Deck 10: Family, Couples, and Sex Counseling

Question 1

Family counseling shares great similarity with:

A) psychodynamic therapy.
B) person-centered therapy.
C) group therapy.
D) none of the above.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The term "externalizing" is another form of reframing which allows the family to:

A) view the problem from a different paradigm.
B) leave the house when angry.
C) view the symptoms as outside the family and prevent blame.
D) focus on appearances rather than essences.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Family counselors tend to favor which model of causality?

A) Diametric causality model.
B) Circular causality model.
C) Linear causality model.
D) No causality model is preferred.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The family counselor frequently views the disruptive behavior of a family member as:

A) abnormal and dysfunctional.
B) normal yet dysfunctional.
C) functional and possibly helpful.
D) self-protective but dysfunctional.

Question 5

Power in the family is directly related to:

A) the father's position in the family, and the age of the children.
B) the hierarchy, boundaries, and coalitions within the family.
C) the value placed on the role of the working mother in the home.
D) the executive positions that are naturally generated among members.

Question 6

To attain a degree of competence as a family counselor, one should:

A) be a blank slate and learn through experience.
B) have specialized training in family systems and dynamics.
C) have knowledge of family theory and ethics.
D) both B and C.

Question 7

The types of negative interactions between couples identified by Gottman (1999) include all of the following EXCEPT:

A) criticism.
B) defensiveness.
C) stonewalling.
D) jealousy.
E) contempt.

Question 8

According to strategic therapists, a child's severely disruptive behaviors may be viewed as:

A) a pathogenic problem.
B) stabilizing the family structure.
C) a problem for authorities.
D) the child's cry for help.

Question 9

The primary difference between family and individual counseling is:

A) family counseling is more effective.
B) family counseling is more pragmatic.
C) individual counseling is more flexible.
D) individual counseling is more difficult.

Question 10

All of the following are examples of directive strategies EXCEPT:

A) balancing the holons.
B) opposition through compliance.
C) forcing the spontaneous.
D) pretending.
E) slowing down.

Question 11

A strategic family counselor would be concerned primarily with resolving:

A) power hierarchies.
B) genogram schematas.
C) strategies for the nuclear unit.
D) structural holons.

Question 12

Which of the following techniques is NOT used in sex therapy?

A) relaxation training.
B) sensate focus exercises.
C) cognitive restructuring.
D) they are all used.
E) none are used.

Question 13

Preparation for family counseling should include:

A) firsthand experience in a healthy family of origin.
B) corrective family of origin therapy work for the counselor during sessions with the client.
C) additional specialized training and supervision.
D) regressive childhood trauma desensitization.

Question 14

In which type of relationship would there be an emphasis on exchange as the people maneuver for a more powerful position?

A) Symmetrical
B) Complementary
C) Competitive
D) Reciprocal

Question 15

Because family counseling sessions can become emotionally charged, the effective family counselor tends to be:

A) more focused on the individual, supporting their growth.
B) concerned primarily with linear causality and substituting symptoms.
C) more active and directive, yet flexible in structuring treatment plans.
D) more rigid and less flexible in approach, guarding the family's homeostasis.

Question 16

Family counselors frequently make use of directives that are:

A) designed to make the counseling process easier for the whole family.
B) generally ineffective, and a violation of wise counseling practice.
C) intended to initiate changes in the family power structure.
D) often mere reflections of a supervisor's style.
E) giving advice about lifestyle issues.

Question 17

The process of initiating directives usually involves:

A) redefining the problem in a resolvable and less threatening way.
B) motivating and preparing the family members to follow (or not to follow) the directive(s).
C) presenting the directives(s) in a simple, clear, and realistic manner so that all participants understand.
D) all of the above.

Question 18

When working with the issue of power, the family counselor should:

A) encourage individual insight rather than action.
B) restructure the cultural context so that it is more powerful.
C) restore a more balanced hierarchy and encourage boundaries.
D) change the family of origin influences through mutual analysis.

Question 19

All of the following are family counseling skills EXCEPT:

A) restructuring family coalitions.
B) restating the obvious.
C) assessing power hierarchies.
D) "joining" or building rapport.
E) reframing problems to be more solvable.

Question 20

Reframing is defined as:

A) paraphrasing what has been said.
B) redefining the stated problem.
C) changing the client's attitude.
D) redecorating the therapeutic environment.

Question 21

The biggest difficulty in learning to do effective sex counseling tends to be:

A) correctly interpreting the complex ethical concerns.
B) mastering the numerous specialized techniques.
C) confronting one's attitudes, values, and beliefs related to sex.
D) learning to use words like "penis" and "vagina" without blushing.

Question 22

Gottman's (1999) research on couples showed:

A) anger itself was not a predictor for divorce.
B) contempt was the most powerful predictor of an unhappy marriage.
C) positive emotions can outweigh negative ones and repair damage.
D) conversations begun harshly predict unhappy couples.
E) all of the above.

Question 23

The three principles given for helping couples express anger in a healthy way include all of the following EXCEPT:

A) reporting a list of past offenses.
B) reporting the underlying distress.
C) reporting the specific behavior causing distress.
D) reporting the desired replacement behavior.