Deck 3: Values and the Helping Relationship

Question 1

The value system of the counselor:

A) may be better than the client's.
B) is important to follow in therapy.
C) can determine the direction of counseling if it is not monitored.
D) never creates stress or unethical situations in the therapeutic relationship.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Research has provided evidence that therapists' values influence:

A) every phase of psychotherapy.
B) every phase of psychotherapy except for termination.
C) only the initial phase of psychotherapy.
D) no phase of psychotherapy if it is conducted properly.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The Death with Dignity Act is a law in which state?

A) New York
B) Texas
C) Oregon
D) California

Answer 3

C

Question 4

According to researchers, counselor's personal religious values:

A) do not affect the therapeutic relationship.
B) only affect the therapeutic relationship when discussing spiritual issues.
C) should be ignored at all times.
D) may affect their therapeutic work, directly or indirectly, with clients presenting with end-of-life issues.

Question 5

Thomas has AIDS and has decided to end his life rather than continue suffering. The counselor he is working with does not condone rational suicide. In this case, the counselor needs to:

A) work with Thomas rather than referring him, and seek supervision and education to assist the counselor to be more capable of working with Thomas.
B) learn as much as possible about the course of Thomas's illness.
C) explore the impact of Thomas's religious beliefs on making his decision to end his life.
D) help Thomas seek medical treatment that will help him cope with his pain.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT true about referrals?

A) Referrals have become common practice among mental health service providers at the expense of exploring other possibilities.
B) The overuse of client referral among mental health providers often involves discriminatory practices that are rationalized as ways to avoid harming the client and practicing beyond one's level of competence.
C) Referring clients has been discussed frequently in professional journals.
D) The psychological community needs to critically examine why mental health practitioners may refer clients over value conflicts and why these practitioners assume that such practices are appropriate, reasonable, and acceptable.

Question 7

Which of the following statements on spirituality and religion is true today?

A) They are both ethically appropriate topics to discuss, can play a major part in the client's life, and can be a significant source of strength.
B) The role of spirituality in counseling is not considered an appropriate topic for discussion.
C) Spiritual and religious matters are not therapeutically relevant.
D) The therapist does not need to be sincerely interested in the client's spiritual beliefs to utilize them in the therapeutic process.

Question 8

With respect to values in the counseling process, the authors contend that:

A) it is important that counselors clarify their values and the ways in which they enter the therapeutic process.
B) counselors can avoid communicating values to their clients by not explicitly sharing them.
C) it is best to keep values hidden so they won't contaminate their client's choices.
D) their job is to help clients conform to socially acceptable standards.

Question 9

Mary is seeking abortion counseling from a practitioner who has been actively involved in the pro-life movement.______________________ The therapist has extreme discomfort with Mary's values and doesn't think he could maintain objectivity. It would be best if he:

A) doesn't share his values with Mary and work within the value system of his client.
B) help Mary understand his values so she can make a different decision concerning her pregnancy.
C) not refer Mary, but work within the client's values rather than his own. If he cannot obtain objectivity, he will need supervision to work through his issues. Referring Mary to another therapist for this reason could be determined as abandonment.
D) set firm boundaries with Mary on what she can discuss in regards to her pregnancy.

Question 10

It is important for the counselor to refrain from self-disclosing:

A) never.
B) when the self-disclosure will make it more difficult to establish a trusting relationship.
C) when the self-disclosure may help the client therapeutically.
D) always.

Question 11

Referring a client for differing religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or cultural background is called:

A) an appropriate referral.
B) a value imposition.
C) a discriminatory referral.
D) a value conflict.

Question 12

Ruth is counseling a woman who describes an extremely unhappy marriage. Ruth suggests she consider leaving her husband; however, the client has a deep spiritual conviction that marriage is for life and is not willing to consider divorce as an option. Ruth attempts to change her client's viewpoint. In this case, Ruth is:

A) teaching her client to look at the negative consequences of her decision.
B) exploring the client's spiritual reasons for staying in the marriage.
C) imposing her values on the client instead of exploring the client's reasons for staying in the marriage.
D) helping her client to explore healthy options.

Question 13

The U.S. District Court, in Julea Ward vs. Eastern Michigan University, ruled that:

A) the university was justified in dismissing the student for violating provisions of the code of ethics that prohibit discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, disability, marital status/partnership, language preference, or socioeconomic status.
B) the university was justified to enforce standards expected of students in a counseling program, even when a student objects on religious grounds.
C) the university was not justified in dismissing the student for violating provisions of the code of ethics that prohibit discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, disability, marital status/partnership, language preference, or socioeconomic status.
D) the university was not justified to enforce standards expected of students in a counseling program, even when______________________a student objects on religious grounds.

Question 14

The authors of this text view referrals:

A) as the best option when they face a clash of values with their clients.
B) as a moral imperative.
C) as the last resort.
D) as a need for the therapeutic relationship.

Question 15

In Jennifer Keeton vs. Augusta State University, the federal appeals court:

A) upheld the decision that the university was justified in dismissing Ward for violating provisions of the code of ethics that prohibit discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, disability, marital status/partnership, language preference, or socioeconomic status.
B) upheld the right of the university to enforce standards expected of students in a counseling program, even when a student objects on religious grounds.
C) upheld the decision that the university was not justified in dismissing Ward for violating provisions of the code of ethics.
D) decided the university did not have the right to enforce standards expected of students in a counseling program, even when a student objects on religious grounds.

Question 16

It is NOT ethical to refer clients:

A) when the client's issue is out of the counselor's scope of work.
B) when the client requests a referral.
C) when the client no longer advances in treatment over a long period of time.
D) based solely on a difference of values between the counselor and the client.

Question 17

Which of the following statements is most accurate?

A) Spirituality and religion tend to fluctuate in importance to Americans.
B) Freud believed that religious faith was important in the lives of his patients, which stemmed from his own strong religious beliefs.
C) Counselors must understand their own spiritual/religious beliefs (or lack thereof) if they hope to gain an in- depth appreciation of the beliefs of their clients.
D) When clients are searching for meaning in life, it is appropriate for therapists to strongly suggest they seek religion as an answer.

Question 18

Marty believes that premarital sex is morally wrong. He has an agenda to convince his single clients to avoid having sexual intercourse before they are married. This is referred to as:

A) value imposition.
B) good sense.
C) value exploration.
D) duty to protect.

Question 19

A client-defined sense of spirituality:

A) is not very important in therapy.
B) can be a significant avenue for connecting with the client and can be an ally in the therapeutic change process.
C) can create difficulty in the client's therapeutic process.
D) is more important if the therapist shares a similar definition.

Question 20

______________________is the appropriate and ethical course of action to take when a client's needs are outside the scope of your competence.

A) Referral
B) Privileged communication
C) Consultation with an attorney
D) Termination of services

Question 21

Value discrimination could be defined as:

A) when a counselor is too eager to suggest a referral when the client shares differing values on race, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, disability, marital status/partnership, language preference, or socioeconomic status.
B) considering a referral only when you clearly lack the necessary skills to deal with the issues presented by the client.
C) a counselor directly attempting to influence a client to adopt their values, attitudes, beliefs, and behavior.
D) the ability of counselors to manage their personal values so they do not contaminate the counseling process.

Question 22

From a legal perspective, mental health professionals are expected to exercise "reasonable care" in working with clients who are considering abortion. If they fail to do so, clients can take legal action against them for:

A) negligence.
B) breach of confidentiality.
C) being unreasonable.
D) insufficient knowledge.

Question 23

Which of the following is ethical when referring a client?

A) When a client discloses he or she consents in recreational sex
B) When the client's values regarding same-gender sex differs from your own
C) When a client discloses he or she is engaging in Internet infidelity
D) When the therapist engages in supervision to diminish the effects of the value conflict, attempting to help the client in every way, but the client requests a referral because of his or her value differences

Question 24

Disagreeing with a client or not liking what a client is proposing can create a:

A) value imposition.
B) value exploration.
C) value conflict.
D) personal value.

Question 25

The reason why many counselor education programs encourage or require personal therapy for counselors in training is to engage in:

A) value imposition.
B) personal values.
C) value exploration.
D) value conflicts.

Question 26

The "freedom of conscience" clause states:

A) the client has the freedom to decide where to go in therapy.
B) the therapist has the right to refer clients because of spiritual beliefs.
C) the client has the right to know what the therapist is thinking.
D) mental health professionals will not put their licensure status in jeopardy by denying services to clients on the basis of sincerely held religious beliefs.

Question 27

A spiritual assessment provides:

A) insight into how a client relates to spirituality and religion and how this may be affecting the client.
B) the therapist with the opportunity to educate the client on the best religion to follow.
C) an opportunity for the therapist to relax and not listen as intently to the client.
D) minimal information about the client.

Question 28

In dealing with clients who hold different values, you are advised to:

A) work collaboratively to identify and clarify their value system and determine the degree to which they are living in accordance with their core beliefs and values.
B) persuade them to adopt your values.
C) persuade them to adopt the values of the counseling profession, which are based on the Judeo-Christian tradition.
D) forget about your own values temporarily.

Question 29

The ability for counselors to manage their personal values so they do not contaminate the counseling process is referred to as:

A) value conflicts.
B) value exploration.
C) discrimination.
D) bracketing.

Question 30

If a therapist is secure in his or her own values:

A) he or she should use them to steer the client toward any direction he or she wants to in therapy.
B) he or she will not be threatened by really listening to, and deeply understanding, people who think differently or do not share the same world view.
C) a referral to another therapist may be necessary.
D) he or she will focus on his or her problem rather than the client's.