(Part 2) Chapter 5: Theories of Counseling and the Helping Relationship
The counselor's social power is related to a. age. b. expertise, attractiveness, and trustworthiness. c. sex and age. d. degree of directiveness.
B.) Expertise, attractiveness, and trustworthiness Some exams will call social power "social infl uence." My memory technique here is what I call the "EAT" formula; the "E" is for expertness, the "A" for attractiveness, and the "T" for trustworthiness. The three factors fi rst made an impact on the counseling profession in 1968 when Stanley Strong wrote a landmark article which suggested that counselors perceived as expert, attractive, and trustworthy would not be discredited by the client. Expertness here refers to the manner in which the client perceives the counselor rather than the way the counselor perceives himself or herself. A counselor's self-perception is technically known as "competence." E. Fuller Torrey, author of The Death of Psychiatry, suggested that a wall full of degrees and an impressive offi ce can help to insure that the counselor will be perceived as an expert. Thus, a counselor who is seen as an expert may not actually be competent. Attractiveness implies that positive feelings and thoughts regarding the counselor are helpful. One hypothesis states that if the client and counselor have had similar experiences, the client will view the counselor as attractive. Clients who say, "I like my counselor," are demonstrating that the counselor has been perceived as attractive. The chemical dependency model (CD), in which a recovering addict helps a practicing addict, is based on this principle. In regard to trust, it is felt that a violation of confi dentiality will nearly always eliminate this factor
Eric Berne is to TA as Fritz Perls is to a. the empty chair technique. b. Gestalt therapy. c. the underdog. d. the top dog.
B.) Gesalt Therapy Berne is the Father of TA, while Frederick S. Perls created Gestalt therapy. In some books he is called Fritz Perls or "Fritz." All the other concepts apply to Gestalt therapy. Perls saw the "top dog" as the critical parent portion of the personality which is very authoritarian and quick to use "shoulds" and "oughts." The "underdog" was seen as weak, powerless, passive, and full of excuses. These splits in the personality would wage civil war within the individual. In Gestalt therapy, the empty chair technique could be employed so the individual could work on these opposing feelings. That is to say, the person could be the top dog in one chair and the underdog in the other.
Gestalt therapists sometimes utilize the exaggeration experiment which most closely resembles a. successive approximation. b. paradox as practiced by Frankl, Haley, or Erickson. c. free association. d. paraphrasing with emotional reflection.
B.) Paradox as practiced by Frankl, Haley or Erickson As opposed to the other three therapists (in choice "b"), Perls emphasized the exaggeration in regard to present moment verbal and nonverbal behavior in the here and now. A gestalt therapist might say, "What is your left hand doing?" (In gestalt, "what" questions are seen as more valuable than "why" questions.) After the client responds, the therapist might add, "Can you exaggerate that movement in your left hand?" Choice "a" is an operant behavior modifi cation term which suggests that a behavior is gradually accomplished by reinforcing "successive steps" until the target behavior is reached. This technique also is known as "shaping" or "shaping using successive approximations."
A neophyte counselor is afraid he will say the wrong thing. He thus keeps repeating the client's statements verbatim when he responds. This is known as a. desirable attending behavior. b. parroting and is not recommended. c. level 3 on the empathy scale. d . paradoxical intention.
B.) Parroting and is not recommended In the movie Final Analysis Richard Gere takes a young woman to dinner and explains how easy it is to be a therapist. You simply listen to the client, he basically explains to his dinner companion, and then you repeat their fi nal words. Sorry, Rich, but the tinsel town version could be a tad oversimplifi ed. The client doesn't really need to pay big bucks for this type of help; parroting can be accomplished simply by talking into a digital recorder. If you parrot a client, the client's response may be something like, "Yes, I just said that!" Parroting can cause the client to feel angry and uneasy. In the counseling profession, the term attending (choice "a") refers to behaviors on the part of the counselor which indicate that he or she is truly engaged in active listening skills. Examples would be good eye contact or the old standby "umhum." Choice "c" is another must-know concept for nearly any major counseling test. Robert R. Carkhuff suggests a "scale for measurement" in regard to "empathic understanding in interpersonal processes." In a nutshell it reads like this: Level 1— Not attending or detracting signifi cantly from the client's verbal and behavioral expressions. Level 2—Subtracts noticeable af fect from the communication. Level 3—Feelings expressed by the client are basically interchangeable with the client's meaning and affect. Level 4—Counselor adds noticeably to the client s affect. Level 5—Counselor adds signifi cantly to the client's feeling, meaning even in the client's deepest moments. If all of this sounds like a foreign language because you've never heard it before, you can now remove the cotton you placed in your ears during your graduate days, or better still, pick up a copy of Carkhuff s 1969 book Helping and Hum
Internal verbalizations are to REBT as _______ are to Glasser's Choice Theory. a. contracting b. pictures in your mind c. lack of punishment d. a therapeutic plan
B.) Pictures in your mind A matter of semantics? Perhaps. Glasser insists that behavior is internally motivated and we choose our actions.
Viktor Frankl is to logotherapy as William Glasser is to a. rational therapy. b. reality therapy. c. rational-emotive imagery. d. RBT
B.) Reality therapy Frankl is the father of logotherapy; Glasser is the Father of reality therapy. Rational imagery, choice "c," is a technique used by rational-emotive behavior therapists in which the client is to imagine that he or she is in a situation which has traditionally caused emotional disturbance. The client then imagines changing the feelings via rational, logical, scientifi c thought. Choice "d" refers to rational behavior therapy (some exams call it rational self-counseling), created by psychiatrist Maxie C. Maultsby, Jr., who studied with Albert Ellis. This approach relies on REBT; however, the client performs a written self-analysis. Maultsby claims the technique is well-suited to problems of substance abuse, and it is highly recommended as a method of multicultural counseling.
The relationship a client has with a gestalt therapist would most likely progress _______ than the relationship a client would have with a Rogerian counselor. a. faster. b. slower. c. at the same pace. d. a and b.
B.) Slower Because gestalt therapists are generally rather confrontational, theorists assume that the client/counselor relationship will progress at a slower rate. If you marked choice "d" I'd like to suggest that you read the answers more carefully. Answer "d," is a synthesis of choice "a" and "b," and choices "a" and "b" are contradictory.
Glasser felt the responsible person will have a _______ identity. a. failure b. success c. diffused d. crisis-oriented
B.) Success The individual who possesses a success identity feels worthy and signifi cant to others. Identity is a person's most important psychological need. A person who is irresponsible, and thus frustrated in an attempt to feel loved and worthwhile, will develop a failure identity and a faulty perception of reality. The client is encouraged to assume responsibility for his or her own happiness (i.e., by learning to fulfi ll personal needs without depriving others of their need fulfi llment)
Frankl's experience in Nazi concentration camps taught him a. the value of S-R psychological paradigms. b. that you can't control the environment, but you can control your response. c. that blaming others can be truly therapeutic. d. how to blame the environment for our difficulties.
B.) That you cant control the enviroment, but you can control your response. From 1942 to 1945 Frankl was a prisoner in German concentration camps, including Auschwitz and Dachau. Several of his relatives died in the camps. Frankl felt, nonetheless, that suffering would be transformed into achievement and creativity
Existentialists focus primarily on a. the teenage years. b. the client's perception in the here-and-now c. childhood traumas. d. uplifting childhood memories.
B.) The clients perceotion in the here-and -now The focus is on what the person can ultimately become. The present and even the future are emphasized. The key to change is seen as self-determination.
A neophyte counselor discovers that her clients invariably give yes and no answers to her questions. The problem is most likely that a. the counselor is sympathetic rather than empathetic. b. the counselor is utilizing too many closed-ended questions. c. the counselor's timing is poor in terms of interpretation. d. she is summarizing too early in the counseling process.
B.) The counselor is utilizing too many close-ended questions A closed-ended question can be answered with "yes" or "no." If a counselor asks, "Is your depression lifting?" the client can easily respond with a "yes" or a "no." Counselors prefer open-ended questions, which produce more information. If the aforementioned counselor wanted to rephrase the question in an openended manner, she could ask, "Can you tell me about the things in your life you fi nd so depressing?" (b) 313. A client remarks that he was just d
Most experts would agree that the peak period of competition between the various schools of counseling and therapy (e.g., gestalt, behavioristic, reality therapy, etc.) was during a. the late 1970s. b. the late 1960s. c. the 1980s. d. the mid-1950s.
B.) The late 1960s. In the 1950s, counseling—not testing—became the key guidance function. Moreover, the 1950s marked a golden age for developmental psychology. In the late 1960s the fi eld was literally inundated with competing psychotherapies. In the 1970s biofeedback, behavior modifi cation, and crisis hotlines fl ourished. And in the 1980s professionalism (e.g., licensing and improvement in professional organizations) was evident.
A person-centered therapist would a. treat neurotics differently from psychotics. b. treat all diagnostic categories of the DSM using the same principles. c. use more closed-ended questions with adjustment reactions. d. use contracting with clients who are not making progress.
B.) Treats all diagnostic catergories of the DSM using the same principles The person-centered model puts little stock in the formal process of diagnosis and psychological assessment. People are people, and when they are labeled they are debased to "patients." Moreover, traditionally, strict adherents to this model do not ask a large number of questions (choice "c"). (Some years ago it was considered a cardinal sin if a graduate student serving a counseling practicum asked a client a question while engaging in the practice of person-centered counseling. Today, the practice of asking clients questions is more common; nevertheless, openended questions are highly recommended whenever possible.) Choice "d," contracting, is more popular with behavioristic counselors and "directive" methods rather than "nondirective" strategies
Counseling generally occurs in a clinical setting while consultation generally occurs in a _______ setting. a. group b. work/organizational c. continuing care d. residential
B.) Work/organizational Here again, the other answer choices are not necessarily incorrect; it is just that this choice "b" is the best answer. Counselors generally focus on a person or a group, while consultants focus more on issues. Another key factor is that in consultation work, empathy—although important—is overshadowed by genuineness and respect.
Allen E. Ivey has postulated three types of empathy— a. positive, negative regard, and cognitive. b. reflective, micro-empathy, and forced choice. c. basic, subtractive, and additive. d. micro-empathy, basic, and level 8 empathy.
C.) Basic, subtractive, and additive In basic empathy the counselor's response is on the same level as the client's. In the case of subtractive empathy, the counselor s behavior does not completely convey an understanding of what has been communicated. Additive empathy is most desirable since it adds to the client's understanding and awareness
A counselor has an obese client imagine that he is terribly sick after eating a high-caloric, high-fat meal. The client then imagines a pleasant scene in which his eating is desirable. This technique is called a. behavioral rehearsal. b. in vivo sensitization. c. covert sensitization. d. in vivo desensitization
C.) Convert sensitization Even if you did not know what any of the choices meant you could still get the question correct! Yes really! You could simply remember that the only answer that mentions the imagination is the one with the word covert. This would constitute an educated guess. Keep in mind when answering behavior therapy questions that the word desensitization means to make one less sensitive while the word sensitization implies that one is made more sensitive to a stimulus. A counselor who tells an alcoholic to imagine that a drink nauseates him would be relying on "covert sensitization." The client is then instructed to imagine a relief scene such as an enjoyable feeling when the alcohol is removed and replaced with a glass of water. Giving a client Antabuse (mentioned in earlier questions) could be used for "in vivo sensitization.
The human relations core for effective counseling includes a. power, competence, and trustworthiness. b. expertise, attractiveness, and trustworthiness. c. empathy, positive regard (or respect), and genuineness. d. self-image, self-talk, and attending behavior.
C.) Empathy, positive regard (or respect), and genuieness Choice "b" (remember?) is the social infl uence core. The purpose of this question is to make certain you are able to distinguish between the social infl uence core and the human relations core.
Eric Berne created transactional analysis (TA). The model was popularized via his books Games People Play and What Do You Say After You Say Hello? TA therapists are most likely to incorporate _______ in the treatment process. a. Meichenbaum's self-instructional therapy b. reality therapy c. gestalt therapy d. vegotherapy
C.) Gesalt therapy Choice "c," the correct answer, may seem to make about as much sense as trying to mix water and oil since TA, from a pure standpoint of classifi cation, is a cognitive approach, while gestalt is experiential. The well-known counselor educator Gerald Corey suggested that this marriage made in therapeutic heaven was actually positive inasmuch as gestalt therapy emphasized the affective exploration that was missing from TA, which was too intellectual. In other words, one emphasized what was missing in the other.
Ellis feels that _______ is at the core of emotional disturbance. a. a trauma before age 5 b. a current traumatic activating event c. irrational thinking at point B d. repression of key feelings
C.) Irrational thinking at this point B Choice "a" is really somewhat humorous in light of the fact that Ellis noted that at a very early age he decided his mother wasn't eligible for any prizes of mental health. While a more analytically inclined therapist might have viewed Ellis's childhood as traumatic, Ellis merely told himself that his mother was a fallible human being and he did not have to be disturbed by her behavior. Ellis believes you can be happy even if you are the survivor of numerous childhood traumas. For test purposes please keep in mind that Ellis, Glasser, and the behaviorists put little stock in the notion of transference
The relationship that the therapist has with the client in reality therapy is a. detached but very empathic. b. like that of a warm caring mother. c. like that of a friend who asks what is wrong. d. friendly, nevertheless punishment is used when it is appropriate.
C.) Like that of a friend who asks whats wrong Unlike the detached psychoanalyst, the reality therapist literally makes friends with the client. This is the first of eight steps utilized in this model. Step 7 is refusing to use punishment, making choice "d" a no go here.
Critics assert that gestalt therapy is an affective treatment that a. often fails to emphasize the importance of dreams. b. ignores nonverbal behavior. c. often fails to emphasize cognitive concerns d. uses the making the rounds technique that is not appropriate for group work.
C.) Often fails to emphasize cognitive concerns Quite the antithesis of REBT and related cognitive therapies, gestalt is considered a bit, well, anti-intellectual if you will. Perls once asserted that if you lose your mind you can come to your senses! In gestalt therapy the emphasis is on increasing psychological as well as bodily awareness. Another charge is that it is too confrontational if practiced in the manner Perls demonstrated. Today gestalt therapists are a bit gentler, softer, and less abrupt than Perls. Confrontation occurs when the therapist points out discrepancies or incongruencies between the client's verbal and nonverbal behaviors. The "making the rounds" strategy mentioned in choice "d" alludes to a popular group exercise in which the client is instructed to say the same message to everyone in the group. And oh yes, the word affective in the question means emotional. Some experts have branded gestalt and existential psychotherapy as "affective" paradigms since they urge clients to purge emotions in order to feel better about themselves. Gestalt has traditionally been a popular modality for group work.
A counselor who repeats what a client has stated in the counselor's own words is using a. contracting. b. confrontation. c. paraphrasing. d. parroting.
C.) Pharaphrasing Communications experts agree that paraphrasing has taken place when a client's thoughts and feelings are restated in the counselor's own words. Contracting (choice "a") with a client in a verbal or written manner is a technique favored by behavior therapists. In reality therapy, a plan is created to help the client master his or her target behaviors.
According to gestalt therapists, a client who is angry at his wife for leaving him, and who makes a suicide attempt would be engaging in a. sublimation. b. a panic reaction. c. retroflection. d. repression.
C.) Retroflection Retroflection is the act of doing to yourself what you really wish to do to someone else. The psychoanalysts often say that the person who wishes to kill him- or herself really wants to kill someone else. True? Perhaps. Statistics now indicate that in cases of suicide, 4 out of every 100 begin with the person killing someone else
A stimulus which accompanies a primary reinforcer takes on reinforcement properties of its own. This is known as a. a primary reinforcer. b. covert processing. c. secondary reinforcement. d. SUDS.
C.) Secondary reinforcement What's the most popular secondary reinforcer in the world? My guess: It is money. Money in and of itself isn't reinforcing. Can you eat it? Can you enjoy a conversation with it? Have you ever taken a fi ve dollar bill out on a date? Money gets its power for the reinforcers you can acquire from having money. When a stimulus accompanies a reinforcer it can literally acquire reinforcement properties of its own like an actual or so-called primary reinforcer. When this occurs it is termed as "secondary reinforcement." The classical example is the mother who feeds her baby while talking. Plastic tokens or gold stars that can be exchanged for an actual reinforcer (say a piece of pie or a trip to the baseball game) are secondary reinforcers. Agencies that use tokens as a system of behavior modifi cation are often dubbed as "token economies." In a short period of time the talking becomes a secondary reinforcer and provides some degree of satisfaction for the child. Half of the battle to pass a test on behaviorism is to be familiar with the lingo, or what scholars call the "nomenclature" or naming process. Choice "b," covert, is a term which means that the behavior is not observable. In behavior therapy then, a covert process is usually a client's thought or a visualization. A "covert" behavior is roughly the opposite of an "overt" behavior, which is an observable behavior. Direct treatment of an overt behavior is called "in vivo treatment."
Joseph Wolpe created systematic desensitization, a form of reciprocal inhibition based on counterconditioning. His strategy has been used in individual and group settings. When using his technique, the acronym SUDS stands for a. standard units of dysfunction. b. a given hierarchy of dysfunction. c. subjective units of distress scale. d. standard units of dysfunction scale.
C.) Subjective units of distress scale The subjective units of distress scale, or SUDS for short, is used to help create choice "b," the anxiety hierarchy. In the SUDS, 0 is used to convey a totally relaxed state, while 100 is the most anxiety-producing state a client can imagine. The SUDS helps therapists keep the levels in the hierarchy equidistant from each other. Wolpe's systematic desensitization is a popular treatment of choice for phobias and situations which produce high anxiety. The procedure, nonetheless, is not extremely effective for clients experiencing free-fl oating anxiety (i.e., a fear not connected to a given stimulus or situation). It is based on Pavlov's classical conditioning paradigm. Special note is added for readers considering systematic desensitization for the reduction of test anxiety. Please be aware that it is not necessary or desirable to eliminate all anxiety in order to score well on your comprehensive exam. According to the "YerkesDodson Law," a moderate amount of arousal actually improves performance! Thus, mild anxiety often can be a plus, since it keeps arousal at a moderate level. (High arousal is more appropriate for simple tasks rather than complex ones, such as a licensing exam.) So why bring the matter up? First, we do so to show you that a small amount of test anxiety could actually be benefi cial, and second, because most major exams for psychology majors will include a question on the "Yerkes-Dodson Law."
When a counselor reviews what has transpired in past counseling sessions he or she is using a. paraphrasing. b. reflection. c. summarization. d. confrontation.
C.) Summarization When a counselor summarizes, he or she is bringing together a number of ideas. This summarization also could deal strictly with the material in a single session of counseling. Summarization constitutes a "synthesis" regarding the general tone or feeling of the helping process. Ivey recommends summarization at two or three points during each session and at the close of the session. Summarization is really the ability to condense the material to capture the essence of the therapeutic exchange
Frankl is an existentialist. So are a. Ellis and Perls. b. Perls and Stampfl . c. Yalom and May. d. Janov and Beck.
C.) Yalom and May Rollo May introduced existential therapy in the United States. Irvin Yalom, another existentialist, is noted for his work in group therapy. In his book, Love's Executioner, he reveals his approach to treatment with some of his most intriguing clients. Other names that appear in the answer choices to this question include: Fritz Perls, the Father of gestalt therapy; Albert Ellis, who pioneered REBT; Arthur Janov, noted for his primal scream therapy; and Aaron T. Beck, whose cognitive therapy resembles REBT; if the name Stampfl doesn't ring a bell, review question 310.
The gestalt dialogue experiment generally utilizes the concepts of a. behavioral self-control. b. choice theory. c. top dog, underdog, and the empty chair technique. d. the rehearsal experiment.
C.) top dog,underdog, and the empty chair technique The exam you are taking could refer to choice "c" as "games of dialogue." In addition to the top dog/underdog split in the personality, empty chair dialogue also could be used for other opposing tendencies, such as feminine versus masculine attributes. Gestalt assumes that anxiety is often actually "stage fright." By this the gestalt therapist assumes the client has internally rehearsed a situation and is worried that his or her "performance" will not be up to snuff. This "rehearsal" is said to get in the way of spontaneity and healthy personal experimentation. The rehearsal technique especially lends itself to group work as group members can share their rehearsals with one another, and thus awareness of stage fright (e.g., worrying about not saying or doing the right thing) and fear of not being accepted by others can be illuminated. And if you marked choice "b," review the questions on reality therapy, as choice theory is associated with this brand of treatment. Glasser's Choice Theory postulates that behavior is really an attempt to control our perceptions to satisfy our genetic needs—survival, love, and belonging, power, freedom, and fun.
The ABC theory of personality postulates that the intervention that occurs at D, _______ leads to E, _______. a. the dogmatic attitude; effective behavior b. direct living; evaluation c. disputing the irrational behavior at B; a new emotional consequence d. the emotional disease; a new emotional consequence
C.Disputing the irrational behavior at B; a new emotional consequences Some of the literature by Ellis refers to E as "an effective new philosophy of life." The theory, then, is that you create your own present emotional and behavioral diffi culties. And talk about optimistic: Ellis believes that no matter how bad life seems, you always—that's right, always—have the power to ameliorate intense feelings of despair, anxiety, and hostility.
A counselor who is genuine a. does not role-play someone he or she is not, so as to be accepted by the client. b. does not change his or her true values from session to session. c. is not empathic. d. a and b.
D.) A and B Gerard Egan stressed that clients are indeed more open and expressive with counselors who seem genuine. Egan is well-known for his books which teach a systematic approach to effective helping (e.g., The Skilled Helper). Note: Egan has referred to competence in some of his literature as "accomplishment-competence," feeling that an accomplishment (e.g., helping abate a client's depression) can impact upon one's feelings of competence, or the client's perception of the helper's expertise. In other words, the counselor must be able to deliver the goods and truly help the client.
In Albert Ellis's rational-emotive behavior therapy, the client is taught to change cognitions, also known as a. self-talk. b. internal verbalizations. c. impulses. d. a and b.
D.) A and B The credo here is a simple one: Talk sense to yourself. When you change your thinking you can change your life.
Person-centered counseling would prove least effective with: a. a bright verbal male. b. a bright verbal female. c. a graduate student who had a knowledge of phrenology. d. a client who is not very verbal.
D.) A client who is not very verbal In choice "c," the term phrenology refers to an early pseudoscientifi c psychological doctrine which asserted that one's personality could be determined by the shape and confi guration of the skull
An alcoholic is given Antabuse, which is a drug that causes nausea when paired with alcohol. This technique is called a. systematic desensitization. b. biofeedback. c. back-up reinforcement. d. aversive conditioning.
D.) Adversive conditioning The idea here is to pair the alcohol with an aversive, somewhat unpleasant stimulus to reduce the satisfaction of drinking it. Ethical dilemmas are common when using this technique. Some smoking clinics, for example, that used electric shock as a noxious aversive stimulus have been shut down. Imagine a client who comes to the clinic and experiences a heart attack from the treatment process! Some clients have died from Antabuse. Techniques like these are known as "in vivo aversive conditioning" since they are not performed in the imagination
Gestalt therapy emphasizes a. cognitive-behavioral issues. b. transference issues. c. traumatic childhood memories d. awareness in the here-and-now dreamwork
D.) Awareness in the here-and-now dreamwork Choice "a" is incorrect. The gestalt mode does not believe that a client can "think" one's self out of unhappiness. The person must experience awareness for growth.
Critics of the Rogerian approach feel that a. it does not emphasize relationship concerns. b. some degree of directiveness is needed after the initial phase of counseling. c. more confrontation is necessary, though Rogers did encourage caring confrontations. d. b and c.
D.) B and C I have heard counselors humorously say that Rogerian counseling is like a joke without a punch line! Many counselors now believe that some degree of directiveness is needed after the relationship is built; otherwise treatment merely goes in circles. Some books and exams refer to the process after the relationship is built as the "action phase" of counseling. J. O. Prochaska is very critical of the research which supposedly indicates the effectiveness of the Rogerian model, as some of the studies lacked a control group, failed to take the placebo effect into account, did not use the best statistical technique, or relied on self-reports of the client.
Although behavior therapy purports to be highly scientific, it has been criticized on the grounds that it is reductionistic, simplistic, and does not deal with underlying causes. Existential therapy, on the other hand, has been criticized for a. being too short-term. b. overemphasizing techniques. c. ignoring group strategies. d. being too vague regarding techniques and procedures.
D.) Being too vague regarding techniques and procedures Existential counseling is more of a philosophy of helping than a grab bag of specifi c intervention strategies. Critics charge that it is not a systematic approach to treatment. The behaviorists assert that it is abstract and not scientifi c. The approach rejects traditional diagnosis and assessment procedures.
Empathy and counselor effectiveness scales reflect the work of a. Perls and Berne. b. Ellis and Harper. c. Frankl and May. d. Carkhuff and Gazda.
D.) Carkhuff and Gazda In an attempt to isolate the factors associated with positive therapeutic outcomes, counselor educators generally state that the counselor must possess distinct qualities. In the literature these are known as the "core dimensions." According to research by Truax and Mitchell, an effective counselor is authentic and genuine, not phony; gives positive regard through acceptance; and has accurate empathic understanding. As mentioned earlier, the Carkhuff scale rates the counselor from 1 to 5. The higher the rating the better the counselor is facilitating client growth. Gazda suggested a "Global Scale for Rating Helper Responses." On this scale a 1.0 response does not attend to the client's needs. The counselor may discredit or even scold the client. In case I haven't made myself clear, this is a response which is not helpful in any sense. A 2.0 response, although better than a 1.0, is superfi cial and deals only partially with surface feelings. The 3.0 response does facilitate growth. Although a 3.0 response is limited primarily to surface feelings, the counselor does not distort the content in his or her refl ections. A 4.0 is evident when the counselor goes beyond refl ection and deals with underlying feelings and meaning
Key areas that often cause problems for the counselor's self-image are a. choice of a modality and a learning disability. b. age and the lack of a doctoral degree. c. lack of NCC. d. competence, power, and intimacy.
D.) Competence, power and intimacy Competence, power, and intimacy are all factors that impact the counselor's "social infl uence." Competence refl ects a counselor's feelings regarding his or her adequacy. A counselor who feels incompetent could directly or indirectly (e.g., tone of voice or body posture) communicate this to the client. In counseling, power is seen as a positive trait used to enhance the client's growth. Counselors struggling with their own feelings in regard to a lack of power may become rigid, coercive, or even belligerent toward the client. Others may become overly nondirective. A counselor who has personal issues revolving around intimacy also could be extremely nondirective or afraid to confront clients for fear of rejection. Clearly, such a counselor stays at arm's length from clients and could personally benefi t from treatment.
Perls suggested _______ which must be peeled away to reach emotional stability. a. four layers of neurosis b. three layers of neurosis c. two layers of neurosis d. five layers of neurosis
D.) Five layers Perls likened the process of therapy to that of peeling an onion The person has a phony layer, a phobic layer (fear that others will reject his or her uniqueness), an impasse layer (the person feels struck), the implosive layer (willingness to expose the true self), and the explosive layer (person has relief due to authenticity.
Counselors who work as consultants a. generally adhere to reality therapy. b. generally adhere to one single theory. c. generally adhere to consultation theory. d. generally do not adhere to one single theory
D.) Generally do not adhere to one single theory Now hear this! I fully expect that you will see several questions on your exam related to consultation. Many counselors tell me they have never studied this topic. Read this answer over several times. Choice "c" is not the best answer inasmuch as no integrated theory of consultation exists at this time. Consultation can target organizational concerns or service delivery. Several major consultation models exist. First is Caplan's psychodynamic mental health consultation in which the consultant does not see the client directly but advises the consultee (i.e., the individual in the organization who is receiving the consultant's services). This model is interesting because it recommends that the consultant—not the counselor/consultee—be ethically and legally responsible for the client's welfare and treatment. Second is the "behavioral consultation'' or "social learning theory model" associated with Bandura, in which the consultant designs behavioral change programs for the consultee to implement. Third is the process consultation model by Edgar Schein, which is said to be analogous to the "doctor-patient" model. The consultant is paid to diagnose the problem (i.e., the consultee is not certain what it is) and prescribe a solution. The focus is on the agency or organization, not the individual client. With process consultation, the focus is not—I repeat—is not on the content of the problem, but rather the process used to solve the problems. Schein also mentions the purchase of expertise model in which the consultee says: "Here's the problem; you fi x it." This is similar to the doctor-patient model except that the consultee knows what is wrong. Fourth is triadic consultation in which the consultant works with a mediator to provide ser
Ellis most likely would not be impressed with a behaviorist's new animal study related to the psychotherapeutic process since a. he does not believe in the scientific method. b. the study would not take transference into account. c. Ellis thoroughly dislikes hypothesis testing. d. only man thinks in declarations (internal sentences that can cause or ward off emotional discord).
D.) Only man thinks in declarations (internal sentences that can cause or ward off emotional discord) As far as choice "a" is concerned it is incorrect inasmuch as Ellis fi rmly believed that his theory promotes scientifi c thinking, and lower animals may be incapable of such thought. Ellis described what he called the ABC theory of personality. At point A, there is an activating event; at point B, the person's belief system; and at point C, the emotional consequence. According to Ellis, most therapies can be faulted for not emphasizing irrational beliefs at point B. Such theories wrongly assert that A causes C.
Rogers viewed man as a. basically evil. b. driven by instincts. c. a product of reinforcement. d. positive when he develops in a warm, accepting, trusting environment.
D.) Positive when he develops in a warm, accepting, trusting enviroment Here is a wonderful little review regarding the manner in which the major modalities of counseling look at mankind. Expect to see several questions of this ilk on any major exam:
The Adult ego state a. contains the "shoulds" and "oughts." b. is the seat of feelings. c. is like Freud's superego. d. processes facts and does not focus on feelings.
D.) Processes facts and does not focus on feelings The Adult corresponds to Freud's ego. It is also known as the "neopsyche." It is rational, logical, and does not focus on feelings. Choices "a" and "c" describe the Parent ego state.
Glasser's theory was popularized in educational circles after he wrote a. Choice Theory. b. The Interpretation of Dreams. c. Positive Addiction. d. Schools Without Failure
D.) Schools Without Failure Glasser also authored choices "a" and "c" as well as his original 1965 classic, Reality Therapy, and an update of the theory in his 2000 book Reality Therapy in Action. Choice "b" has nothing to do with reality therapy but generally is quoted as Freud's most infl uential work, often dubbed as "the Bible of Psychoanalysis."
______ is behavioral sex therapy. a. classical vegotherapy b. orgone box therapy c. conditioned reflex therapy d. sensate focus
D.) Sensat focus Sensate focus is a form of behavioral sex therapy developed by William H. Masters and Virginia Johnson of St. Louis, Missouri. Like Joseph Wolpe's systematic desensitization, this approach relies on counterconditioning. A couple is told to engage in touching and caressing (to lower anxiety levels) on a graduated basis until intercourse is possible. Choices "a" and "b" illuminate the work of Wilhelm Reich, who felt that repeated sexual gratifi - cation was necessary for the cure of emotional maladies. Reich's orgone box was a device the client would sit in to increase orgone life energy. Ultimately the FDA outlawed the orgone boxes and Reich died in jail. Today scholars are still arguing whether Reich was a madman or a genius. Conditioned refl ex therapy (choice "c"), created by Andrew Salter, set the stage for modern assertiveness training. Some call Salter, who hated the psychoanalytic model, the father of behavior therapy
When the past is discussed in reality therapy, the focus is on a. failures. b. irrational internal verbalizations. c. transference issues. d. successful behaviors.
D.) Successful behaviors Glasser believes that dwelling on past failures can reinforce a negative self-concept, or what reality therapists have termed the "failure identity
A client remarks that he was just dumped by his girl friend. The counselor responds, "Oh, you poor dear. It must be terrible! How can you go on living?" This is an example of a. EMDR. b. accurate empathy. c. confrontation. d. sympathy.
D.) Sympathy This is sympathy, not to mention some of the most horrendous therapy one could imagine! Sympathy often implies pity, while accurate empathy is the ability to experience another person's subjective experience. Just for the record EMDR, choice "a," stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, a technique created by Francine Shapiro to deal with traumatic memories. In the spring of 1987 Shapiro—then a graduate psychology student—accidentally noticed that disturbing memories began to abate when she was moving her eyes back and forth while strolling through the park. She then tested her theory on other clients having them follow her fi nger to induce the eye movements. Prior to Wolpe's death he noted that this model could be benefi cial. However, as of this date, it is not extremely popular with most therapists
Behavior therapists often shy away from punishment because a. ACA ethics forbid the use of this technique. b. NBCC ethics prohibit the use of operant conditioning. c. extinction works more quickly. d. the effects of punishment are usually temporary and it teaches aggression
D.) The effects of punishment are usually temporary and it teaches aggression The great behavior modifi er B. F. Skinner did not believe punishment was very effective. He felt that after the punishment was administered the behavior would manifest itself once again. Positive measures are seen as more effective than punishment. If punishment is used, remember that it does not cause the person (or other animal for that matter) to unlearn the behavior, and it should be used along with positive reinforcing measures.
Existential theorists speak of phenomenology, which refers to the client's internal personal experience of events, and ontology, which is a. mental visualization for the treatment of cancer. b. the impact of cancer on emotions. c. a cancerous growth in the brain. d. the philosophy of being and existing.
D.) The philosophy of being and existing The metaphysical study of life experience is called ontology. Please do not confuse this with "oncology" (hinted at in choice "c"), which is the medical study of tumors.
In the person-centered approach, an effective counselor must possess a. the skill to be confrontational. b. the ability to give advice. c. the ability to do formal psychological testing. d. empathy, congruence, genuineness, and demonstrate unconditional positive regard to create a desirable "I-Thou relationship."
D.) empathy, congruence, genuineness, and demonstrate unconditional positive regard to create a desirable "I-Thou relationship. Rogerians speak of "conditions for growth" and a therapeutic atmosphere which produces a "climate for growth." The counselor helps produce the climate via genuineness (or congruence, which indicates the counselor can be real in the relationship), unconditional positive regard (nonjudgmental acceptance or nonpossessive warmth), and empathic understanding. Rogers has an optimistic view concerning the nature of men and women, believing that they have an inborn tendency toward self-actualization. Overall, the research does not support the notion that these therapeutic factors are necessarily related to positive therapeutic outcomes. Some studies indicate that the client's traits have an even greater impact on the success of psychotherapy.
Systematic desensitization consists of these orderly steps: a. autogenic training, desensitization in the imagination, and construction of the hierarchy. b. relaxation training, construction of anxiety hierarchy, in vivo desensitization, and desensitization in imagination. c. relaxation training, desensitization in imagination, and construction of hierarchy. d. relaxation training, construction of anxiety hierarchy, desensitization in imagination, and in vivo desensitization.
D.)Relaxation training, construction of anxiety hierarchy, desensitization in imagination, and in vivo desensitization. Several important points need to be mentioned here. The fi rst is that your exam may refer to desensitization in imagination as "interposition." (Interposition is technically a perceptual term which implies that one item conceals or covers another. Thus, in this case, the relaxation obscures the anxiety of the imagined scene in the hierarchy.) The second point is that it is best if hierarchy items are evenly spaced using the SUDS. If items are too far apart, moving up the hierarchy could prove nearly impossible. On the other hand, if items are spaced too close together, then the helping process will be unusually slow, and behaviorists place a premium on rapid, effi cacious treatment. Lastly, the "in vivo" stage implies that the client will actually expose himself or herself to the scary situations in the hierarchy. Experts believe that "in vivo" experiences should not begin until the client has been desensitized to 75% of the hierarchy items
A client says she has a tingling sensation in her hands each time she talks about the probability of marriage. A gestalt therapist would most likely a. ask the client to recount a dream. b. urge the client to engage in thought-stopping. c. prescribe relaxation homework. d. urge the client to stay with the feeling
D.)Urge the client to stay with feeling Gestalt Therapy is concerned primarily with the here-and-now. When a client tries to avoid a feeling the counselor urges the client to face it or "stay with the feeling" if you will. Perls believed this is necessary for growth. Choice "a," dream work, is an integral part of the gestalt approach to counseling. The client is told to recount the dream "as if it is happening in the present." Everything—yes everything—in the dream is considered a projection of the self. So if the client is being chased by a mean old man in the dream, the client might be asked to "become the mean old man." The gestalt model emphasizes experience rather than interpretation, which makes it especially attractive for group intervention.
Viktor Frankl is the Father of logotherapy, which is based on existentialism. Logotherapy means a. healing through meaning. b. healing through the unconscious. c. logic cures. d. all of the above.
Frankl also has been thought of as the Father of paradoxical intention. Paradoxical intention is implemented by advising the client to purposely exaggerate a dysfunctional behavior in the imagination. You might fi nd it a bit paradoxical (no pun intended) that a technique which comes from logotherapy—which is clearly a brand of helping based on existential philosophy—is now generally categorized as a behavioristic technique. Recently, counselors have gone beyond the paradoxical imagination and actually prescribe that the client engage in the dysfunctional behavior. (For example, a person with OCD or obsessive-compulsive disorder might be instructed to wash his or her hands 51 times per day instead of the usual 45 times.
A game is composed of transactions which end in a bad feeling for at least one player. Games are said to prevent true intimacy. Which other statement is true of games? a. In a first-degree game someone gets seriously hurt. b. In a first-degree game the harm is minimal, but the level of harm is quite serious in a third-degree game. c. For a game to occur, three people must be involved. d. Games always involve parallel vectors of communication.
It is easy to remember that the higher the number the greater the hurt. For example, a second-degree game is more hurtful than a fi rst-degree. In the fi rst-degree game the hurt is innocuous; in the second-degree game the hurt is more serious; while in third-degree games the hurt can be permanent or on occasion deadly. And, oh yes, as far as choice "d" is concerned: Some exams will refer to parallel vectors of communication as "complementary transactions."
The Child ego state is like the little kid within. The child may manifest itself as a. the Natural Child. b. the Adapted Child. c. the Little Professor. d. all of the above
The Child state, sometimes called the "archaeopsyche," resembles Freud's id. The Natural Child is what the person would be naturally: spontaneous, impulsive, and untrained. The little professor is creative and intuitive. The Little Professor acts on hunches, often without the necessary information. The adapted child learns how to comply to avoid a parental slap on the hand. Messages we receive from parents to form the ego states are called "injunctions" and cause us to make certain early life decisions. Hence, if an early message was, "I wish you would have never been born," then the decision might be, "If my life gets very stressful, I'll just kill myself." Hint: Describing the client using the P-A-C conceptualization is known as "structural analysis.
A life script is actually a. an ulterior transaction. b. an ego state. c. a life drama or plot. d. a series of parallel transactions.
The process of ferreting out the client's script is called "script analysis." Some popular life script categories include: the never scripts, or a person who never feels he or she will succeed; the always scripts, of individuals who will always remain a given way; after scripts, that result in a way a person believes he or she will behave after a certain event occurs; open ended scripts, in which the person has no direction or plan; until scripts, in which the client is not allowed to feel good until a certain accomplishment or event arrives; and desirable scripts/less desirable scripts. Steiner, mentioned in the previous answer, analyzes the script of TA pioneer Eric Berne in his book! Ulterior transactions (choice "a") contain hidden transactions as two or more ego states are operating at the same time. For example, a man may say to a woman, "Would you like a ride in my new car?" She says. "Yes, I'd love to." This seems like a healthy (i.e., parallel) transaction from his Adult to her Adult ego state, and she responds in the same manner. He may, however, have a secret, covert, ulterior message if he is a game player. The ulterior message which goes from his Child to hers could be, "Wanna make out in my car?" Her ulterior answer—her Child to his Child—is, "Sure, I'd love to make out with you.
Berne suggested three ego states: the Parent, the Adult, and the Child (P-A-C). The Parent ego state is composed of values internalized from significant others in childhood. TA therapists speak of two functions in the Parent ego state, the _______. a. Nurturing Parent and the Critical Parent b. Critical Parent and the Repressed Parent c. Reactive Parent and the Active Parent d. Passive Parent and the Active Parent
a. Nurturing Parent and the Critical Parent The Parent ego state is the synthesis of the messages received from parental figures and significant others, incorporated into the personality. Also known as the "exteropsyche," it bears a very strong resemblance to Freud's superego. When a counselor analyzes out of which ego state a client is primarily operating, it is known as "structural analysis." When a counselor analyzes an ego state within an ego state (e.g., the Critical Parent or the Nurturing parent) it is known as "second order structural analysis." A statement like, "Get some rest honey, you've been studying the NCE material for a long time and you deserve the rest," is an example of the Nurturing Parent. The Nurturing parent is sympathetic, caring, and protective. The critical parent, on the other hand, might remark, "You should get off your duff and study that NCE material; how in the heck do you plan on passing?" The Critical Parent is the master of the shoulds, oughts, and musts. On occasion, you will see the parent broken down into another part, the Prejudicial Parent. The Prejudicial Parent is opinionated with biases not based on fact. "Women should always wear dresses to work," or "a real man enlists in the marines," would be examples. The death or absence of a parent can result in what TA counselors call an "Incomplete Parent state."
All of these philosophers are existentialists except a. Plato and Epictetus. b. Sartre, Buber, Binswanger, and Boss. c. Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and Tillich. d. Heidegger, Dostoevsky, and Jaspers.
A.) Plato and Epictetus
9. _______ and _______ created a program to help counselors learn accurate empathy. a. Truax; Carkhuff b. Rogers; Berenson c. Rogers; Brill d. Carkhuff; Satir
A.) Truax ; Carkuff Robert Carkhuff has been quoted time and time again for his statement that, "all helping is for better or worse." Or as he says, "no helpee is left unchanged by any helping interaction."
Attending behavior that is verbal is also called a. verbal tracking. b. clarifying. c. reflection. d. paraphrasing.
A.) Verbal tracking Here is a nice little memory device. The word attending is similar to the word attention. Attending behavior occurs when you give your clients your complete attention. Helpful "nonverbal" behavior would include leaning forward slightly, eye contact, and appropriate facial expression, such as smiling. Nonhelpful nonverbals would be frowning, yawning, sitting far away from the client, repeatedly closing your eyes, shaking a fi nger at the client, acting as if you are in a hurry, or talking extremely fast or slow. Some exams may speak of task-facilitative behavior versus abstractive behavior in regard to the process of attending. When the counselor's thoughts are in relation to the client, this is said to be task-facilitative. When the counselor is thinking about his or her own concerns (e.g., how much money he or she is making that day or where to go for lunch), then it is seen as abstractive behavior
Bibliotherapy is a form of a. psychodynamic intervention. b. homework. c. displacement. d. musturbation.
B.) Homework Yes, homework. I'm sure the word rings a bell if you think back to graduate school. In the context of counseling, homework takes place whenever the counselor gives the client an assignment which is to be done outside the counseling session. Bibliotherapy is a prime example. Therapies that basically "teach" the client (e.g., REBT) are known as "didactic" models of treatment.
Rogers felt that _______ for client change to occur. a. conditions must be in accordance with the problem. b. three conditions are necessary. c. nine conditions are necessary. d. two conditions are necessary.
B.) Three conditions are necessary
Existential counselors as well as Rogerian Person-Centered counselors adhere to what Buber called the I-Thou relationship, which asserts that a. the counselor is seen as a highly trained expert with answers. b. the relationship is vertical. c. the relationship is horizontal. d. empathy is not necessary.
C.) The relationship is horizontal
A client says, "I lost my job and it's the most terrible thing in the world." This client is engaging in a. rational self-talk. b. self-induced empathy. c. cognitive restructuring. d. awfulizing and terriblizing, also known as catastrophizing
D.) Awfulizing and terriblizing, also known as catastrophizing Choice "d" would occur at point B, the belief system, in the ABC model of personality. Choice "c," cognitive restructuring, usually refers to Donald Meichenbaum's approach, which is similar to REBT. Restructuring takes place when the client begins thinking in a healthy new way using different internal dialogue. Choice "a" is the most inappropriate answer since Ellis considers awfulizing or terriblizing "irrational" unhealthy behavior
Most experts would agree that _______ is most threatening for clients as well as counselors. a. paraphrasing by the counselor b. open-ended questions c. role rehearsal d. silence
D.) Silience Veteran counselors believe that some of the most valuable verbalizations occur after a period of silence. Silence gives the client time to assimilate the counseling process and is helpful in nondirective therapies because it coaxes the client to direct the session.
A man yells at his wife and then slaps her, stating that she does nothing around the house. The woman begins crying and he puts his arm around her to comfort her. He then begins crying and says that he doesn't know how he can continue doing all the housework because it is too difficult. A TA therapist who analyzes the situation using Karpman's triangle would say a. the man is stuck in the "I'm Not OK—You're Not OK" life position. b. the Critical Parent is dominating. c. the man is obviously an adult child of an alcoholic. d. the man has moved from the persecutor, to the rescuer, to the victim role.
Karpman suggested that only three roles are necessary for manipulative drama: persecutor, rescuer, and victim. A drama is similar to a TA "game," yet it has a greater number of events and the person switches roles during the course of the interaction. In TA, a game is a transaction with a concealed motive. Games prevent honest intimate discussion, and one player is always left with negative feelings. Games have a predictable outcome as a result of ulterior transactions. An ulterior transaction occurs when a disguised message is sent. Hint: The act of looking at the consequences of games is known as "game analysis."
A TA counselor and a strict behaviorist are both in the same case conference to staff a client. Which technique would the two most likely agree on when formulating a plan of action? a. the empty chair technique. b. an ego state analysis. c. contracting. d. formal assertiveness training
Using choice "a," the empty chair technique, the person imagines that another individual is in a chair in front of him or her, and then the client talks to the person. The technique is popular in TA as well as in the gestalt model. Contracting, nevertheless, is the only technique listed that is used readily by TA and behavior therapists
Existentialists speak of three worlds, the Umwelt or the _______ world, the Mitwelt or the _______ world, and the Eigenwelt or the _______ world. a. unconscious; preconscious; conscious b. id; ego; superego c. self-identity; relationship; physical d. physical; relationship; identity
d. physical; relationship; identity Try this if you are searching for a memory device. Mitwelt has the prefi x "mi," which sounds like "my" as in "my wife" or "my brother" or "my son"; the "my" shows possessiveness indicative of a "relationship." Eigenwelt sounds suspiciously like the word identity. By a process of elimination you would not need a memory device for the remaining term Umwelt (the physical and biological system).
The acronym NLP is an abbreviation of a. Bandler and Grinder's neurolinguistic programming. b. New language programs for computer therapy. c. New language psychotherapy software. d. neurological psychotherapy.
A.) Bandler and Grinders neurolinguistic programming This model (choice "a"), supposedly based somewhat on what Milton H. Erickson, Fritz Perls, and Virginia Satir really did in their sessions, makes some incredible claims, such as the ability to cure a longstanding phobia in less time than it takes to conduct a typical counseling session! Perhaps the two most popular techniques used by NLP practitioners are "refraining" and "anchoring." When using refraining the counselor helps the client to perceive a given situation in a new light so as to produce a new emotional reaction to it (e.g., a glass of water is not half empty; it is really half full). In anchoring, a desirable emotional state is evoked via an outside stimulus such as a touch or a sound or a specifi c bodily motion. This is similar to classical conditioning or the concept of a posthypnotic suggestion (i.e., a suggestion which works after you leave the hypnotist's offi ce). A client with a phobia of cats, for example, might squeeze his left arm when he came in contact with a cat, and this would bring out an emotion other than fear. If you are taking an exam which is slanted toward this model, then you must read Structure of Magic I and Structure of Magic II by Bandler and Grinder. This approach has been very popular with businesspeople (especially salespersons) and emphasizes the importance of eye movements in determining a person's "representational system" for storing information, such as hearing, seeing, or feeling. I have no doubt that the fellow who has made the most money from this approach, however, is not a licensed therapist but rather infomercial king Anthony (Tony) Robbins, who expanded on NLP and whose various Personal Power tape series have outsold any other motivational product in history. Tony—a dynamic speaker by any sta
A counselor instructs her client to read A Guide to Rational Living by Albert Ellis and Robert Harper. This is an example of a. bibliotherapy. b. countertransference. c. musturbation. d. concreteness.
A.) Bibliotherapy Bibliotherapy is the use of books or writings pertaining to self-improvement. A Guide to Rational Living, affectionately known as "the Guide", is Ellis's best known work. The title of his 1988 work, How to Stubbornly Refuse to Make Yourself Miserable about Anything—Yes, Anything!
Reality therapy has incorporated a. control theory, later referred to as choice theory. b. rational imagery. c. TA principles. d. rolfing.
A.) Control therapy, later referred to as choice therapy Reality therapy exam questions often use the abbreviation BCP, which means that perception controls our behavior. Choice theory asserts than the only person whose behavior we can control is our own. According to control/choice theory, our behavior is our best attempt to control our world to satisfy our wants and needs. The fi nal choice, rolfi ng, is not a traditional form of talk therapy but rather a type of deep muscle massage which is assumed to have an impact on the person's emotional state. Hint: Exams should be using the new term choice theory. Nevertheless, some might still be using the old term control theory
Aaron T. Beck, an ex-psychoanalytic therapist who created the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), developed an approach known as cognitive therapy. Although cognitive therapy is similar to REBT, Beck insisted that a. dysfunctional ideas are too absolute and broad though not necessarily irrational. b. the Oedipus complex is central to the treatment process c. cognitive therapy is contraindicated in cases of phobia. d. cognitive therapy is contraindicated in cases of anxiety
A.) Dysfunctional ideas are too absolute and borad through not necessarily irrational Choices "c" and "d" are incorrect. Beck's contention was that depression is the result of a cognitive triad of negative beliefs regarding oneself, one's future, and one's experience. Beck's model has indeed been shown to be applicable in cases of phobia and anxiety. Since Beck disliked the term irrational ideas, he emphasized "rules" or "formulas of living" which cause unhappiness, and he suggested new rules which the client can test. His daughter Judy Beck is now helping to popularize this approach. Note: Some exams use the word metacognition to describe an individual's tendency to be aware of his or her own cognitions or cognitive abilities.
Rogers' approach is characterized as a(n) _______ approach. a. existential or humanistic b. cognitive c. cognitive behavioral d. neodynamic
A.) Existential or humanistic Some exams will call humanistic psychology "third force psychology" because it was a reaction to behaviorism and psychoanalysis, the two initial forces at the time. In regard to choices "b" and "c," it can be pointed out that cognitive approaches are generally more directive and do not give the client/counselor relationship as much emphasis as the Rogerians
Rogers emphasized congruence in the counselor. Congruence occurs when a. external behavior matches an internal response or state. b. the counselor uses silence. c. the counselor reflects emotion. d. the counselor summarizes at the end of the session.
A.) External behavior matches an internal response or state When the counselor has the ability to be "real" in the relationship, we say that he or she is genuine or congruent. Rogers insists that three key factors are needed for an effective helping climate. The counselor's attitude must include genuineness (again, also called congruence), unconditional positive regard (also referred to as nonpossessive warmth), and empathic understanding. Congruence is a condition where the counselor is very aware of his or her own feelings and accurately expresses this to the client. Of the three elements, Rogers suggested that congruence—which really implies that the counselor is genuine, authentic, and does not put on a professional front—is the most important of the three elements.
Existential counselors emphasize the clients' a. free choice, decision, and will. b. transference. c. slips of tongue. d. latent dream symbolism.
A.) Free choice, decision, and will Logotherapists often use the term noogenic neurosis, which is the frustration of the will to meaning. The counselor assists the client to fi nd meaning in life so the client can write his or her own life story by making meaningful choices. When exploring the meaning of life some anxiety is normal. Moreover, death is not seen as an evil concept but rather an entity which gives meaning to the process of life.
A counselor decides to treat a client's phobia of flying utilizing Wolpe's technique of systematic desensitization. The first step in the anxiety hierarchy items would be a. imagining that she is calling the airlines for reservations. b. imagining that she is boarding the plane. c. imagining a flight in an airplane. d. an actual flight in an airplane.
A.) Imagining that she is calling the airlines for reservations In systematic desensitization the order of the hierarchy is from least anxiety-arousing to the most anxiety-evoking items. Behaviorists note that the ideal hierarchy has 10 to 15 evenly spaced items. Therefore, in everyday plain English, to a person who has a fear of fl ying, imagining a phone call to secure reservations is certainly less anxiety-producing than imagining a fl ight, boarding a plane, or soaring through the sky in a supersonic jet airplane
According to Glasser, a positive addiction might be a. jogging. b. gambling. c. playing the office football pool. d. playing professional football.
A.) Jogging Negative addictions like alcoholism and drug abuse are often mentioned in mental health literature. Glasser stressed that people can be addicted to positive behaviors and this helps to instill self-confi dence. A positive addiction must be a noncompetitive activity which can be performed alone for about one hour each day. Moreover, the person can see that performing the activity will lead to personal improvement. Lastly, the person needs to be capable of performing the activity without becoming selfcritical.
Shoulds and oughts are _______ according to Ellis. a. musturbations b. masturbations c. awfulizations d. rational
A.) Musturbations When a preference becomes a dogmatic must or a should, then you can bet that the client is in for a case of emotional disturbance. Choice "c" is a word commonly used in REBT. Awfulizing or catastrophizing is the act of telling yourself how diffi cult, terrible, and horrendous a given situation really is. And by the way, if you marked choice "b" you better sign up for a sex ed course. Ellis, also known for his work in sexology, humorously insists that musturbation is more pernicious than masturbation
The school of counseling created by Carl R. Rogers, Ph.D., has undergone three name changes. Initially it was called _______ then _______, and in 1974 it changed to _______. a. nondirective counseling; client-centered therapy; the person-centered approach. b. directive; nondirective; cient-centered. c. person-centered; Rogerian, nondirectived. d. client-centered; person-centered; nondirective.
A.) Nondirective counseling ; client-centered therapy ; the person-centered approach A word to the wise: Expect to see any of these names in regard to questions on Rogers's theory. The initial name, nondirective counseling, was intended to set the approach apart from the directive and analytic models which were popular during the 1940s. In 1951, the process took on its new name, client-centered therapy, which emphasized Rogers' theory of personality and, of course, the fact that the client was not viewed as a "sick patient." In 1974, the approach took on its current name, person-centered, to emphasize the power of the person and Rogers's growing interest in group behavior. Hint: Although I've just given you three key names for this approach, Rogers's method could also be known as "self theory." When his approach is used in career counseling the role of the self-concept in terms of career choice is illuminated.
TA is a cognitive model of therapy which asserts that healthy communication transactions a. occur where vectors of communication run parallel. b. are known as crossed transactions. c. are always between the Child and Adult ego states. d. are always empathic.
A.) Occur when vectors of communication run parallel Choice "a" is a "complementary" transaction in which you get an appropriate, predicted response. The "crossed transaction" (note choice "b") would occur when vectors from a message sent and a message received do not run parallel. (For example, I send a message from my Adult to your Adult and you respond from your Adult to my Child.) Crossed transactions result in a deadlock of communication or a host of hurtful feelings. This principle probably won't be diffi cult to remember. We generally say it is not a good thing when individuals work at "cross" purposes. In TA a "crossed transaction" is not conducive to healthy communication. Note: See "Graphical Representations" (chapter 13). TA therapists often use diagrams or pictorial representations in the treatment proces
A gestalt therapist is most likely going to deal with a client's projection via a. playing the projection technique. b. the empty chair technique. c. converting questions to statements. d. a behavioral contract.
A.) Playing the projection technique Choices "a," "b," and "c" are all techniques used frequently in gestalt therapy, but remember that you are searching for the best answer. Projection is an ego defense mechanism in which you see something in others that you cannot accept about yourself. Gestalt hits this head-on, and in "playing the projection" the counselor literally asks you to act like this person you dislike. Choice "c" would work thusly: A client might say, "Don't all people in a group feel scared during the initial session of group counseling?" The client is asked to turn the question into an "I statement," in this case, "I feel scared during this initial session of group counseling." In gestalt this is known as "taking responsibility for a feeling or situation." Often, the gestalt counselor literally asks the client to say this. For example, "I feel scared during this initial session of group counseling and I take responsibility for being scared."
Albert Ellis is to REBT as Maxie C. Maultsby, Jr., is to a. RBT. b. AT. c. TA. d. S-R research.
A.) RBT Maultsby is the Father of rational-behavior therapy, which is similar to REBT but emphasizes a written self-analysis. Maultsby's technique is said to work well for multicultural counseling and group therapy. In group work the counselor has a didactic or a teaching role in which participants are taught to apply the techniques to their own lives. The leader encourages equal group participation for all members and gives reading assignments (i.e., bibliotherapy) between the sessions. All in all, the leader is highly directive and uses RBT as a model for self-help. Like REBT, RBT utilizes rational-emotive imagery on a regular basis. Choice "d" describes an old abbreviation of stimulus-response behavioral psychology. REBT and RBT are not fond of this model because it asserts that a stimulus (or what Ellis has basically termed an activating event at point A) causes a response (or what Ellis calls the consequence at point C). The S-R model, according to Ellis, is guilty of leaving out B, the client's belief system. Thus, although Ellis might concede that the S-R paradigm explains rat behavior, it is inadequate when applied to human beings. The S-R model also has been called the "applied behavior analysis" or "radical behaviorism" by B. F. Skinner. Radical behaviorism makes the assumption that the environment maintains and supports behavior and that only overt behaviors are the subject of treatment. The treatment? You guessed it—Skinnerian operant conditioning, of course.
Unpleasant feelings after a person creates a game are called a. rackets. b. life scripts. c. the little professor. d. an analysis of variance
A.) Rackets When a client manipulates others to experience a childhood feeling, the result is called a "racket." (Note: in TA the experience of trying to secure these feelings is known as "collecting trading stamps.") Choice "b," or the life script, is a person's ongoing drama which dictates how a person will live his or her life. Claude Steiner has written extensively on scripts. His book, Scripts People Live, suggests three basic unhealthy scripts: no love, no mind, and no joy. It is like a theatrical plot based on early parental messages (often called injunctions in TA). Choice "d," abbreviated ANOVA, is a statistical technique used to determine differences between two or more means. Hold your horses, we'll get to statistics soon enough. Does domestic violence have a script? Well, I guess the answer is kind of, sort of. According to Dr. Leonore Walker, who researched women in abusive relationships, there is a cycle of violence with three phases. First, there is a tension building phase where arguments erupt very easily. Many women have dubbed this as the "walking on eggshells phase." Then there is the battering or acute incident phase where the actual fi ght or abuse sexual abuse, or worse yet homicide occurs. Finally, there is a makeup phase often referred to as the honeymoon phase characterized by romantic moonlight dinners, the "I'll never do it again" lines, and the deliveries from the local fl ower shops. As time goes by the couple goes through the phases more rapidly and the honeymoon phase may not even exist.
William Glasser, M.D., is to reality therapy as Albert Ellis, Ph.D., is to a. Rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT). b. Transactional analysis (TA). c. Assertiveness training (AT). d. Gestalt therapy.
A.) Rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT) Analytically trained New York clinical psychologist Ellis is the Father of REBT, which assumes that the client's emotional disturbance is the result of irrational thoughts and ideas. The cure is a high dose of rational thinking.
Which statement is true of the person-centered approach? a Reflection is used a lot yet the counselor rarely gives advice. b. Advice is given a lot. c. Reflection is rarely utilized. d. Closed-ended questions keep the sessions moving at a fast pace.
A.) Reflection is used a lot yet the counselor rarely gives advice. A strict Rogerian would generally not give the client specifi c techniques for behavioral change or instruct the person "how to think." Giving advice is one of the most debated issues in counseling. Some texts classify advice giving (along with preaching, lecturing, and excessive questioning) as a nonhelpful behavior. In fact, many experts insist that lecturing/preaching is merely a variation of advice giving and can abet a power struggle between the counselor and the client. Advice giving in the initial sessions can keep a client from working through his or her feelings. Nevertheless, in crisis or emergency situations, advice giving is generally considered an appropriate intervention. Multicultural experts wisely point out that some groups (e.g., certain Asian cultures) view counseling as a last resort in which immediate direction is given to the client. In such cultures Rogerian counseling is clearly not the treatment of choice. When I was writing my book Favorite Counseling and Therapy Techniques I asked a famous person-centered therapist to contribute. He wrote me back and said, "I'm a Rogerian, I don't do techniques."
Therapeutic cognitive restructuring really refers to a. refuting irrational ideas and replacing them with rational ones. b. keeping a journal of irrational thoughts. c. allowing the client to purge feelings. d. uncovering relevant unconscious material.
A.) Refuting irrational ideas and replacing them with rational ones This is the process of changing your thoughts ergo your feelings via self-talk, or what Ellis often called internal verbalizations. REBT clients often receive emotional control cards from their therapist that delineate irrational ideas and what one can think rationally to combat these unhealthy thoughts. The act of changing the client's mode of thinking is sometimes called cognitive disputation. REBT therapists also use imaginal disputation (i.e., imagery to help with the process) and urge clients to behave in different patterns (i.e., behavioral disputation).
Glasser suggested eight steps in the reality therapy process. The final step asserts a. that the client and counselor be persistent and never give up. b. that some problems will not respond to any known plan of action. c. that counselors should contract with the client for no more than five counseling sessions. d. that a client who does not respond to the first seven steps is most likely a borderline personality.
A.) That the client and counselor be persistent and never give up Even when the client wants to give up, the therapist does not. Glasser's theory has been criticized on the basis that it is too simplistic. Unlike most of the other schools of thought discussed in this guide, Reality therapy has not been included in some texts and dictionaries of psychology
All of these statements regarding reality therapy are true except a. the client's childhood is explored. b. excuses are not accepted. c. the unconscious is avoided. d. therapy is concerned primarily with the here-and-now
A.) The client's childhood is explored According to choice theory the person's childhood may have contributed to the problem. However, the past is never really the problem. The client's childhood is usually not explored, and if the client brings it up, the reality therapist will often try to emphasize childhood successes, feeling that an analysis of the diffi culties could actually reinforce maladaptive patterns. Reality therapy is a present moment form of counseling which focuses on the here-and-now. According to a strict behaviorist, the environment controls behavior. According to Glasser, the individual controls the environment.
In Gestalt therapy unexpressed emotions are known as a. unfinished business. b. the emerging gestalt. c. form/figure language. d. the top dog
A.) Unfinished business Here is a key term in Gestalt therapy. When an unexpressed feeling of resentment, rage, guilt, anxiety, or other emotion interferes with present situations and causes diffi culties, it is known as "unfi nished business." Just in case it comes up on your exam, Perls borrowed the term gestalt from the system of psychologyproposed by Max Wertheimer of Germany in the 1920s whichemphasized that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.The original gestalt psychologists studied perceptual phenomena (e.g., fi gure/ground relationships). The three most common principles relating to gestalt psychology are first, "insight learning" (discussed earlier in this book) as discovered by Wolfgang Kohler. Second, Bluma Zeigarnik's well-known "Zeigarnik effect" which suggests that motivated people tend to experience tension due to unfinished tasks, and thus they recall unfinished activities better. Thus, if you sincerely care about the outcome of a task, you will have better recall of that task if it remains incomplete, than if completed. (This certainly is a bit like the concept of "unfinished business" in gestalt therapy.) Third, Wertheimer's "phi-phenomenon," wherein the illusion of movement can be achieved via two or more stimuli which are not moving; for example a neon sign that has a moving arrow
One distinction between flooding (also known as "deliberate exposure with response prevention" in recent literature) and implosive therapy is that a. implosive therapy is always conducted in the imagination. b. flooding is always conducted in the imagination. c. flooding is always safer. d. implosive therapy is physically more dangerous
A.) implosive therapy is always conducted in the imagination. Here's a superb memory device: implosive therapy begins with an "i" and so does the word imagination. Implosive therapy (the brainchild of T. G. Stampfl ) is always conducted using the imagination and sometimes relies on psychoanalytic symbolism. Flooding, which is similar, usually occurs when the client is genuinely exposed to the feared stimulus. Flooding is also called "deliberate exposure with response prevention." Here is how fl ooding works. Take a man who is afraid of snakes because he feels they will bite him. Using fl ooding, the client would be exposed to the snake for nearly an hour without the dreaded snake bite. Research has demonstrated that in vivo procedures like fl ooding are extremely effective in cases of agoraphobia (a fear of open places) and obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD). Flooding and implosive therapy do not necessarily utilize relaxation nor do they introduce the fearful stimuli gradually. Both techniques assume that avoiding the fear serves to intensify it and that anticipation of catastrophe (e.g., physical pain or loss of control) initially caused the symptom in question. Caution: fl ooding and implosive therapy do not work in every case. Cases have been cited in which the prolonged exposure to the feared stimuli actually tended to exacerbate the anxiety!
Gestalt Therapy, a paradigm that focuses on awareness in the here-and-now incorporates a. psychodrama. b. Aaron Beck's Cognitive Therapy, which asserts that maladaptive thinking creates emotional disturbance and thus clients should record dysfunctional thoughts. c. Conditioned Reflex Therapy. d. Client-Centered Therapy.
A.)Psychodrama Psychodrama incorporates role-playing into the treatment process. A client, for example, might act out an especially painful incident in his or her life. Psychodrama was invented by Jacob L. Moreno, who fi rst coined the term group therapy in 1931. Gestalt therapists emphasize experiments and exercises.
A teenager in a residential facility has earned enough tokens to buy his favorite brand of candy bar. The candy bar is a. a negative reinforcer. b. a back-up reinforcer. c. an average stimulus. d. a conditioned reinforcer.
B.) A back-up reinforcer
Gestalt means a. a group. b. a form, figure, or configuration unifi ed as a whole. c. a dyad. d. visual acuity.
B.) A form, figure, or configuration unifed as a whole Although there is no exact English translation, choice "b" roughly describes the nature of the concept. Gestalt also can imply that the integrated whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
REBT suggests the ABC theory of personality in which A is the _______, B is the _______, and C is the _______. a. affect; belief; control b. activating event; belief system; emotional consequence c. affect; behavior; control d. authenticity; belief; emotional consequence
B.) Activating event ; belief system; emotional consequence What constitutes an irrational and unhealthy "belief system?" Ex-analyst Albert Ellis (please emphasize ex inasmuch as Ellis felt that psychoanalysis was slow and often very ineffective) gave these examples of irrational thinking: it is absolutely necessary to be loved or approved of by every signifi cant person in your life; you must be thoroughly competent in all areas of your life to consider yourself worthwhile; some people are bad and wicked and thus should be punished for their actions; it is awful or catastrophic when things are not the way you want them to be; unhappiness is caused externally by other things and people; an individual's past determines his or her happiness; it is terrible if a perfect solution to every problem cannot be found; and, you need someone stronger than yourself to lean on.
A counselor utilizes role-playing combined with a hierarchy of situations in which the client is ordinarily nonassertive. Assertiveness trainers refer to this as a. conscious rehearsal. b. behavioral rehearsal. c. fixed role therapy. d. a and b.
B.) Behavioral rehearsal The counselor in this case might also switch roles and model assertive behavior for the client. Choice "c," fi xed role therapy, refers to the treatment model created by psychologist George A. Kelly. In this approach the client is given a sketch of a person or a fi xed role. He or she is instructed to read the script at least three times a day and to act, think, and verbalize like the person in the script. Kelly's approach is quite systematic and has been called the "psychology of personal constructs" after his work of the same name.
TA life positions were made famous by Tom Harris's book, I'm OK—You're OK. The title of the book illuminates a healthy life position. The life position tells the counselor how a person goes about receiving strokes or recognition. A person categorized by the position "I'm OK—You're Not OK"; a. is generally self-abusive. b. blames others for misery. c. generally engages in self-mutilation. d. is generally suicidal.
B.) Blames others for misery om Harris suggested four basic life positions. Choices "a," "c," and "d" are indicative of the "I'm Not OK—You're OK" position. A self-abusive person is sometimes known as a "masochistic personality" in the literature. In an extreme case this position would lead the person to suicide. According to Harris the "I'm OK— You're OK" orientation is what successful winners choose. The "I'm OK—You're Not OK" is the position taken by adolescent delinquents and adult criminals. Such persons feel victimized and are often paranoid. In extreme cases this person may see homicidal behavior as an acceptable solution to life's problems. The "I'm Not OK—You're Not OK" is the most pessimistic position. This position could result in schizoid behavior and, in a worst case scenario, the tendency to kill someone else and then take one's own life.
A client who is undergoing gestalt therapy states, "It is difficult to get a job in New York City," would be asked by the counselor to a. go to the O*NET website (http://www.online.onetcenter. org) which is the replacement for the DOT and is now the nation's primary source of occupational information. b. change the verbalization to an "I" statement. c. read the OOH. d. take the Strong Interest Inventory (SII).
B.) Change the verbalization to an "I" statement A goal of gestalt is to eliminate "it talk" and replace it with "I statements." The other choices all relate to career counseling. The DOT or Dictionary of Occupational Titles, was a popular career counseling book which listed over 20,000 job titles. As mentioned above, it has been replaced via O*NET. The OOH stands for the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the U.S. Department of Labor and revised every two years. The work attempts to depict projected job trends. It also delineates earnings, necessary training and education for a job, as well as working conditions and what workers in a given job actually do. The Strong (formerly the Strong Campbell Interest Inventory or SCII) is the most popular interest inventory, and it is based on the theory of John Holland
Glasser's position on mental illness is that a. it is best explained by DSM guidelines. b. diagnostic labels give clients permission to act sick or irresponsible. c. it is best explained by ICD categories. d. it is the result of a deep internal conflict.
B.) Diagnositc labels give clients permission to act sick or irresponsible Reality therapy has little use for the formal diagnostic process, or what is known in clinical circles as "nosology." The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM) and the International Classifi cation of Disease (ICD) provide the guidelines for diagnosis of clients. Glasser rejected this traditional medical model of disease
The cognitive therapist most closely associated with the concept of stress inoculation is a. Albert Ellis. b. Donald Meichenbaum. c. Maxie C. Maultsby, Jr. d. Aaron T. Beck.
B.) Donald Meichenabum Meichenbaum's approach is called "Self-Instructional Therapy." Implementation of his so-called stress-inoculation technique has three basic phases. First the client is involved in an "educational phase." Here the client is taught to monitor the impact of inner dialogue on behavior. Next clients are taught to rehearse new self-talk. This is the "rehearsal phase." Finally, the "application phase" is where new inner dialogue is attempted during actual stress-producing situations. Counselor educators often classify approaches which dwell on cognition, while emphasizing behavioral strategies for change (e.g., REBT, RBT, self-instructional therapy) as "cognitive-behavioral approaches" to helping
The philosopher most closely related to REBT would be a. Buber. b. Epictetus, a stoic philosopher who suggested we feel the way we think. c. Locke. d. Jaspers.
B.) Epictetus, a stoic philosopher who suggested we feel the way we think. Epictetus said: "People are disturbed not by things, but by the views they take of them." In addition to Epictetus, Ellis also mentioned Alfred Korzybski, the founder of general semantics, and Karen Horney, who fi rst recognized the "tyranny of the shoulds" when refl ecting on the creation of Ellis's REBT theory. Ellis was quick to quote a statement from Hamlet: "There's nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so." Buber and Jaspers are associated with existential therapy, while Locke's work closely resembled what later came to be known as behaviorism.