Case Study
Patient Demographic: Name: Anxiety Group Therapy Clinical Issues: Worry and anxiety Diagnostic Category: Anxiety Disorders Provisional Diagnosis: F41.1 Generalized Anxiety Disorder Age: 0 Sex Assigned at Birth: Female Gender and Sexual Orientation: Not applicable, Ethnicity: Various Marital Status: Not Applicable Modality: Group Therapy Location of Therapy : Agency  
Mental Status Exam: The group members appear to be insightful about their illness. Clients ages are 25 and older. All members are well-groomed and present with clean hygiene.
Presenting Problem: First session You are a therapist in an agency starting a group for clients with anxiety. The group will consist of seven participants. It is a homogeneous, closed group which will meet once a week on Wednesday evenings for an hour and a half for twelve weeks. The group's goal is to help clients diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorders and other anxiety-related issues. An intern will co-facilitate the group with you. You are forming an outline for the group's goals, screening questions, and termination process. You will be observing candidates for the group to facilitate participant selection.  Fourth session All seven members have been coming to your group for three weeks. The group is made up of married, single, and divorced females. Some have children and some do not. Ages range from 25 to 33 years old. It is multiculturally diverse. As group sessions progress, you note that some group members are starting to take risks, while others are still not fully trusting you and the group's co-facilitator. Most of the clients generally worry about their family and loved ones. Some are more afraid of getting ill and dying because of COVID-19. You lead the group in a guided meditation before you start making the rounds to calm everyone down and have them feel centered.  Sixth session You and your intern, who has never facilitated a group, meet five weeks after intake with the group members. One of the members shows up late to the group despite knowing the norms and rules. This member is from a Hispanic background. One of the other members, an African-American woman, says angrily, "You're wasting our time when you arrive late to every session. We have to pause for you. I have anxiety and need help. If you do not need help from the group, why don't you leave!" The Hispanic woman starts to cry and says, "Mind your business. I'm taking care of my dying mother and also have anxiety, so shut up!" You have to intervene as other members are getting frazzled and upset. You ask the intern to carry on with the group as you ask the two members to step outside.

Question: Once the two members have calmed down and returned, you have the other group members tell how the altercation made them feel. You, as the therapist, listen without interrupting and avoid giving advice. Which technique are you demonstrating?
(A): Free association
(B): Congruence
(C): Positive regard
(D): Storytelling

Correct Answer: Positive regard
Explanation: When using positive regard, the therapist listens without interrupting and avoids giving advice. There is no judgment, and the therapist listens actively. Therefore, the correct answer is (A)
Competency: counseling skills and interventions