Deck 2: Helper Know Thyself

Question 1

After questioning Joe, the counselor discovers that he has had learning problems all of his life and that school was a painful place since he was constantly taunted by his peers. Joe's fear of new challenges and lack of initiative is a result of failing to achieve mastery over which of the following tasks?

A) Industry versus inferiority
B) Initiative versus guilt
C) Autonomy versus shame and doubt
D) Trust versus mistrust

Answer 1

A

Question 2

By studying their own families of origin, helpers are able to

A) be in a position to offer therapy to family members that may not seek professional assistance.
B) improve their own ability to counsel families.
C) completely resolve unfinished business from their own childhood.
D) learn how to manipulate family members to do what they want.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

When students are learning about the history of their families, it is important to remember that

A) their commitment to exploration and change may bring discomfort to significant people in their lives.
B) they should adopt an attitude that others should change.
C) self-exploration is a must if the student intends to work with families.
D) a crisis may erupt when the student discovers a family secret.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

While growing up, Patrick was told to always be appropriate, be perfect, and do his best. Now as an adult, Patrick is rigid socially and devotes most of his energy to his work. Consequently, his wife has threatened to leave him. Patrick is seeking counseling in order to save his marriage. As a counselor, you recognize that his early childhood rules

A) were impossible for him to escape and Patrick had no choice but to accept them.
B) need to be given up so that Patrick can mend his relationship with his wife.
C) can be transformed into something useful and functional.
D) were dysfunctional and he needs to confront his parents about their behavior

Question 5

All of the following descriptions from Erikson's stage of development perspective of each developmental transition stages are true EXCEPT

A) represents a psychosocial crisis, or turning point, when individuals are faced with fulfilling their destinies.
B) builds on the psychological outcomes of earlier stages.
C) has a psychosocial task to be mastered before moving to the next stage.
D) personal transformation demands an awareness of how you deal with developmental tasks currently with no connection to your past.

Question 6

According to Erikson, during the late adulthood stage, in which the task to be accomplished is integrity versus despair, the older adults who have succeeded in achieving ego integrity would NOT

A) accept that they have been productive and have coped with whatever failures they faced.
B) concentrate on what they have not done, and yearn for another chance to live in a different way.
C) tend to integrate their past experiences with current realities.
D) necessarily welcome the notion of death, but view it as an inevitable part of the life cycle.

Question 7

Being an integrated person

A) is an ideal to strive for that is almost never achieved.
B) means that you recognize the many and varied aspects of your being and accept both positive and negative sides.
C) was a goal that many people tried to achieve in the 1970's, but is no longer considered realistic.
D) is a concept that is only applicable to those who embrace integrative theories of counseling.

Question 8

As helpers begin to practice counseling, it is likely that many of them will become aware that they are taking on a profession role that:

A) ​resembles their parents unhealthy relationship skills.
B) ​resembles the role of a counselor they saw in a movie with unhealthy relationships.
C) ​resembles the role they played in their family.
D) ​does not resemble the role they played in their family.

Question 9

Which of the statements below is NOT an example of a family rule?

A) Always keep a smile on your face.
B) Have fun only when all the work is finished.
C) It's ok to NOT be perfect.
D) Be obedient.

Question 10

Family rules include all of the following EXCEPT

A) myths.
B) secrets.
C) injunctions.
D) no rules.

Question 11

Which of the following is true concerning rules in dysfunctional family systems?

A) The number of rules is small, and is applied consistently.
B) Rules are humanly possible to keep relevant and flexible.
C) Rules are rigid and serve the function of masking fears about differences.
D) The most important rules are ones that govern individuation and the sharing of information.

Question 12

__________ generally has its roots in a client's unresolved personal conflicts with significant others.​

A) ​Transference
B) ​Countertransference
C) ​Boundaries
D) ​Unfinished business

Question 13

Identifying and ​resolving __________ related to your family of origin is essential if you hope to establish relationships that do not repeat negative patterns of interaction.

A) ​boundaries
B) ​individuation
C) ​unfinished business
D) ​self-discipline

Question 14

What kind of therapist might want clients to challenge words like "must" and "always" and "never" as irrational?

A) Cognitive
B) Humanistic
C) Psychodynamic
D) Behavioral

Question 15

The rationale for self-exploration and personal therapy for helpers includes all of the following EXCEPT

A) if helpers are unaware of issues stemming from their family experiences, they are likely to find ways to avoid acknowledging and dealing with potentially painful areas with their clients.
B) as clients confront events that trigger their pain, memories of helpers' own pain may come forth.
C) as you review your family history you will NOT gain some insight into patterns you have "adopted" from your family of origin.
D) identifying and resolving unfinished business related to your family of origin allows you to establish relationships that do not repeat negative patterns of interaction.

Question 16

__________ is a term used in family therapy to refer to emotional barriers that protect and enhance the integrity of members of a system.​

A) ​Family rules
B) ​Self-exploration
C) ​Self-understanding
D) ​Boundaries

Question 17

A major problem of the generativity versus stagnation stage can be

A) slipping into secure but stale ways of being and failing to take advantage of opportunities for enriching life.
B) withdrawal from taking an active stance toward life due to guilt over life's failures.
C) dealing with separation from the family system and establishing an identity based on one's own experiences.
D) lack of initiative in establishing and maintaining social relationships.

Question 18

As an abused child, Robin made the early decision that anger was a useless emotion and that she would never allow herself to feel angry. Robin is presently going into the counseling field and realizes that her denial of anger will

A) make it easier for clients to express their anger constructively.
B) contribute to trust on the part of her clients, since she never expresses negative reactions to anything.
C) make it difficult for her to allow clients to express their anger and deal constructively with it.
D) help create a positive climate for the client who fears anger.

Question 19

Nancy, a high school senior, feels pressured by her parents to pursue a nursing degree right after graduation; however, she is uncertain about her future direction. She recently started dating, has developed new friendships, and would like to postpone college to see what it's like to have a life. Nancy is working on which of Erikson's developmental tasks?

A) Intimacy versus isolation
B) Industry versus inferiority
C) Initiative versus guilt
D) Identity versus identity confusion

Question 20

Phyllis, a 35-year-old housewife and mother, has returned to college. Her educational experiences have led her to broaden her view of sex roles, although she still feels unsure of herself. Her counselor might conclude that her sex-role foundation is confused and she may have not formed a healthy picture of appropriate feminine behavior during her

A) middle childhood.
B) preschool age.
C) early childhood.
D) adolescence.

Question 21

In The Human Odyssey: Navigating the Twelve Stages of Life, Thomas Armstrong (2007) maintains that ​every stage of life is equally significant and necessary for the welfare of humanity. Each stage of life has its own unique gift to contribute to the world. Briefly describe and explain 2-3 of these "gifts."

Question 22

__________ are characterized by closed communication, by the poor self-esteem of one or both parents, and by rigid patterns.​

A) ​Transferences
B) ​Family secrets
C) ​Functional families
D) ​Dysfunctional families

Question 23

__________ is emotional-behavioral reactions toward a client that originated from some part of the helper's life​.

A) ​Countertransference
B) ​Transference
C) ​Family of origin
D) ​Family structure

Question 24

To a large extent, an individual's current life is the result of earlier choices. Explain why.​

Question 25

Family therapists generally assume that it is inevitable that:​

A) ​no family will truly become a healthy unit.
B) ​they will meet parts of their family in every other family with whom they have a professional relationship.
C) ​all families with severe issues will NOT seek assistance through counseling.
D) ​families cannot change unhealthy boundaries and family rules.

Question 26

The concept of individuation and separation from one's family can easily lead to conflicts in one's family relationships in some cultures.​ Briefly describe the reason's for these conflicts.

Question 27

Unless you have identified your own __________, you may be constantly triggered by the stories of your clients.​

A) ​healed psychological wounds
B) ​sources of vulnerability and completely worked through them healing all wounds
C) ​sources of strength and psychological health
D) ​sources of vulnerability and to some extent worked through experiences that may have left you psychologically wounded

Question 28

Erikson's model of the stages of human growth and development contends that there is a crisis to be resolved.​ Define "crisis" and explain the crises of 2-3 developmental stages.

Question 29

__________ is a state of psychological separateness from one's family.​

A) ​Transference
B) ​Unfinished business
C) ​Individuation
D) ​Family rules

Question 30

Erikson's model is holistic and is based on a psychosocial perspective. Explain his psychosocial theory and demonstrate some of its advantages and possible disadvantages.​