to leave - sometimes meet with group
leader outside group
The Distracter
Seeks attention or avoids looking at self
May bring up unrelated questions
Unconsciously creates transference and then feigns understanding
their role in the transference collusion
May make noises, move around
May not be intentionally trying to distract - “it’s their defense
mechanism”
Group as a whole challenges; Is the member aware? Don’t let them
turn it into a game - don’t let the rescuer or rescuers in group rescue
or side with distracter
The Rescuing Member
He or she smoothes over negative feelings
experienced by themselves and other group members
Play the not safe card - “I think someone is being
attacked”
Or uses... “don’t worry it will be all right, everything
has a way of working out”
Essentially member won’t grow and group may not
allow others to grow (anxious types)
The Negative Member
Constant complainer
Disagrees with other members in the group or tries to use other
members to punish the group leader or leaders in feeling that they are
bad or have created an unsafe environment
Look for and seek out originations of negative members transference
distortion
May need to talk outside group with negative member or utilizing linked
members get them to direct question to negative member(s)
If negative member is toxic - use little eye contact
Try not to argue with negative member; instead in the here now point out
discrepant behavior / thoughts / feelings
The Resistant Member
Caveat - some members are resistant because
they are forced to be in the group
Mandated clients
The Resistant Member (cont.).
Often outwardly angry or inwardly angry
Sits with arms crossed, leaves jacket on, or have
objects of distraction near (watch for body
language - may also sit in same chair)
Tries to focus “group” on topics not relevant
May not be resistant to the group outwardly - but is
resistant toward changing or challenging
something inside themselves
The Resistant Member (cont.).
May have negative expectations about the effectiveness;
believe the group will not be helpful
Two primary techniques 1) gently massage to share
feelings, 2) group therapist may hint at the feelings, go out
on limb - “okay, this has been my experience of you...”
Watch for instances when resistant member is open to
group members insights and not leader (this is okay) so
long as the resistant member is not purposely casting
stones
Get the Leader Member
Members who more than not disagrees with leader or
greater fraction of group members
Can also show up in not following instructions
Asking unanswerable questions or talk themselves into
a corner and then blame group leader or members
Different than negative member - where “getter” is truly
looking to make leader look stupid, punish him or her
Get the Leader (cont.).
Working with involves not attacking, but challenging, don’t get into
power struggles
Sharing how as the leader you feel and think about what is going
with get the leader member “I feel this way when I see, observe, I
can’t help reacting... Who else in your life do you communicate this
way ... point out what you are seeing - don’t blame
Leader shares their flaws, uncertainties, and apologizing if ruptured
the alliance - but no care-taking and de-selfing (massage)
Silent Member
Seek out the source behind the silent member “are they
observers”?
Will the group grow as far as it might with one member
remaining silent - check-out the counter-transference...
(“leader do your work”)
What does the silence mean for the silent member, what is
the sound of silence - how do others members feel.
Hostile, Prejudiced, Narrow-Minded or
Insensitive member
First off - what are the norms - make this clear in the
beginning - you can’t use it as a bat, but you can use it as
leverage!!!
Restate the purpose of the group is... You consented to (be
therapeutic when delivering this message)
It is not always good leadership to always let members
have their say!