MEGA Counselor Exam

Define "Reflecting"

Communicating empathy. Neither adding to nor subtracting from clients' messages. Communicating back to the clients the main meaning of their message. Reflecting the client's feelings: verbally and nonverbally Checking with the client to see if the counselor's reflection is accurate.

Name and describe Piaget's third level of development

Concrete Operational Stage 7 to 11 Years -During this stage, children begin to thinking logically about concrete events -They begin to understand the concept of conservation; that the amount of liquid in a short, wide cup is equal to that in a tall, skinny glass, for example -Their thinking becomes more logical and organized, but still very concrete -Children begin using inductive logic, or reasoning from specific information to a general principle

Triadiac-Dependent

Consultant, consultee, client

What are the stages of group development? (5)

Forming: group comes together Storming: group process, storming ideas. Norming: agreement on how group operates. Performing: group practices craft and meets objectives. Adjourning: letting go of the group structure and moving on.

Theories of Intelligence: Thurstone's Primary Mental Abilities

Psychologist Louis L.Thurstone (1887-1955) offered a differing theory of intelligence. Instead of viewing intelligence as a single, general ability, Thurstone's theory focused on seven different primary mental abilities. -Associative memory: The ability to memorize and recall -Numerical ability: The ability to solve arithmetic problems -Perceptual speed: The ability to see differences and similarities among objects -Reasoning: The ability to find rules -Spatial visualization: The ability to visualize relationships -Verbal comprehension: The ability to define and understand words -Word fluency: The ability to produce words rapidly

All of the following are acceptable uses of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children —Fourth Edition ® (WISC -IV) EXCEPT a. seeing how students' abilities compare with those of the general population b. identifying learning disabilities c. identifying gifted children d. determining whether students need to be retained at grade level

The best answer is (D). Acceptable uses of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children —Fourth Edition (WISC -IV) include comparing students' scores with those of the general population and identifying learning disabilities and giftedness. Grade retention decisions should be based on academic achievement, not intelligence test scores.

Language Development during Late Adolescence 14-18 years

-Acquisition of academic terms -Subtle refinements in grammar -Mastery of connectives i.e., although, however -General ability to understand figurative language i.e., metaphors, proverbs, hyperbole

Implications of Language Development during Early Adolescence 10-14 years

-Begin to use the terminology used by experts. -Use classroom debates to explore controversial issues. -Present proverbs and have children consider underlying meanings. -Explore the nature of words and language as entities in and of themselves.

Implications of Language Development during Late Adolescence 14-18 years

-Consistently use academic terminology -Distinguish between similar abstract words i.e., weather and climate -Explore complex syntactic structures -Consider underlying meanings in poetry and fiction -Encourage English language learners to use English in informal conversations and creative writing

Implications of Language Development during Infancy Birth - 2 years

-Engage infants in simplified/animated conversations. -Label/describe objects. -Teach hand signs. -Ask simple questions. -Repeat and expand on children's early sentences.

Language Development during Early Adolescence 10-14 years

-Increased awareness of academic terminology. -Ability to understand complex sentences. -Emerging ability to look beyond literal interpretations. -Emerging ability to carry lengthy conversations about abstract topics. -Growth in metalinguistic awareness.

Language Development during Middle Childhood 6-10 years

-Increased understanding of temporal i.e, before/after, and comparative i.e., bigger/big as words -Literal interpretation of messages -Incomplete knowledge of irregular word forms -Pronunciation mastered at age 8 -Consideration of the listener's knowledge and perspective -Sustained conversations about concrete topics -Narratives have plots and cause-effect relationships -Linguistic creativity and wordplay i.e., rhymes, word games

Language Development during Infancy Birth - 2 years

-Interest in listening to the human voice. -Exchange vocalizations with adults. -Repetition of vowel sounds i.e., cooing, at 1-2 months. -Repetition of consonant-vowel i.e., babbling at 6 months. -Understand common words at 8 months. -Use single words at 12 months. -Use two-word combos at 18 months. -Rapid increase in vocabulary in 2nd year.

Language Development during Early Childhood 2-6 years

-Rapid advance in vocabulary/syntax -Incomplete understanding of simple words i.e., underextension, overextension, confusion -Overregulation, for example: foots, gooder -Overdependence on word order and context. -Superficial understanding of "good listening". -Difficulty pronouncing phonemes and blends, such as r, th, spl -Increasing ability to construct narratives.

Implications of Language Development during Early Childhood 2-6 years

-Read age-appropriate storybooks -Give tactful/corrective feedback -Work on simple listening -Ask follow-up questions to check for understanding -Ask children to construct narratives about recent events

Implications of Language Development during Middle Childhood 6-10 years

-Teach irregular word forms. -Use group discussion to explore the subject matter. -Have the child develop and present short stories. -Encourage jokes and rhymes. -Consult speech and language pathologist if articulation problems are evident.

Name the types of groups

1. Psychoeducational/guidance groups provide members with information relevant to their situation. 2. Counseling groups focus on conscious issues related to personal growth and development. 3. Group therapy, a term coined by Jacob Moreno who founded psychodrama, can focus on unconscious material, the past, and personality change. 4. T-Groups or task/training groups are often intended for business or personal motivation. 5. Structured groups are centered around certain issues such as shyness or how to prepare for a job interview. 6. Self-help groups/mutual help/support groups, such as AA, are not led by a professional. These groups have been dubbed as support groups and those that follow the AA model are often called 12-step groups.

Collaborative-Interdependent

A form of consultation where there is no "expert". Everyone who participates contributes equally to the problem-solving process. Usually used more with larger scale problems such as how to reduce the number of homeless youth. "Teaming"

Define "Questioning"

Asking open and close ended questions. Asking for clarification of meaning. Asking for info known only to the client. Asking to understand the client's experiences better.

Describe Erikson's 2nd Period of Life: Early Childhood

Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt 2-3 years -Important Events: Toilet Training -Outcome: Will -Toddlers learn to exercise will and do things for themselves, or they doubt their abilities.

Describe the Cognitive Behavioral Theory

Based on the idea that our thoughts determine our feelings and behaviors. Feelings and behaviors are not based on external things like people, situations, and events.

Theories of Intelligence: Spearman's General Intelligence

British psychologist Charles Spearman (1863-1945) described a concept he referred to as general intelligence or the g factor. After using a technique known as factor analysis to examine some mental aptitude tests, Spearman concluded that scores on these tests were remarkably similar. People who performed well on one cognitive test tended to perform well on other tests, while those who scored badly on one test tended to score badly on others. He concluded that intelligence is a general cognitive ability that can be measured and numerically expressed Children's performance on any given task depends on the general factor and specific factors the task involves.

What are the implications of Kohlbergs stages of moral development for school counselors?

Can use understanding to help children learn self control. Help parents with discipline issues. Understand boys and girls make moral judgements in different ways.

Collaborative-Dependent

Consultee relies on consultant for help while both parties contribute unique background and skills to resolve problems

Five middle school students and a teacher have been injured in a field trip bus accident midway through the school day. As a member of the school's crisis response team, the school counselor should take which of the following steps first? a. verifying that any information available about the event is accurate b. responding to questions from the local media as the school's spokesperson c. suggesting language for teachers to use when discussing the event with students d. contacting the parents/guardians of each student at school

Correct Response: A. In the situation described, all members of the school's crisis response team, including the school counselor, need to be sure that any information they have obtained about the event is verified before it is communicated to others in the school community.

A high-achieving eleventh-grade student plans to become a marine biologist. Recently, the student has begun to question her plan of attending a four-year residential college because of difficulties with a social anxiety disorder. In which of the following ways could the school counselor best advise the student in relation to achieving her desired career goals? a. by encouraging the student to reflect on and explore various postsecondary educational settings b. by facilitating a meeting between the student, the student's parent/guardian, and the biology teacher to reevaluate the student's career goals c. by recommending that the student consider taking a gap year after graduating from high school d. by inviting the student to join a friendship and peer support group to help the student develop stress-reduction strategies

Correct Response: A. In this situation, a school counselor should advocate for and support the student's postsecondary plans while acknowledging and addressing the student's concerns. To assist this student in her career and educational planning, the counselor could suggest that the student take some time to carefully consider her options for attending college, and perhaps consult with others who can help her make a decision that will lead to successful postsecondary experiences. For example, it may be appropriate for the student to consider taking accredited online college courses; attending a community college; or applying to four-year residential colleges that are close to home, have small student enrollments, provide weekly academic advising, or offer multiple support services

A student's cultural background is likely to have the greatest influence on which of the following aspects of the student's development? a. rate of cognitive development b. perceptions about self and others c. desire for acceptance by peers d. ability to learn through observation

Correct Response: B. Although culture has a pervasive influence on many aspects of personal development and learning, some traits are considered to be largely universal. Of the response options provided, only an individual's perceptions about self and others is generally acknowledged to be shaped in substantial ways by interactions characteristic of the specific culture within which one is raised.

Which of the following management strategies is likely to be most effective for a school counselor to use when teaching a group guidance lesson on interpersonal relationship skills in an elementary classroom? a. conducting a brief survey with students to guide the selection of future topics for the relationship skills unit b. beginning the lesson with an interactive discussion of planned activities, students' roles, and expectations for student behavior c. establishing individual goals with students and brainstorming ideas for role-playing scenarios involving friendship and social skills d. opening the lesson with a discussion of the purposes, advantages, and disadvantages of setting rules for appropriate conduct in group activities

Correct Response: B. At the beginning of group guidance lessons, it is important for school counselors to preview planned activities, clarify student roles and responsibilities, and communicate standards and expectations for behavior. Students should be informed about the purpose of the lesson and provided with a brief overview of lesson activities and ways in which students will be expected to participate. Behavioral expectations should be based on students' developmental levels and existing classroom rules, and should be clearly communicated to students. To keep students on task, counselors should review lesson goals and behavioral expectations at the beginning of group lessons, involve students in hands-on lesson activities, and enforce agreed-upon ground rules.

Which of the following leadership activities is most professionally appropriate for a school counselor to perform? a. carrying out disciplinary actions and assigning discipline consequences b. supervising and coordinating cognitive, aptitude, and achievement testing programs c. collaborating with school administrators to identify and resolve student issues, needs, and problems d. coordinating schoolwide individual education plans, student evaluation teams, and school attendance review boards

Correct Response: C. According to the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), helping a school administrator identify and resolve student issues, needs, and problems is an appropriate role for a school counselor. Counselors, who ideally should spend most of their time in direct service to students, often assume a leadership role in collecting and analyzing data and information in relation to student issues and needs. After working with administrators to identify student needs and problems, school counselors can focus on addressing them through schoolwide prevention efforts, group guidance strategies, individual student planning, and responsive services.

In a school district's guidance and counseling program, a career guidance initiative is based on the premise that students' career interests are regulated by self-efficacy (the beliefs students have about their ability to be successful), as well as by outcome expectations that are formed by their own experiences and vicarious learning (observing and imitating the behaviors of others). Emphases include having students use purposeful goal setting to establish a rigorous academic foundation and engage in meaningful work-based learning experiences and assisting students in career and educational planning and decision making. Which of the following theories of learning is best exemplified by this approach? a. zone of proximal development b. information processing c. social cognitive d. transformative learning

Correct Response: C. Albert Bandura's social cognitive theory emphasizes cognitive, vicarious, self-regulatory, self-reflective, and proactive processes that allow individuals to learn, mature, adapt, and change. The approach described in the item aligns with the social cognitive career theory (SCCT), which evolved from social cognitive theory. SCCT explores ways in which students' career and academic interests mature, how career choices are developed, and how these choices are turned into actions through a focus on three central components of the theory: self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and goals.

Which of the following collaborative roles does a school counselor typically fulfill in regard to the education of a student who has been diagnosed with an emotional disturbance? a. providing the student's parents/guardians with information about the school curriculum b. reporting to the multidisciplinary team on the student's academic progress c. consulting with the student's outside therapist on the student's progress in school d. identifying and accessing alternative instructional materials for the student

Correct Response: C. Students who are diagnosed with an emotional disturbance often receive services from professional therapists outside the school system. For such students, a school counselor would be expected to periodically share with the outside provider information and insight regarding relevant aspects of the student's school performance.

A school counselor is concerned there may be a disparity in college enrollment rates at the high school based on students' race and ethnicity. To investigate this potential disparity, the counselor should begin by: a. using pre- and post-surveys to gather data on students' perceptions of college preparation programs. b. surveying families and students of color regarding their views on the value of a college education. c. researching interventions that have proven effective in addressing this type of opportunity gap. d. collecting and disaggregating relevant student data according to demographic variables.

Correct Response: D. Disaggregating data involves separating data by variables such as gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and primary language to determine if there are any groups of students who may not be learning or achieving academic and career goals as effectively as others. These data often bring to light issues of equity, opportunity, and access, and help focus guidance and counseling efforts on the needs of specific groups of students. By collecting and disaggregating data relevant to college enrollment rates according to students' race and ethnicity, school counselors can identify potential achievement and access gaps, as well as the students affected by these gaps. Counselors can then design interventions to help lessen and remove barriers that may be hindering the academic success of these students or their ability to access resources needed for college enrollment.

According to Erik Erikson's theory of human development, which of the following endeavors is the primary psychosocial task for children between the ages of 6 and 12? a. establishing a sense of identity b. trusting that adults will meet their basic needs c. controlling their own behavior d. gaining a sense of competence and accomplishment

Correct Response: D. Erik Erikson viewed psychosocial development as a sequence of stages, each characterized by specific goals, concerns, and accomplishments. According to Erikson, for children between the ages of 6 and 12, the major psychosocial task is to resolve the conflict between industry versus inferiority. Children do this by becoming competent in a variety of tasks through their efforts and persistence.

A school counselor overhears another counselor discussing confidential information about a student in the presence of teachers who have no relationship with the student. According to the ethical standards of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), which of the following actions should the school counselor take first? a. submitting a formal complaint about the colleague's behavior to the local school board b. informing the principal about the colleague's behavior and notifying the colleague of this action c. reporting the colleague's behavior to the state school counselor association d. approaching the colleague privately to discuss the behavior and seek resolution

Correct Response: D. Protecting student confidentiality should be a top priority of all school counselors. The ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors specify that in the type of situation described, the counselor's first response should be to "directly approach the colleague whose behavior is in question to discuss the complaint and seek resolution."

What are the implications of Piaget's levels of development for school counselors?

Counselors can adjust their approach and select interventions to match the child's level of cognitive functioning.

What are considered to be the core conditions of effective counseling?

Empathy Unconditional positive regard Congruence

Define "Attending"

Focused listening. Perceiving verbal and nonverbal messages. Cognitive and affective parts of client's experience.

Name and describe Piaget's fourth level of development

Formal Operational Stage 12 and Up -At this stage, the adolescent or young adult begins to think abstractly and reason about hypothetical problems -Abstract thought emerges -Teens begin to think more about moral, philosophical, ethical, social, and political issues that require theoretical and abstract reasoning -Begin to use deductive logic, or reasoning from a general principle to specific information

Define "Empathy"

Identify with another's feelings. Emotionally put yourself in the place of another. Ability to empathize is directly dependent on your ability to feel your own feelings and identify them.

Describe Erikson's 5th Period of Life: Adolescence

Identity vs Role Confusion 12-18 years -Important Events: Social Relationships -Outcomes: Fidelity -Teenagers work at refining a sense of self by testing roles and then integrating them to form a single identity, or they become confused about who they are.

Describe Erikson's 4th Period of Life: School Age

Industry vs Inferiority 6-11 years -Important Events: School -Outcomes: Confidence/Competency -Children learn the pleasure of applying themselves to tasks, or they feel inferior.

Describe Erikson's 3rd Period of Life: Preschool

Initiative vs Guilt 3-5 years -Important Events: Exploration -Outcome: Purpose -Preschoolers learn to initiate tasks and carry out plans, or they feel guilty about efforts to be independent.

Theories of Intelligence: Distributed Intelligence

Intelligent behaviors depend on the following support mechanisms: -physical -social -cultural Children distribute thinking in 3 ways. -Use physical objects to manipulate large amounts of information: physical. -Work with others to explore ideas and solve problems: social -Represent and think about situations they encounter using various symbolic tolls: cultural.

How does empathy differ from interpretation?

Interpretations are generated within the counselor, so they are new to the client. Empathy responses reflect something the client is experiencing and would recognize.

Describe Erikson's 6th Period of Life: Young Adulthood

Intimacy vs Isolation 19 - 40 years -Important Events: Relationships -Outcomes: Love -Young adults work to form close relationships and to gain the capacity for intimate love, or they feel socially isolated.

Describe Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development

Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development suggests that children move through four different stages of mental development. His theory focuses not only on understanding how children acquire knowledge but also on understanding the nature of intelligence. Piaget's stages are: -Sensorimotor stage: birth to 2 years -Preoperational stage: ages 2 to 7 -Concrete operational stage: ages 7 to 11 -Formal operational stage: ages 12 and up Piaget believed that children take an active role in the learning process, acting much like little scientists as they perform experiments, make observations, and learn about the world. As kids interact with the world around them, they continually add new knowledge, build upon existing knowledge, and adapt previously held ideas to accommodate new information.

Name the levels and stages of Kohlbergs Moral Development

Level 1: Preconventional Morality -Stage 1: Obedience and Punishment -Stage 2: Individualism and Exchange Level 2: Conventional Morality -Stage 3: Interpersonal Relationships -Stage 4: Maintaining Social Order Level 3 Postconventional Morality -Stage 5: Social Contract and Individual Rights -Stage 6: Universal Principles

Define "Interpreting"

Offering clients new and facilitative ways to understand their experience. Basing interpretation on counselor's perceptions of the client's experience.

Theories of Intelligence: Gardner's Multiple Intelligences

One of the more recent ideas to emerge is Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences. Gardner proposed that the traditional idea of intelligence, based on IQ testing, did not fully and accurately depict a person's abilities. His theory proposed eight different intelligences based on skills and abilities that are valued in different cultures: -Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence: The ability to control your body movements and to handle objects skillfully -Interpersonal intelligence: The capacity to detect and respond appropriately to the moods, motivations, and desires of others -Intrapersonal intelligence: The capacity to be self-aware and in tune with inner feelings, values, beliefs, and thinking processes -Logical-mathematical intelligence: The ability to think conceptually and abstractly, and the capacity to discern logically or numerical patterns -Musical intelligence: The ability to produce and appreciate rhythm, pitch, and timbre -Naturalistic intelligence: The ability to recognize and categorize animals, plants, and other objects in nature -Verbal-linguistic intelligence: Well-developed verbal skills and sensitivity to the sounds, meanings, and rhythms of words -Visual-spatial intelligence: The capacity to think in images and pictures, to visualize accurately and abstractly Gardner's perspective offers the possibility that the majority of children are intelligent in one way or another.

Name and describe Piaget's second level of development

Preoperational Stage 2 to 7 Years -Children begin to think symbolically and learn to use words and pictures to represent objects. -Children at this stage tend to be egocentric and struggle to see things from the perspective of others. -While they are getting better with language and thinking, they still tend to think about things in very concrete terms.

Theories of Intelligence: Sternberg's Triarchic Theory

Psychologist Robert Sternberg defined intelligence as "mental activity directed toward purposive adaptation to, selection, and shaping of real-world environments relevant to one's life." While he agreed with Gardner that intelligence is much broader than a single, general ability, he suggested that some of Gardner's types of intelligence are better viewed as individual talents. Sternberg proposed what he referred to as "successful intelligence," which involves three different factors: -Analytical intelligence: Your ability to evaluate information and solve problems -Creative intelligence: Your ability to come up with new ideas -Practical intelligence: Your ability to adapt to a changing environment

Name and describe Piaget's first level of development.

Sensorimotor Stage Birth to 2 Years -The infant knows the world through their movements and sensations -Children learn about the world through basic actions such as sucking, grasping, looking, and listening -Infants learn that things continue to exist even though they cannot be seen i.e., object permanence -They are separate beings from the people and objects around them -They realize that their actions can cause things to happen in the world around them

Theories of Intelligence: Cattell-Horn-Carroll's Theory of Cognitive Abilities

The Cattell-Horn theory of fluid and crystallized intelligence suggests that intelligence is composed of different abilities that interact and work together to produce overall individual intelligence. Fluid intelligence involves being able to think and reason abstractly and solve problems. This ability is considered independent of learning, experience, and education. Crystallized intelligence is based upon facts and rooted in experiences. As we age and accumulate new knowledge and understanding, crystallized intelligence becomes stronger. Carroll's three-stratum theory presented three levels of cognition: narrow abilities: stratum I, broad abilities: stratum II, and general abilities: stratum III.

Which of the following is a responsibility of a Guidance Advisory Committee (GAC)? a. Reviewing counseling program data and activity outcomes to make recommendations to the counselor b. Evaluating the counselor's professional activities c. Reporting recommendations about the counseling plans to administrators d. Sharing the work of the committee with the local media

The best answer is (A). A Guidance Advisory Committee (GAC) is commonly charged with the task of reviewing program data and making recommendations based on their evaluations. GACs typically do not evaluate counselors' professional activities, report directly to administrators, or disclose counseling work to the media.

A school counseling program is to be established in a new public school and has just opened in an expanding school district. The first step in developing the program is to a. Survey the guidance and counseling needs of the student body b. Devise behavioral objectives for classroom management c. Decide on minimum competency levels for students' progression to higher grade levels d. Gather appropriate counseling in guidance material such as, tests and occupational information

The best answer is (A). Survey approaches used to determine counseling needs in the school are valuable for the completeness of the data collected and the coverage provided. Surveys are probably the most frequently used appraisal method in the school. Survey approaches tend to emphasize the availability of activities, staff, facilities, and programs.

A local school district decides to implement an anti-bullying program. At the beginning of the school year, the district holds an assembly to talk about the new policies in place to prevent bullying from occurring on campus. The assembly represents which of the following types of intervention? a. Primary b. Secondary c. Tertiary d. Behavioral

The best answer is (A). This is a primary intervention because it occurs at the beginning of the school year and is designed to stop a problem before it even begins. Secondary and tertiary prevention occurs after a problem has already developed.

Ms. Reger has ten students from the same class referred to her anger-management group. She decides to use the opportunity to evaluate the effects of her favorite small-group anger-management program. She plans to use all ten students in her experiment. Given the information provided, her sampling method is best described as a. cluster b. convenience c. quota d. simple random

The best answer is (B). Convenience sampling is when a sample is chosen based on availability or convenience. The students in this study were already referred, so they were an easy group to use.

Which of the following is NOT considered an example of a responsive service? a. Student referrals b. Classroom guidance c. Remediation planning d. Crisis counseling

The best answer is (B). Of the options presented, only (B) represents an activity that is proactive and focused on prevention. The other activities are in response to an event and are thus reactive and focused on intervention or remediation.

When working with students who have disabilities, a professional school counselor should communicate with outside doctors and therapists to enhance school-based services. By doing so, the counselor is taking on the role of a. investigator b. collaborator c. enabler d. coordinator

The best answer is (B). Other professionals, school-based or not, can provide valuable tools and even key phrases that can help to develop treatment goals and plans to help students with disabilities succeed socially and emotionally.

The best way for a counselor to address the problem of a student who is monopolizing group counseling time is to a. tell the student that group participation will be terminated if the behavior does not change b. have the group examine the student's behavior in a productive and nonthreatening manner c. ask the student politely to allow the other group members to speak more frequently d. discuss the student's monopolizing behavior with the student outside of group time

The best answer is (B). The best way for the student and his or her peers to learn from the experience of the inappropriate interaction is for them to examine the behavior and its implications in a nonthreatening manner. The other choices either do not take advantage of the group setting to help all students involved or are offensive and nonproductive to the treatment of the student who is monopolizing group time.

Which of the following is the best example of a mentoring program? a. A professional school counselor and a special education teacher cooperate in developing a plan to integrate students with disabilities into extracurricular activities. b. A professional school counselor arranges a large-group assembly in which community members share their work experiences with students. c. Students receive tutoring from and participate in recreational activities with adults from the community during free periods or after school. d. Students spend part of the day in a resource room getting individualized attention from a special education teacher.

The best answer is (C). Mentor programs commonly include tutoring and recreational activities provided by adults in the community. The other choices are examples of consultation, collaboration, and teaching.

A counselor encounters inappropriate behavior by a student group member. The counselor should do which of the following to discourage the behavior? a. Nod or smile at the student b. Address the student warmly c. Shift posture to lean toward the student d. Avoid responding or close the eyes

The best answer is (D). Avoiding a response or closing the eyes is a good way to extinguish or discourage inappropriate behavior in a group. The other options all positively reinforce the inappropriate behavior, making it more likely to occur.

All of the following are important purposes of evaluation in a school counseling program EXCEPT a. generating valid measures of how well the school counselor meets program goals and objectives b. helping other stakeholders clearly understand the unique role of the school counselor in the school c. gathering data for research that will advance the school counseling profession d. planning and developing accountability procedures even though the program cannot be changed at this time

The best answer is (D). Evaluation in a school counseling program serves the purposes of generating valid measures of how a program meets goals and objectives, helping others understand the role of the counselor, and gathering data for research purposes. It is not used to plan and develop procedures when the program is unable to change.

In consulting with a teacher about disciplinary problems in the teacher's classroom; a high school counselor demonstrates keen interest in the teacher's various concerns by listening and empathizing with her. By doing this the counselor is assuming the role of a. a supervisor b. an evaluator c. a collaborator d. a helper

The best answer is (D). In the school, counselors are those specialists who are expected to assist in the management of social-emotional dimensions of problem situations. They help clients manage problems. Good helpers listen intelligently to clients and respond within the client's frame of reference.

Which of the following components is the LEAST important in a comprehensive professional school counseling program? a. Student outcomes and competencies b. Direct delivery of counseling on a demand basis c. Placement, follow-up, and follow-through activities d. Accurate counts of the frequency of student-initiated contact with the school's counselors

The best answer is (D). Major features of comprehensive professional school counseling programs include a focus on student outcomes or competencies. Student achievement of these outcomes is the responsibility of the program. Guidance activities designed to assist students in achieving these competencies are organized accordingly. In addition, comprehensive programs provide for placement, follow-up, and follow-through activities to assist students in their next steps. Direct delivery of counseling and other guidance activities on a demand basis is included because there may be a need for direct immediate services to students while they are still in the school building.

A student and her family lost all their possessions in a recent tornado. The student reports difficulty sleeping, recurrent nightmares, and loss of appetite. The student is most likely suffering from a. Schizophrenia b. Obsessive-compulsive disorder c. Oppositional defiant disorder d. Posttraumatic stress disorder

The best answer is (D). The student was exposed to a traumatic event and exhibits sleep disturbance, distressing dreams, and diminished interest in a significant activity (eating). These are all symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder but not of the other disorders listed.

All of the following are fundamental guidelines included in the Individuals with Disabilities Education. Improvement Act (IDEA 2004) EXCEPT: a. Children with disabilities must be given the opportunity to receive a free, appropriate education b. Assessments must include the use of multiple evaluative procedures c. Parental consent is required before any assessment activities can take place d. Institutions are financially responsible for all testing that occurs

The best answer is (D). Under IDEA, academic institutions are financially responsible only for testing that they request. Parent requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and typically the financing is the parents' responsibility.

When selecting an appropriate assessment, a counselor will most need key information about which of the following? a. The purpose of the assessment b. The cost of the assessment c. The length of time needed to administer the assessment d. The type of scaling used to report the results

The best answer is A. The most important criterion for selecting an appropriate assessment tool is the purpose of the assessment. The professional school counselor needs to determine what information is needed from the assessment and how that information will be used. The cost of the administration, the length of time required, and the type of scaling used in reporting are issues that may be considered, but the decision should not be based on any of these without full consideration of the purpose.

Which of the following is a management activity? a. Delivering guidance programs b. Individual planning c. Offering responsive services d. Providing system support

The best answer is D. According to the American School Counselor Association's ASCA National Model, providing system support is an administration and management activity, whereas delivering guidance programs, individual planning, and offering responsive services are not.

According to Carl Rogers, a congruent counselor is one a. whose actions are not at odds with his or her feelings and thoughts b. whose expression reflects what the client is presenting c. whose choice of techniques and interventions remains constant throughout the counseling relationship d. who gets a client to do what the counselor thinks he or she should be doing

The correct answer is (A). Carl Rogers defined "congruence" as an ability to be authentic and genuine when working with a client. When a counselor's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are not at odds with each other, the counselor is better able to be with the client more fully, so (A) is the correct answer.

Behavioral consultation is an example of which of the following consultation models? a. Triadic-dependent b. Triadic-independent c. Collaborative-dependent d. Collaborative-interdependent

The correct answer is (A). In the behavioral consultation approach, the school counselor actively obtains and evaluates student data, which is used to advise other staff members (such as teachers) how best to help the student. This approach is a triadic consultation (among counselor, teacher, and student), and it is considered dependent because the consultee (teacher) relies on the school counselor to collect and interpret the behavioral data.

Which of the following is a disadvantage of asking clients open-ended questions during counseling? a. Clients will not be able to express their true feelings b. The therapeutic process may get off track if a client is verbose c. Clients will not feel comfortable during therapy d. Counselors will not be able to gather information on several issues

The correct answer is (B). An open-ended question allows the client to choose how to respond. This freedom may be positive if it allows the client to move on to topics that are a concern, but it may also allow the client to move away from the present focus of therapy, so (B) is the correct response.

Which of the following is NOT a distinguishing feature of a collaborative style of interaction? a. It is voluntary b. It involves one party as an expert and the other party as a learner c. It includes sharing resources d. It is based on mutual goals

The correct answer is (B). Collaborative models are mutual, shared, and reciprocal. (A), (C), and (D) all reflect those elements, while (B) does not, so (B) is the correct answer.

Ashley, a high school sophomore, tells the school counselor that she is depressed about her recent breakup with her boyfriend. During the conversation, Ashley says she wishes she "could go to sleep and never wake up." In this situation, the counselor should a. immediately call the local mental health facility for a psychiatric evaluation b. assess whether Ashley is suicidal and intervene if she is c. recognize that Ashley's statement is only a cry for help and should not be taken seriously d. see if there is any chance of reconciliation for Ashley and her boyfriend

The correct answer is (B). The student's comment clearly indicates some suicidal ideation, but she needs to be assessed further to determine the level of suicide risk and the appropriate intervention. (A) is premature without a suicide risk assessment, and (C) and (D) inappropriately ignore the risk of suicide entirely.

An elementary teacher shares a concern about one of the students in her class. She states that the student, normally a bright and active participant in class, has become more and more withdrawn over the past few weeks. After meeting with the student, the counselor suspects the student is being sexually abused by her mother's new boyfriend. In this situation, a school counselor's first responsibility is to contact a. the student's mother b. the school principal c. a local counseling center to make a referral d. the state child protective services

The correct answer is (D). Sexual abuse of a minor is by law a reportable event, so the first response is to notify the state child protective services, which will take further appropriate action.

A high school counselor meets with a student who is having difficulty deciding what college to attend in the fall. The counselor discloses his own personal reflections on decisions he made relating to college choice and describes regrets. The counselor's comments are a. appropriate because they help the student understand that he is not alone in his dilemma about choosing a college b. appropriate because they allow the student to feel close to his high school counselor c. inappropriate because the counselor does not understand contemporary issues related to choosing a college d. inappropriate because they focus more on the counselor's experience than on the student's current dilemma

The correct answer is (D). Unless the counselor can identify a direct therapeutic connection between his own experiences and the client's current situation, self-disclosure focuses the session on the counselor and is, therefore, not appropriate, so (D) is the correct answer.

Whose role is it to encourage group development of expression, exploration, and self disclosure, and to discourage dynamics that hinder expression and to model healthy, appropriate interpersonal communication?

The facilitator.

Describe the first of Erikson's 8 periods of life: Infancy

Trust vs Mistrust Birth - 18 months -Important Events: Feeding -Outcome: Hope -If needs are dependably met, infants develop a sense of basic trust.

Define useful and nonuseful counselor responses.

Useful: facilitate clients moving to deeper level of exploration, understanding, and feeling about their experience. Nonuseful: detract or distract from client's experience, remaining superficial, and limiting or discouraging exploration, understanding, and feelings about their experiences.

Define "Confronting"

Verbally holding apparently discrepant or incongruent aspects of the client's message and behaviors "in front of" the client for them to see. Helping clients clarify, resolve, or accept the discrepancy.

If the consultee is unable or unwilling to implement the intervention strategies recommended or proposed by the school counselor, the school counselor might need to implement the intervention directly. This mode of consultation is referred to as: a. Provision b. Prescription c. Interdisciplinary d. Systemic

a. Provision

A crisis is defined as: a. an event that occurs without warning which is beyond a person's ability to cope b. an occurrence that is unexpected and creates a physiological response c. a perceived threat in which there is no warning d. an incident in which support individuals are not available

a. an event that occurs without warning which is beyond a person's ability to cope

If a student is in crisis, providing counseling to this individual would fall into which component of the ASCA national model? a. delivery b. management c. accountability d. foundation

a. delivery

All of the following are true about school counseling curriculum except: a. delivery of the curriculum is an indirect student service b. the curriculum address to state school counseling grade level expectations c. the purpose is to facilitate students optimal growth and development into three domains d. curriculum should be cross referenced the state and national standards

a. delivery of the curriculum is an indirect student service

One classroom pedagogical approach School counselors can use to intentionally engage students in reflecting and making meaning of their experiences is: a. experiential learning b. critical analysis c. problem based learning d. content mastery

a. experiential learning

A significant event that created funding for the training of school counselors to select students gifted in the math and science field is known as the: a. national defense education act b. George-Barden act c. No child left behind d. School to work opportunities act

a. national defense education act

The American school counselor association advocates the use of the title: a. professional school counselor b. professional vocational counselor c. professional guidance counselor d. professional guidance worker

a. professional school counselor

Disaggregating student data means two: a. analyze the school report card as a whole b. breakdown information and data by subgroups c. separate students into manageable counseling groups d. identify teachers to assist in data collection

b. breakdown information and data by subgroups

The school counselor in a leadership role involves: a. setting guidelines for a pupil personnel model b. portraying how the school counselor is able to contribute to the educational mission c. understanding and following through on the school administrator's decisions d. determining the master schedule

b. portraying how the school counselor is able to contribute to the educational mission

The first "guidance workers" in schools were primarily: a. administrators who provided guidance b. teachers who assumed guidance duties c. parents who volunteered to assist with student needs d. ministers and religious lay personnel

b. teachers who assumed guidance duties

Urie Brofenbrenner developed his theoretical approach to human development to explain: a. the differences in cognition due to biological maturation b. the interactional factors that influence human growth c. developmental characteristics of biological, sociological, psychological factors d. the tasks that are needed to be accomplished at each stage of life

b. the interactional factors that influence human growth

Which mode of consultation might a school counselor implement if he or she overheard a teacher complaining about a classroom situation and the counselor approached the teacher to offer assistance? a. Prescriptive b. Collaboration c. Initiation d. Mediation

c. Initiation

Which career theory emphasizes the effect of learning on shaping career behaviors and the association of self-confidence with the pursuance of interests? a. Holland's Typology Career Theory b. Theory of Circumscription, Compromise, and Self-Creation c. Lent, Brown, and Hackett's Social Cognitive Career Theory d. Super's Life Span, Life Space Approach to Careers

c. Lent, Brown, and Hackett's Social Cognitive Career Theory

What is the name of the legislation that provides services to homeless youth up to adulthood? a. Title IX of the Education Amendments Act b. Taft-Roosevelt Act c. McKinney-Vento Act d. Collaborative for Social, Emotional, and Education Act

c. McKinney-Vento Act

School counselors focus on career ____________________ for elementary aged students. a. exploration b. planning c. awareness d. congruency

c. awareness

Which of the four components within the ASCA national model focuses on the question, "what knowledge, attitudes, and skills will students learn from participation in school counseling programs?" a. Management b. delivery c. foundation d. accountability

c. foundation

As leaders of a comprehensive, developmental school counseling program, school counselors are able to: a. work with students who are disruptive to the school environment b. create a master schedule that meets the needs of all students c. influence administrators to change policies and negatively affect student achievement d. develop classroom assessments

c. influence administrators to change policies and negatively affect student achievement

Individual student planning includes: a. evaluating curricular choices b. providing responsive services for parental concerns c. leading a counseling lesson d. assisting with goalsetting

d. assisting with goalsetting

Which of the following was NOT mentioned in your text as a leadership attribute associated with successful school counseling programs? a. interpersonal influence b. systemic collaboration c. professional efficacy d. education and experience

d. education and experience

Which of the following is NOT a common characteristic of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder? a. sensitivity to changes in schedule b. communication difficulties c. difficulty in making friends d. inability to participate in games

d. inability to participate in games