Deck 15: Constructivist Therapies

Question 1

In solution-focused therapy,if a client talks about problems,the therapist most likely will do which of the following?

A)Immediately shift the therapy dialogue to a goal focus or scaling questions
B)Inquire about how the problems began and how they have been maintained
C)Shift the focus to questions about the client's social network and support
D)After the problem story is told,shift to exception-finding questions

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Of the following,which is LEAST likely to be used by a solution-oriented therapist in helping a client focus on strengths and new possibilities?

A)Exception-finding questions
B)The miracle question
C)Encourage clients to find ways to help themselves
D)Character analysis

Answer 2

D

Question 3

In thinking about the origins of client problems,solution-focused therapists:

A)emphasize the role of early past experiences.
B)reject any focus on the causes of problems.
C)focus on the construction of well-defined goals and solutions.
D)are most interested in how clients understand the causes of their problems.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The view that psychotherapy can help people improve their lives by focusing on solutions rather than problems is most characteristic of:

A)contextual therapies.
B)constructivist therapies.
C)reality therapy.
D)behavioral therapies.

Question 5

From a philosophical perspective,constructivism's core premise is:

A)objective reality does not exist,only subjective interpretations.
B)the scientific method is useful for understanding complex phenomena.
C)knowledge of a reality is never independent of the knower.
D)reliable and valid knowledge of the physical world is possible,but not the behavioral world.

Question 6

In solution-focused therapies,problem talk refers to:

A)the tendency to focus too much on problematic behavioral patterns.
B)the relatively small amount of time spent on discussing client problems.
C)the repetition of past patterns in the therapy relationship.
D)the collaborative development of specific therapeutic goals.

Question 7

For solution-focused therapists,psychotherapy is most likely to be facilitated by:

A)a collaborative therapeutic alliance.
B)well-timed interpretations of unconscious themes.
C)use of highly specific therapist directives drawn from the empirical literature.
D)development of specific positive therapy goals constructed in the client's language.

Question 8

One of the key goals of solution-focused psychotherapies is to:

A)have client's describe in detail their ideas about the origins of their problems.
B)move the client to a focus on present,practical solutions to their problems.
C)model for clients creative solutions to their problems.
D)provide education about the most research-supported methods of change.

Question 9

Basic assumptions characteristic of solution-focused therapies would include all of the following EXCEPT:

A)people are healthy.
B)people can find their own solutions.
C)people are competent.
D)people construct their own problems.

Question 10

Constructivism is best understood as a philosophical approach that:

A)assumes there is no objective reality beyond that which is constructed by individuals.
B)is similar to positivism or empiricism insofar as it regards some knowledge as independent of the knower.
C)asserts that we discover reality through particular attention to our sensory experiences.
D)attempts to identify extralinguistic reality or the fixed language of established meanings in any sociocultural context.

Question 11

Theories of personality and psychopathology are LEAST likely to inform which approach to psychotherapy?

A)Psychodynamic therapies
B)Cognitive therapies
C)Constructivist therapies
D)Gender- and culture-sensitive therapies

Question 12

If a client returned to a second or future session and reported that "nothing has changed,nothing is better," the solution-oriented therapist would most likely:

A)patiently question the client about the details of their day to look for what was even slightly better.
B)attempt to problem-solve with the client about how to reduce obstacles to daily successes.
C)gently suggest different ways of looking at the identified problem(s).
D)take a break to consult with a colleague who was observing the therapy.

Question 13

Solution focused therapists respect the client by assuming that:

A)the client has the solution to the problem.
B)the client knows what the problem is.
C)the client's behavior will bring about the problem's resolution.
D)the best alternative is based on what the client says s/he wants.

Question 14

When a solution-focused therapist asks a client "When isn't the problem happening," s/he is making use of:

A)the miracle question.
B)confrontation.
C)exception-finding questions.
D)solution focused questions.

Question 15

A solution oriented therapist will tend to use which of the following methods most frequently?

A)Confrontation and focusing
B)Paraphrasing and reflecting
C)Interpretation
D)Patient questioning

Question 16

When constructing therapy goals,solution-focused therapists are LEAST likely to emphasize which of the following?

A)How the client will be carrying out the solution or healthier alternative
B)Client language
C)Positive alternatives to problem behaviors
D)Why good solutions have failed in the past

Question 17

The primary goal of solution focused therapy is to:

A)give the client a workable solution.
B)remove the client's problem.
C)help the client identify the solution.
D)work with the client to identify and restructure dysfunctional cognitions.

Question 18

Because the individuality of the client is of paramount importance in constructivist therapies:

A)specific therapy methods tend to be emphasized as keys to change.
B)methods predetermined by generic principles derived from a comprehensive theory of change are selected as needed.
C)specific therapy techniques tend to be minimized.
D)the methods of change used are typically drawn from many theories of psychotherapy.

Question 19

After an initial consultation,a solution-focused therapist is likely to decide whether and when the client's next session should occur based on:

A)the goal of meeting at least once every other week.
B)whether the client is interested in meeting again.
C)whether the therapist regards another session as necessary.
D)whether a phone conversation reveals that the client needs more help.

Question 20

In general,constructivist therapies have which of the following features in common?

A)A focus on family process; emphasis on construction of a family genogram; provision of long-term treatments over the life cycle
B)Long-term approach; focus on client strengths and resources; collaboration between therapist and clients to explore solutions to problems
C)10 sessions or less; focus on client's natural resources and strengths to facilitate change; emphasize client's unique,subjective perspective
D)16-40 sessions; rapid identification of multiple causes of client problems; emphasize multiple possible approaches to problem resolution

Question 21

Which is most likely true about narrative therapists?

A)They believe that theories of personality and psychopathology are helpful in guiding clinicians in the construction of new client narratives.
B)They believe that the scientific method can provide clinicians with reliable and stable truths about how people change in therapy.
C)They rely on client stories as the basis of their clinical work,and reject dominant theories as poorly suited for understanding individuals.
D)They emphasize that therapy should be directed at the development of an integrated narrative that ties together a client's past,present,and future.

Question 22

In solution-focused therapy,change is viewed as the result of:

A)becoming aware of and acting on even small exceptions that build on client strengths.
B)motivating clients to make big changes in a short amount of time by marshalling natural resources.
C)using a client's language about their own strengths and weaknesses to understand how problems become self-perpetuating.
D)finding the most unique and practical solution a client can imagine.

Question 23

A solution-focused therapist constructs therapeutic goals and interventions based on:

A)client's presentation.
B)a specific theoretical understanding of the problem.
C)narrative empathy.
D)therapist's ability to identify alternative possibilities.

Question 24

The central focus of change for narrative therapists involves:

A)construction of new stories or narratives.
B)construction of practical solutions to long-standing problems.
C)helping clients take responsibility for their problems and their solution.
D)encouraging clients to keep a daily journal narrative.

Question 25

The average (mean)number of sessions in brief solution-focused therapy is:

A)3-5.
B)2-3.
C)6-8.
D)10-12.

Question 26

Narrative therapists have been called "anti-realists" because:

A)they regard psychotherapy as an illusion.
B)they believe that it matters less what goals are chosen by clients than that a choice is made.
C)they believe that there is no objective reality,and a client's reality is his/her personal story.
D)they hold to a highly empirical approach to client problems and their resolution.

Question 27

Constructivist therapists emphasize the importance of language because:

A)language is our reality.
B)the way things are said can impact the therapeutic relationship.
C)all psychotherapy theories can be boiled down to the same basic principles.
D)therapists' language is typically more specific and leads to more practical solutions.

Question 28

For solution-focused therapists,problems and their solutions are:

A)always under a client's control.
B)embedded in the interactive dialogue or process.
C)the result of deliberate client choices.
D)the flip sides of each other.

Question 29

According to narrative therapists,the process of change is largely based on:

A)the belief that therapy is a dialogue of discovery that deconstructs past stories and co-constructs new ones.
B)the idea that the dominant discourses in clients' families and societies is the best guide for client change.
C)a therapist's timely use of their "privileged position" to support new client stories.
D)to provide clients with the new words,images or meanings they need to overthrow the tyranny of dominant discourses.

Question 30

According to the text authors,the therapeutic value of externalization of the problem is that it relocates the problem in a way that:

A)increases control and reduces guilt and self-blame.
B)provides the basis for solution-focused work.
C)increases problem talk.
D)enhances narrative empathy.

Question 31

When treating mandated or involuntary clients,Berg and other solution-focused therapists have argued that:

A)the same solution-oriented pathways and principles can be successfully applied.
B)solution-oriented therapy works best when clients are free to choose.
C)any mandated treatment violates the fundamental assumptions of solution-focused therapy.
D)goal-formation is out of the control of the client and solution-focused therapy will necessarily be less open to a useful range of solutions.

Question 32

For narrative therapists,the key to meaningful change is:

A)deconstruction of new stories and plots.
B)a client's rejection of the privileged position in therapy.
C)the retelling of personal narratives or old stories until they no longer produce anxiety.
D)challenging dominant discourses and discovery of new and multiple possibilities for the future.

Question 33

Solution-focused therapists emphasize that their approach:

A)initiates but does not complete the solution process.
B)is especially good at resolving very chronic problems.
C)has ample empirical data to support its use.
D)is the only therapy that really focuses on client uniqueness and solutions to problems.

Question 34

Like most narrative therapists,Michael White,a pioneer of narrative therapy,integrates which processes of change in his therapy work?

A)Consciousness raising,catharsis,and interpretation
B)Consciousness raising,choosing,and counterconditioning
C)Interpretation,counter-conditioning and stimulus control
D)Catharsis,interpretation,and counterconditioning

Question 35

The basis for focusing on the construction of therapeutic goals in solution-focused therapy is that:

A)talking about problems only keeps clients stuck.
B)large,meaningful changes can only be accomplished by moving in a new direction.
C)it leads clients to choose and act on awareness of problem exceptions.
D)clients and therapists rarely have a common language for talking about problems.

Question 36

Comparing solution focused and narrative therapists reveals that:
A)narrative therapists are more likely to emphasize how one stories his/her past.

A)solution-focused therapists emphasize how one's past is constructed in the present.
C)narrative therapists are more likely to focus on how one scripts their future.
D)solution focused therapists are less likely to focus on future goals.

Question 37

The process by which narrative therapists help shift the therapy problem away from the person is known as:

A)exception-finding focus.
B)goal specification.
C)externalization of the problem.
D)deconstruction.

Question 38

A major similarity between solution-focused and narrative therapies is their emphasis on:

A)understanding the particular origins of individual client problems.
B)the construction of new meanings and multiple possibilities.
C)use of exception finding questions.
D)deconstruction of dominant discourses.

Question 39

The rationale behind the miracle question is to:

A)increase awareness of alternative realities and possibilities.
B)help clients understand the roots of their distress better.
C)illustrate how problems are merely social constructions.
D)clarify a unique problem-focus.

Question 40

In solution-focused therapy,the therapist is regarded as most expert about:

A)the content of therapy or the kinds of practical solutions that will work.
B)how to focus a client on their resources and possible alternative solutions.
C)language and its multiple meanings.
D)how to keep the therapy as brief as possible.

Question 41

Which of the following is LEAST true about the therapeutic relationship in narrative therapy?

A)Each therapeutic relationship is unique.
B)There is no generally correct therapeutic attitude.
C)The therapist stance depends on which of the four narrative prototypes is presented.
D)Narrative empathy comes most close to understanding the therapeutic stance.

Question 42

The text authors predict that the future of constructivist therapies will include:

A)a considerable down-turn with the ascension and progression of evidence-based practices.
B)increased controlled research studies of these promising approaches to psychotherapy,particularly in the treatment of individuals with severe clinical diagnoses.
C)increasing emergence as a challenging response to the dominance of evidence-based practices in mental health.
D)consolidation of the available constructivist therapies into an over-arching post-modern therapy that elaborates more fully its theory of personality and psychopathology.

Question 43

Narrative therapists ideas about dominant discourses refers to:

A)the client's and therapist's construction of a new narrative.
B)the deconstruction of client's past stories.
C)powerful social-cultural influences on client stories.
D)a client's lifestyle and way of being in the world.

Question 44

When a narrative therapist encourages her client to be both reader and author of the text of their lives,she is underscoring that the client has the:

A)privileged position.
B)narrative truth.
C)dominant discourse.
D)unique narrative empathy.

Question 45

Narrative empathy as described by narrative therapists differs from traditional notions of empathy insofar as:

A)traditional empathy makes sense of client feelings and thoughts.
B)it is external,and focuses on how the language the client uses to tell a self-story.
C)attends to how dominant discourses have infiltrated a client's story and obscured the client's privileged position.
D)narrative empathy understands and expresses the inner emotional logic of the client's problem patterns.

Question 46

The criticism that,while constructivist therapies have attempted to defend the individuality of persons,they have reduced the process of therapy to a single method akin to literary criticism is most likely to be leveled by:

A)behavior therapists.
B)psychoanalytic therapists.
C)humanistic therapists.
D)integrative therapists.

Question 47

Steve is a middle-aged,recently unemployed,and divorced nonresidential father of three children who presents with considerable depression,hopelessness,and lethargy.His main complaint is that he is not able to get out of bed in the morning.A narrative therapist is most likely to begin therapy by:

A)tracing back the roots of his depression.
B)deconstructing the power of dominant discourses.
C)listening for and identifying exceptions to his problem.
D)by asking the miracle question.

Question 48

The criticism that constructivist therapists,in reaction to what they perceive as imperial empiricism,have thrown the baby out with the bathwater by overemphasizing the subjective and demeaning the contribution of science is most likely to be advanced by:

A)psychoanalytic therapists.
B)behavioral therapists.
C)humanistic therapists.
D)integrative therapists.

Question 49

For a narrative therapist,the ability to become aware of different perspectives about the past leads to:

A)the perception of new and multiple possibilities for the future.
B)awareness of how present problems have been overdetermined by past influences.
C)a rejection of any privileged position,and engagement in the dominant discourses.
D)narrative empathy for dominant discourses and future strivings.

Question 50

Psychoanalytic therapists are critical of constructivist therapies on the grounds that the latter:

A)makes use of several psychoanalytic methods like interpreting stories.
B)denies the reality of personality and psychopathology.
C)simply renames transference phenomena with more obscure terms like dominant discourses.
D)ignores the risks of overempathizing with client's problems and wishes for solutions.

Question 51

The length of most narrative therapies is:

A)2-3 sessions.
B)fixed at 8 sessions.
C)always brief.
D)variable.

Question 52

The effectiveness of narrative therapy (NT)might best be summarized by which of the following statements?

A)NT is more effective than no treatment,but probably less effective than alternative treatments.
B)NT is more effective than no treatment and equally effective as established treatments.
C)There are no controlled randomized controlled trials or meta-analyses of NT.
D)NT has a better retention and completion rate than alternative treatments,but is slightly less effective.

Question 53

According to narrative therapists,the therapeutic relationship is:

A)informed by the therapist's theoretical orientation.
B)co-constructed by client and therapist and rooted in their dialogue.
C)based on mutual empathy for the limits of each other's language.
D)rooted in the therapist's ability to discern the dominant theme of a client's narrative.

Question 54

In the authors' discussion of future directions of constructivism,they point out that one of the significant challenges facing this genre of therapies is related to:

A)constructivism's antipathy for predetermined criteria and general principles of psychotherapy.
B)the short-term nature of many constructivist therapies.
C)the absence of any empirical research on efficacy for mild to moderately severe disorders.
D)constructivism's use of overly specific methods for all individuals and kinds of problems.

Question 55

Miriam is a 42-year-old married mother who was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis - a neurological disorder that often leads to motor weakness,speech disturbance,and cognitive symptoms.She presented with considerable depression,particularly related to her loss of sensation in her feet and difficulty walking independently.In addition to empathic listening,a constructivist therapist most likely would:

A)focus on family members' reactions to her disease and availability for tangible support.
B)look for evidence of competence and strength.
C)acknowledge that constructivist approaches to therapy are only effective for psychological disorders.
D)given the nature of her problem,make use of the miracle question as soon as possible.

Question 56

Which of the following statements is most true about constructivist therapies?

A)There has been a rapid accumulation of well-controlled outcome studies indicating its efficacy.
B)There has been a predominant reliance upon case study methods and survey research.
C)There are sound data suggesting that these therapies work best with the most difficult cases.
D)All research to date has involved use of the scaling questionnaire.

Question 57

Based on the available research,the text authors conclude that the effectiveness of solution-focused therapy (SFT)is best summarized in terms of the following EXCEPT:

A)SFT is superior to no treatment.
B)SFT is typically briefer and less costly than alternative treatments.
C)the comparative effectiveness of SFT to established treatments is unknown.
D)SFT is about as effective as alternative treatments.

Question 58

The criticism that constructivist therapies reject objective reality and the scientific method would most likely be advanced by:

A)behavior therapists.
B)psychoanalytic therapists.
C)integrative therapists.
D)humanistic therapists.