If I had to choose, I believe the client types that would be the most difficult for me would be the silent client, and the characterologically difficult or Axis II client. For me, the silent client is difficult because you never know what they’re thinking, how they’re feeling, or whether or not they are even engaged in the group at all. Where you can redirect a monopolist client, allowing others the chance to share, you can’t force the silent client to speak. Also, with silent member, I would be skeptical about putting them on the spot because it may cause anxiety, which may cause them to maintain their silence. As a counselor, trying to understand the reason for the silence would be difficult, especially during the group meeting. I would
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The borderline and Narcissistic clients can easily become the monopolist. The borderline client usually has issues regulating emotion and thoughts, and who often time very impulsive. The Narcissistic client usually having an elevated self-esteem, and increased sense of importance, so they may feel like their problems are more important than the other group member problems. In that they can also become the help-rejecting complainer because of their dependency on the group and the group leader, and their tendency to engage in transference and countertransference problems, and in the way they may dismiss others placing higher importance on their own problems. Then HRC’s often attempt to belittle that person’s complaints by comparing them unfavorably with their own (Yalom, 1995). Finally, the schizoid client who may be distant and detached, and are often loners can easily become the silent client. Also, since they rarely express strong emotion, and function in an almost robotic manner, they can also become the boring client. Individual therapy with such clients can be excruciatingly slow and arid, similar to work with clients with schizoid personality disorder. Yalom’s recommendation to directly and consistently confront these types of clients, allowing for there to be criticism given I believe is key. These types of clients need to be for the lack of better words brought back down to earth, in order for them to be successful in a group
The borderline and Narcissistic clients can easily become the monopolist. The borderline client usually has issues regulating emotion and thoughts, and who often time very impulsive. The Narcissistic client usually having an elevated self-esteem, and increased sense of importance, so they may feel like their problems are more important than the other group member problems. In that they can also become the help-rejecting complainer because of their dependency on the group and the group leader, and their tendency to engage in transference and countertransference problems, and in the way they may dismiss others placing higher importance on their own problems. Then HRC’s often attempt to belittle that person’s complaints by comparing them unfavorably with their own (Yalom, 1995). Finally, the schizoid client who may be distant and detached, and are often loners can easily become the silent client. Also, since they rarely express strong emotion, and function in an almost robotic manner, they can also become the boring client. Individual therapy with such clients can be excruciatingly slow and arid, similar to work with clients with schizoid personality disorder. Yalom’s recommendation to directly and consistently confront these types of clients, allowing for there to be criticism given I believe is key. These types of clients need to be for the lack of better words brought back down to earth, in order for them to be successful in a group