A participant in group therapy is showing high denial about their problem. What is this client at risk of?

The participant's high level of denial indicates a lack of recognition or acceptance of their problem, which can significantly hinder their engagement and involvement in the therapeutic process. When individuals are in denial, they may feel uncomfortable or defensive, leading them to withdraw from the group setting. This withdrawal could manifest as skipping sessions or dropping out altogether, as their unwillingness to confront their issues makes the therapeutic environment feel threatening or unhelpful.

In contrast, while sharing more personal information than needed, not benefiting from the group, or trying to control the group dynamics might be behaviors exhibited by other participants facing different challenges, they are less directly associated with the specific issue of denial. Denial often leads to disengagement as individuals may miss the opportunities for insight and support that group therapy can offer, resulting in a higher risk of dropping out.