Deck 4: Theories of Counseling

Question 1

Professional counselors who operate with a core theoretical approach and maintain flexibility to add other approaches to that core as appropriate to the individual client are described as

A) eclectic.
B) integrative.
C) psychodynamic.
D) atheoretical.

Answer 1

integrative.

Question 2

A reason that professional counselors should study and use theories in their practice is

A) it is ethical practice for professional counselors to best help their clients.
B) empirically-based helping styles give the profession credibility.
C) clients will better understand what is happening in the counseling process.
D) All of the above.

Answer 2

All of the above.

Question 3

__________ theory is NOT a theoretical paradigm?

A) Humanistic-existential
B) Psychodynamic
C) Eclectic
D) Systems

Answer 3

Eclectic

Question 4

Freudians refer to the ego as the

A) reality principle.
B) guardian angel of the mind.
C) pleasure principle.
D) seat of libido.

Question 5

The superego refers to the ________ principle.

A) pleasure
B) reality
C) morality
D) logic

Question 6

All of the following theorists could be associated with the psychoanalytic movement EXCEPT:

A) Freud.
B) Jung.
C) Adler.
D) Wolpe.

Question 7

In which of the following theories is the counselor's role to be authentic, genuine, energetic, and help clients with unfinished business?

A) Person-centered
B) Adlerian
C) Rational-emotive behavior therapy
D) Gestalt

Question 8

When a client projects feelings toward the professional counselor that he originally had toward a significant other, it is called

A) free association.
B) insight.
C) transference.
D) resistance.

Question 9

Unconscious processes, which serve to minimize anxiety and protect the self from severe id or superego demands, are called

A) slips of the tongue.
B) ego defense mechanisms.
C) id defense processes.
D) latent dream material.

Question 10

Alfred Adler thought that people were primarily motivated by

A) the desire to create personal identity.
B) movement toward self-actualization.
C) physiological drives.
D) social interest.

Question 11

Common techniques in systems theory include all of the following EXCEPT

A) genograms.
B) "I" position.
C) detriangulation.
D) miracle question.

Question 12

Existentialists focus primarily on

A) the teenage years.
B) the client's perception in the here and now.
C) childhood traumas.
D) uplifting childhood memories.

Question 13

__________ is not compatible with the existential approach.

A) Personal responsibility
B) Predestination
C) Goodness of human nature
D) Meaning of life

Question 14

Frankl is an existentialist. So are

A) Ellis and Perls.
B) Perls and Stampfl.
C) Yalom and May.
D) Watson and Beck.

Question 15

Rogers' approach is characterized as a __________ approach.

A) humanistic
B) cognitive
C) cognitive behavioral
D) neodynamic

Question 16

Rogers viewed people as

A) basically evil.
B) driven by instincts.
C) a product of reinforcement.
D) positive when they develop in a warm, accepting, trusting environment.

Question 17

__________ was NOT one of Rogers' necessary and sufficient conditions for personality change.

A) Unconditional positive regard
B) Empathic understanding
C) The therapist as congruent and integrated
D) Accurate diagnosis

Question 18

Gestalt theory was developed by

A) Sigmund Freud.
B) Albert Ellis.
C) Fritz Perls.
D) Carl Rogers.

Question 19

An association that naturally exists, such as an animal salivating when food is presented, is

A) an operant.
B) conditioned.
C) unconditioned.
D) acquisition period.

Question 20

The __________ paradigm is the most action-oriented of the theoretical groupings.

A) humanistic/existential
B) psychodynamics
C) behavioral/cognitive-behavioral
D) constructivist

Question 21

Overgeneralization, mind reading, and catastrophizing are all examples of

A) cognitive distortions.
B) psychodynamic conceptualizations.
C) Rogerian techniques.
D) counselor attributes.

Question 22

Genograms, detriangulation, and differentiation of self are all techniques used within the __________ paradigm.

A) psychodynamic
B) humanistic
C) systems
D) cognitive-behavioral

Question 23

Personal constructs are defined as

A) personal relationships.
B) self-beliefs.
C) counselor's personal view of the client's issue.
D) distorted beliefs.

Question 24

The primary theorists associated with narrative counseling are

A) White and Epston.
B) Bowen and Satir.
C) Yalom and May
D) Eysenck and Krumboltz.

Question 25

__________ is NOT a theme in Feminist counseling?

A) Egalitarianism
B) Empowerment
C) Androgyny
D) Counselor as expert

Question 26

The optimal counseling theory for all clients is

A) cognitive-behavioral.
B) person-centered.
C) psychodynamic.
D) There is not one theory that works best for all clients.

Question 27

The __________ theory does NOT fit in the systems or emergent paradigms.

A) existential
B) narrative
C) constructivist
D) interpersonal therapy (IPT)

Question 28

Disputing irrational beliefs is a specific factor in

A) interpersonal therapy (IPT).
B) psychoanalysis.
C) rational emotive behavior therapy.
D) gestalt therapy.

Question 29

Major components of the psychodynamic paradigm include all of the following EXCEPT

A) insight.
B) unconscious motivation.
C) freedom and responsibility.
D) personality reconstruction.

Question 30

According to Freud, the part of the personality that acts on the reality principle is the

A) id.
B) ego.
C) superego.
D) conscious mind.

Question 31

A female therapist begins to react to a younger male client as if he were her son. This is an example of

A) role play.
B) empty chair.
C) transference.
D) countertransference.

Question 32

All of the following are psychodynamic techniques EXCEPT

A) dream analysis.
B) positive reinforcement.
C) free association.
D) interpretation.

Question 33

Humanists believe that human nature

A) is predetermined.
B) is fundamentally good.
C) lacks free will.
D) None of the above.

Question 34

According to Rogers, the primary motivating force of humans is ___________, or the tendency to move in the direction of growth, adjustment, socialization, independence, and self-realization.

A) self-actualization
B) empathy
C) genuineness
D) guilt

Question 35

According to Rogers, all of the following are core characteristics of a professional counselor EXCEPT

A) genuineness.
B) unconditional positive regard.
C) honesty.
D) empathy.

Question 36

According to the existentialist Rollo May, anxiety

A) is a pathological neuroses.
B) can be harmful to growth.
C) can be healthy and motivational.
D) should be reduced.

Question 37

The underlying goal in counseling using the existential perspective is to

A) solve the client's presenting issue.
B) restructure the client's negative thought processes.
C) explore the client's past experiences.
D) help the client find meaning in one's actions.

Question 38

Gestalt therapy's basic tenets are in direct opposition to

A) psychodynamic therapy.
B) cognitive-behavioral therapy.
C) person-centered therapy.
D) interpersonal therapy.

Question 39

According to gestalt therapy, the term that describes an individual who is experiencing issues in current functioning as a result of past experiences is

A) existential vacuum.
B) anxiety.
C) unfinished business.
D) neurosis.

Question 40

An important cross cultural consideration of behavioral counseling is the emphasis on

A) environmental conditions.
B) individual responsibility.
C) the nature of free will.
D) genetics.

Question 41

The belief that the way an individual interprets life events contributes to their psychological problems is the basis for

A) cognitive therapy.
B) rational emotive behavior therapy.
C) psycho dynamic therapy.
D) existential therapy.

Question 42

The ABCDEs of REBT include

A) Activating event, belief, consequence, dispute, and evaluation.
B) Action, belief, communication, denial, and evaluation.
C) Activating event, belief, communication, dispute, and evaluation.
D) Action, belief, consequence, dispute, and evaluation.

Question 43

Each of the following is a technique employed in a family systems therapy approach EXCEPT:

A) detriangulation.
B) genogram.
C) free association.
D) "I" position.

Question 44

According to narrative therapy, it may be helpful to use __________ with children who have been abused.

A) "Letters from the Future"
B) sparkling moments
C) card sort
D) personal constructs

Question 45

In regard to theoretical orientation, a professional counselor's ethical responsibility is to

A) understand counseling theory.
B) employ techniques with flexibility in order to be sensitive to the client's needs.
C) Both of the above.
D) None of the above.

Question 46

A good theory has all of the following characteristics EXCEPT

A) it has been practiced over a great deal of time.
B) it is clear and easily understood.
C) it is explicit and heuristic.
D) it is comprehensive.

Question 47

The __________ paradigm focuses on early childhood and the effects of these experiences on the adult personality.

A) humanistic-existential
B) systems
C) constructivist
D) psychodynamic

Question 48

Humanistic-Existentialists

A) believe that people possess qualities of goodness and worth.
B) focus on current and future functioning.
C) believe that people have the freedom and responsibility to grow and develop.
D) All of the above.

Question 49

According to Rogers, __________ is NOT an essential characteristic a professional counselor must employ for a therapeutic relationship to be established.

A) genuineness
B) self-actualization
C) empathy
D) unconditional positive regard

Question 50

Similar to person-centered counseling, Gestalt counselors believe

A) there are three essential characteristics needed for a therapeutic relationship to be established.
B) people have the need for a high self-regard.
C) people have the tendency to move toward wholeness.
D) None of the above.

Question 51

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic or belief of cognitive-behavioral theory?

A) Clients rarely realize what cognitions or behaviors are causing them discomfort.
B) Self-statements affect individual behaviors.
C) Clients and counselors share the responsibility of selecting goals.
D) Cognitive distortions include catastrophizing and mind reading.

Question 52

The genogram is often used in __________ theory.

A) narrative
B) psychoanalytic
C) feminist
D) family systems

Question 53

Applying theory requires

A) a great deal of knowledge of that theory.
B) flexibility.
C) documentation.
D) the permission of the client.

Question 54

Theoretical integration is different from eclecticism in that integration

A) is haphazard.
B) is based on the client's presenting symptoms.
C) is intentional.
D) lacks a unified theory.

Question 55

In psychoanalysis, the personality is perceived as being composed of all of the following EXCEPT

A) superego.
B) id.
C) defense mechanisms.
D) ego.

Question 56

In narrative counseling, exceptions to the client's story, or times when the outcomes of one's actions are inconsistent with what one says or does in the story, refer to

A) distortions.
B) sparkling moments.
C) personal constructs.
D) All of the above.

Question 57

Frankl believed an individual who sees life as meaningless and without value would be

A) in crisis.
B) experiencing existential anxiety.
C) in the here and now.
D) in an existential vacuum.

Question 58

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) was originally developed

A) for terminally-ill clients.
B) for children and adolescents.
C) for adults with depression.
D) for couples.

Question 59

Common techniques of IPT include all of the following EXCEPT:

A) role-playing.
B) communication analysis.
C) empty-chair.
D) describing interpersonal incidents.

Question 60

____________ is a technique used in solution-focused brief counseling (SFBC) to facilitate clients' thinking about situations during which the positive strategies learned during counseling might not work.

A) Flagging the minefield
B) Scaling
C) Role-playing
D) Thought stopping

Question 61

Rogerian person-centered counseling is identified with all of the following EXCEPT

A) empty chair.
B) non-directiveness.
C) self actualization.
D) empathy.

Question 62

The term existential anxiety stems from

A) our neurotic tendencies as human beings.
B) living in the past or in the future.
C) having freedom and responsibility to create meaning in our lives.
D) All of the above.

Question 63

Exercises such as the empty chair and role reversal are techniques primarily associated with

A) REBT.
B) Gestalt.
C) IPT.
D) person-centered therapy.

Question 64

Behavioral therapy is characterized by all of the following EXCEPT

A) action-oriented.
B) reinforcement.
C) observation of behavior.
D) nondirective.

Question 65

Cognitive-behaviorists believe that maladaptive behavior and psychological dysfunction stem from

A) cognitive distortions.
B) inability to distinguish fantasy and reality.
C) Both of the above.
D) None of the above.

Question 66

The ABC's of rational emotive behavior therapy include all of the following EXCEPT

A) belief.
B) dispute.
C) catastrophizing.
D) activating event.

Question 67

A family presents for counseling when the children are acting up and the parents are fighting. The approach of a family counselor would likely involve

A) helping the parents understand that their fighting causes the children's poor behavior.
B) helping the children understand that they are causing their parents' fighting.
C) exploring interactions among family members and helping all to see how the system can shift.
D) separating the family members and work with each individually.

Question 68

Which of the following is a criticism of emergent theories?

A) Many emergent theories lack an empirical base.
B) Emergent theories are out of touch with current counseling issues.
C) Most emergent theories do not allow enough time to delve into significant issues.
D) Counselors should not question the established theories.

Question 69

A feminist counselor might address a young woman's career contemplation by

A) exploring traditional and learned gender roles.
B) empowering the client to make her decisions.
C) reviewing career in the context of personal goals and drives.
D) All of the above.

Question 70

The __________ paradigm would most likely be associated with concepts of empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness?

A) psychodynamic
B) humanistic/existential
C) behavioral/cognitive behavioral
D) None of the above.

Question 71

Explain the importance of theories within the counseling profession.

Question 72

List and explain the five components of a good counseling theory.

Question 73

Compare and contrast specific factors and common factors.

Question 74

Describe three psychoanalytic theories.

Question 75

List the prominent theorists of the psychodynamic paradigm.

Question 76

Explain the use of a genogram and the theoretical approach with which it is usually associated.

Question 77

Compare and contrast constructivism and narrative theory.

Question 78

Explain important factors and aspects in applying theory to practice.

Question 79

Identify the counseling theories that fall into the newer, or emerging, paradigm.

Question 80

Compare and contrast integrative counseling and eclectic counseling.