ASWB LCSW Social Work Clinical Practice Exam

What therapeutic approach often involves clients sharing experiences and insights to combat denial?

1. Individual counseling

2. Confrontation

3. Group therapy

4. Crisis intervention

The correct answer is: Group therapy

The choice of group therapy as the correct answer is due to its fundamental structure, which encourages clients to share their experiences and insights in a collective setting. This approach is particularly effective in combating denial because the group setting allows members to listen to others' stories, reflect on their own experiences, and confront their denial in a supportive environment. The social interaction and feedback from peers can create a sense of accountability and contribute to personal insight. In group therapy, members often provide each other with perspectives that may challenge individual misconceptions and denial, facilitating personal growth and change. The openness of discussions helps participants recognize patterns in their behavior that they might not have acknowledged previously. Other options, such as individual counseling, may offer valuable one-on-one support but lack the communal aspect that encourages confrontation of denial as effectively as group therapy. Confrontation, while it may address denial, often relies on a more direct approach, which can sometimes lead to defensiveness rather than insight. Crisis intervention is focused on immediate stabilization and support, and while it may address some aspects of denial, it does not provide the ongoing introspective environment that is characteristic of group therapy.