SELF-TALK OF GROUP THERAPISTS

To identify group leader cognitions and the role experience may play i n leader cognitive schemas, 60 participants were placed in 1 of 3 grou ps on the basis of group-leading experience and were exposed to a 20-m in videotape of a group session, during which they completed a thought -listing instrument. Two judges free sorted the 1,299 collected though ts and identified and defined 17 distinct thought categories. Three tr ained judges then placed 1,271 (97.8%) of the thoughts into these cate gories. Differences among experience levels were also explored through correlation and stepwise multiple regression analyses. Two thoughts, interpretation of group process and internal question regarding member , were found to account for 56% of the variance in experience level. F indings are discussed in terms of group leader cognitive processing, a nd suggestions for future research are provided.