Deck 4: The Art of Probing and Summarising

Question 1

Read the following and answer the question. CLIENT (hesitatingly): I don't know whether I can kick the habit,you know,just let some trivial things go at work and at home.I know I've made a contract with myself.I'm not sure that I can keep it.
HELPER: Um...
CLIENT (pauses,then laughs): Here I am deep into perfectionism,and I hear myself saying I can't do something.How ironic.Of course,I can.It's not going to be easy,at least at first.
What is the helper's "Um" called?

A)An indication that the helper is uncomfortable
B)An attempt to cover-up boredom
C)A prompt
D)A probe

Answer 1

C

Question 2

What of the following is not a type of probe?

A)A direct question
B)An interpretation
C)Single words or phrases that are in effect questions or requests
D)A statement

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which of the following is not an example of the shadow-side of communication skills?

A)Communication skills are necessary but not sufficient
B)Assisting clients avoid certain parts of their story
C)The use of technology in communication
D)Developing proficiency in communication skills

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The counsellor asks Jason,"Now that you've decided to leave university,how do you see the future?" What type of question is this?

A)Rhetorical question
B)Closed question
C)Hypocritical question
D)Open-ended question

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of an effective question?

A)Do you like baseball?
B)What do you like about baseball?
C)Do you like baseball,as compared to basketball,or golf,or tennis?
D)When is the next time you will talk to him?

Question 6

A verbal and sometimes non-verbal tactic for helping clients talk more freely and concretely about any issue at any stage of the helping process are commonly referred to as ____.

A)listening
B)encouragement
C)therapist skilfulness
D)prompt and probe

Question 7

Read the following and answer the question. HELPER: The other day you talked about "having it out with her" - though that might be too strong a term.But just now you mentioned something about "being reasonable with her".Tell me how these two things are different.
CLIENT (pausing): Well,I think you might be witnessing a case of cold feet.She's a very strong woman.
How is the counsellor using the probe?

A)To help achieve concreteness and clarity
B)To challenge the client and help them self-challenge
C)To explore the client's intentions
D)To help the client get a balanced view of problem situations and opportunities

Question 8

When is a good time to summarise?

A)During a session that is going nowhere
B)When the client needs a new perspective
C)At the beginning of a new session
D)All of these

Question 9

Which of the following is most accurate about the usefulness of summaries?

A)They can help the client feel confident in their cognitive abilities.
B)They can bring together scattered elements during a session so that the client can see every piece of the work they have to do.
C)They can help the client feel that they have integrated their unconscious conflicts.
D)They can bring together scattered elements during a session so that the client can see the "bigger picture" more clearly.

Question 10

All of the empathic responses a helper might use to constructively influence the client's work may be referred to as a ____.

A)wake up call
B)promise of healing
C)kick in the pants
D)nudge

Question 11

Which of the following is true about communication skills?

A)Communication skills are necessary but not sufficient for successful therapy.
B)Communication skills are necessary and sufficient for successful therapy.
C)Communication skills are generally a technical aspect of therapy .
D)Communication skills are the "magic bullet" of the helping profession.

Question 12

Probes can be used to ____.

A)explore clients' experiences
B)clarify clients' point of view
C)explore decisions that the client is considering
D)all of these

Question 13

Which of the following is not one of the possible goals of summarising?

A)Prompting the client to explore a theme more thoroughly
B)Warming up the client
C)Bringing the discussion of a particular theme to a close
D)Indicating when a particular problem has been adequately addressed

Question 14

Read the following and answer the question. CLIENT: My wife and I are seriously talking about divorce now.We had a conversation about it for about an hour before we went to our favourite restaurant for what turned out to be a lovely meal together.
HELPER: I am confused about why you would talk about divorce and then go for a romantic dinner.
The helper's comment can be understood as which of the following types of probes?

A)direct question
B)statement
C)interpretation
D)request

Question 15

Probes are typically not useful ____.

A)in assisting clients to balance their viewpoint on a problem situation and their opportunities
B)in assisting clients to explore some unused opportunities in a situation
C)in assisting clients avoid certain parts of their story
D)as mild forms of challenge

Question 16

Which of the following is not a guideline for using probes?

A)Explore and clarify clients' points of view,intentions,proposals,and decisions.
B)Help clients fill in missing pieces of the picture.
C)Challenge clients into expressing uncomfortable emotion,feelings,and moods.
D)Invite clients to challenge themselves.