Deck 13: Interviewing Young Clients

Question 1

Which of the following is/are a reason(s) that some young clients simply remain quiet when asked about why they came for counseling?

A) They are unable to understand the question.
B) They are unable to formulate a response.
C) They are unaware of or strongly resistant to admitting any personal problems.
D) All of the above are reasons a young client may remain silent.
E) Only A and C

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Emily is meeting with a parent and teen for an intake session. The parent is rather dominating. Emily needs to be prepared to:

A) Shut the parent down
B) Set appropriate limits with reasonable explanations
C) Dismiss the parent
D) Recommend individual therapy for the teen
E) Wait until she's alone with the teen and then comment disparagingly about the parent's behavior

Answer 2

B

Question 3

What does "acknowledging reality" in an initial session with teens and parents refer to?

A) Telling young clients exactly why they were referred
B) Adding positive feedback to share with the client.
C) This phrase refers to questions that assess the "orientation" domain for an MSE
D) Both A and B are correct.
E) Both A and C are correct.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Soria is meeting with a teen client and parent. Which issues should she address up-front?

A) Appropriate clothing for parents and children to wear to counseling
B) The parent's legal right to access their teenager's records
C) How to balance the teen's privacy with the parent's need and desire to be informed
D) Both A and C
E) Both B and C

Question 5

What sort of countertransference reactions are clinicians likely to have toward children?

A) Withdrawal
B) Over-identification
C) Regressive
D) Both A and B
E) Both B and C

Question 6

Why might it be important to schedule an extended initial interview session with a child and his/her parents?

A) So that the child has adequate time for self-expression
B) So that the caretakers feel their concerns have been sufficiently addressed
C) So that the therapist has plenty of time to assess the level of psychopathology in each family member
D) All of the above
E) Only A and B

Question 7

Which of these is a minimal foundation for working with children?

A) Being a parent
B) Familiarity with developmental theory
C) Familiarity with the generativity dynamic in Erickson's psychosocial theory
D) Experience as a nanny
E) None of these are directly relevant to working with children

Question 8

When interviewing young clients, which of the following statements is/are true regarding the physical surroundings of an interview room?

A) Displaying items such as puppets and stuffed animals can increase the comfort level of young clients.
B) Having something to play with can reduce client anxiety; however, if toys become too distracting they should be put away.
C) It is better to make sure there are no objects visible in your office that the child might mistake for a toy
D) All of the above are correct.
E) Only A and B are correct.

Question 9

Vincent is working with a young boy and started thinking, "I want to take this child home and provide a better living environment." What does this indicate?

A) Vincent is having a rescue fantasy
B) The child needs a better home
C) Vincent is an excellent mental health professional
D) Vincent is having a withdrawal fantasy
E) Vincent should turn himself into the ethics board

Question 10

Children are USUALLY referred to mental health professionals by all of the following EXCEPT:

A) Schoolteachers
B) Parents
C) Caretakers
D) Themselves
E) All of the above are common referral sources

Question 11

Which approach to an initial interview should a clinician use?

A) Meet with the child and caretaker(s) together
B) Meet with the caretaker(s) alone
C) Meet with the child alone
D) Any of the above is acceptable if you have a rationale
E) Family therapy is always the treatment of choice with children

Question 12

Children can often be considered __________ clients.

A) Voluntary
B) Involuntary
C) Difficult
D) Easy
E) None of the above

Question 13

What should you do if you're planning to share referral information with young clients?

A) Inform and educate your referral sources in advance.
B) Be sure to have some positive feedback to share with the client.
C) You should avoid sharing referral information, because doing so violates the confidentiality of the referral source.
D) Both A and B are correct.
E) Both A and C are correct.

Question 14

Using the wishes and goals technique, clinicians can obtain goals from young clients in which of the following areas?

A) Family change
B) School change
C) Self-change
D) All of the above
E) B and C

Question 15

Which of the following gestures would NOT help an interviewer to make a good first impression when working with a child?

Question 16

When allowing children to hold toys or objects during session, it is usually best to:

A) Only offer the child toys that are developmentally appropriate.
B) Tell children that they can only play with the toy/object for the first 10 minutes of session.
C) Leave toys/objects out in your office and let children discover toys/objects on their own.
D) Children shouldn't be playing with toys/objects during a therapy session.
E) Both A and B

Question 17

Which strategy for establishing treatment goals involves using language that young people are more likely to accept?

A) Life planning
B) Wish making
C) Framing of complaints
D) Storytelling
E) None of the above

Question 18

Which of the following is true regarding confidentiality with child or adolescent clients?

A) Parents should hear everything their child has to say.
B) Confidentiality should be discussed separately with young clients and with their caretakers.
C) Confidentiality should be discussed at the beginning of the first session with parents/caretakers and children.
D) Confidentiality need not be discussed with very young children.
E) None of the above are true

Question 19

Which of the following statements is true regarding the involvement of parents and guardians in children's therapy?

A) It's unethical to not let parents and guardians be as involved as they wish in the therapy process. B. Therapists should let parents and guardians guide the therapy sessions and the treatment plan because this can reveal significant information about family dynamics.
C) Unless doing family therapy, the therapist should manage the involvement of parents and guardians in the therapy process, because the therapist's primary allegiance is with the child.
D) Children should be able to decide the extent of their parents' involvement in the therapy process.
E) All of the above are true

Question 20

Which of the following clothing choices is likely to be viewed as LESS cool by young clients?

A) Popular name-brand or label clothing. B. Business suits.
C) Comfortable clothing that allows for playful interactions.
D) Both A and C.
E) None of the above.

Question 21

Arts and crafts can be helpful when working with children; however, when choosing art modalities, which of the following should therapists be aware of?

A) Some children may refuse to engage in art and craft activities.
B) The parents or guardians might not approve of their children using arts and crafts in therapy.
C) Arts and crafts can give the interview a playful tone, distracting from the assessment process.
D) Some art modalities can stimulate high emotionality and a loss of control in some children.
E) All of the above

Question 22

When it comes to assessment with young clients, which statement is the best guidance?

A) Explicitly discuss the rationale for assessment and therapy with parents and young clients
B) Have parents immediately fill out questionnaires in the waiting room
C) Surprise young clients with several assessment strategies
D) You really shouldn't use assessment with young clients
E) Obtain the parent's advice on which assessments to administer

Question 23

Which of the following questions would a therapist NOT ask when trying to give a young client a sense of power and control?

A) "You know, I've asked lots of questions. Do you have any questions?"
B) "Has our time together been like you thought it would be?"
C) "Is there anything you'd like to say that I should have asked about?"
D) "What might you do better next time so that our session runs more smoothly?"
E) Any of the above

Question 24

Charlene is a counselor who sometimes has trouble setting limits in child sessions. What guidelines might help her improve in that area?

A) Plan ahead by thinking through what behaviors are acceptable and unacceptable.
B) Have simple ground rules she states in advance
C) Generate and review a multitude of rules that cover every possibility
D) All of the above
E) Only A and B would be helpful

Question 25

Which of the following statements is NOT true of radical acceptance when used with parents of young clients?

A) It involves actively welcoming and accepting all parent comments.
B) It involves teaching the parent a new, more adaptive way of thinking and behaving.
C) It is more directive than traditional person-centered approaches.
D) It allows clinicians to communicate their commitment to openness during the assessment and therapy process.
E) All of the above are true

Question 26

Why might it be important for therapists to meet with the child's parent or guardian during the closure of an interview?

A) The interviewer can discuss recommendations for the child with the caretaker.
B) The interviewer and caretaker can schedule the next appointment for the child.
C) The interviewer can discuss payment options with the caretaker.
D) All of the above are correct.
E) None of the above. Therapists should not meet with parents or guardians during closure.

Question 27

During the closing of an interview with a young client, it is especially important that the therapist:

A) Initiates a new game or activity with clients to keep them engaged until the very end of the session.
B) Changes the nature of the informed consent and confidentiality again.
C) Provides supporting and reassuring feedback to let clients know they're appreciated.
D) Expresses countertransference reactions to the client.
E) Give children feedback on ways they can behave more appropriately in the next session.

Question 28

What are the most important closing tasks with young clients?

A) Summarizing your understanding of the problem areas
B) Making connections between the problems and possible counseling interventions
C) Confronting young clients about taking responsibility for their behaviors
D) All of the above
E) Only A and B

Question 29

Virginia likes to use nondirective play with children, even during initial sessions; in contrast, Brenda prefers using play as a direct and behavioral method for teaching empathy and other adaptive behaviors. Which approach is better?

A) Nondirective play therapy is better for all children
B) Directive play therapy for teaching purposes is better for all children
C) Children can benefit from either nondirective or directive play therapy
D) Neither approach has any empirical support and so both should be avoided
E) Directive play therapy is more appropriate for internalizing children

Question 30

Which of the following assessment techniques is/are especially useful for generating hypotheses and communicating playfully with young clients?

A) Personality tests
B) Projective drawings
C) Questionnaires
D) All of the above
E) Only B and C

Question 31

Ryan is working with a young client who is also a member of a minority group. Which of the following ideas should guide his work?

A) Find ways to show genuine interest in the young client, while also focusing on strengths or assets
B) Remember that the core conditions of person-centered therapy are contraindicated with young clients
C) Avoid explaining the rationale for specific techniques because that can bore young clients
D) Remind the client of his vast experience in working with young clients
E) Only B and C

Question 32

If the parent of one of your clients displays disturbing interaction patterns with his or her child, what would you do?

A) Ignore it during the first session, but provide feedback in later sessions when rapport has been established.
B) Inform the parent that you are legally obligated to report child abuse.
C) Gather further information to determine whether the child is in immediate danger.
D) Any of the above actions might be appropriate, depending upon the severity of the disturbing interaction patterns.
E) Only A and C would be appropriate

Question 33

Madelyn is in an intake interview with a parent and child. The parent begins listing the child's problems. What should Madelyn do?

A) Gently limit the parent to listing a maximum of one goal
B) Gently limit the parent to listing a maximum of three goals
C) Gently limit the parent to listing a maximum of five goals
D) Place no limits on the problem list or goal setting
E) Ask the parent, "How would you like it if your child decided to list all your problems?

Question 34

Which of the following techniques offer(s) an alternative to traditional assessment and feedback?

A) The "What's Good about You?" game
B) Offering rewards
C) Projective drawings
D) A and C are correct.
E) All of the above are correct.

Question 35

Which approach is best when it comes to whether you should include toys designed for aggressive expression?

A) Aggressive toys shouldn't be used
B) Children should be encouraged to play with aggressive toys
C) Given the reality of aggressive and violent behavior in our society, including some aggressive toys is reasonable as it can add to assessment and therapeutic alternatives
D) Artistic modalities should be used instead of aggressive toys, because it's impossible to use art for aggressive purposes
E) It all depends on whether or not you're working with a military family

Question 36

Which of the following is one of the most powerful forms of positive reinforcement a caretaker can use with a child?

A) Buy the child his/her favorite toy
B) Sticker charts
C) Letting the child spend extra time playing his/her favorite video or computer game
D) Spending time with the child
E) All of the above are equally powerful

Question 37

When buying toys and dolls for young clients to play with in the interview room, what should therapists do?

A) Buy expensive toys that children are likely to appreciate more than cheap toys.
B) Buy toys that are not easily broken.
C) Avoid buying toys with racial features so all children will be comfortable playing with them.
D) All of the above are correct.
E) It makes no difference what types of toys a therapist has in his/her office.

Question 38

Which of the following is a way to obtain family contingency-related data?

A) Observe for positive and/or dysfunctional reinforcement patterns during the caretaker/child session
B) Ask caretaker and child to discuss "what happens next" during family conflicts while together in the session
C) Separate caretaker and child and then inquire about "what happens next" during family conflict
D) All of the above could help
E) None of the above

Question 39

Madelyn hears and observes a parent engaging in dysfunctional parenting behavior in an intake session. What should Madelyn do?

A) Ideally, if there's no immediate danger, she should wait to develop a stronger therapy alliance with parent before offering feedback
B) Offer feedback to the parent immediately
C) Ignore the behavior and hope that it will eventually change
D) Confront the parent because parents can usually handle confrontation
E) Report the parent for child abuse

Question 40

The main difference between the termination phase of an interview with a child and that with an adult is:

A) Children are often more extreme and likely to act on their feelings.
B) Children are often less extreme and less likely to act on their feelings.
C) Children are more likely to make significant doorknob statements.
D) Children are more likely to be aware that the time is up.
E) There's really no difference in dealing with termination.