A client would generally feel the most suspicious of others in which stage?

• A. The final stage of separation or termination.
• B. The intimacy stage.
• C. The group formation/exploratory stage.
• D. A group with co-leadership.

Answer: (C)

In the initial formation phase, trust and safety are still being established, so clients are most guarded and wary of others. This stage is all about testing boundaries, confidentiality, and each person’s motives, since norms haven’t yet been set and predictability is low. The uncertainty makes suspicion a natural and adaptive response as individuals assess who can be trusted and who will follow group rules.

As the group progresses into an intimacy phase, members have begun to disclose more and build closeness, which typically reduces suspicion. In the final termination stage, the focus shifts to separation and reflection rather than judging others’ motives. While a group with co-leadership can raise questions about leadership and consistency, the overall level of suspicion is generally highest at the outset when roles and safety are still being clarified.