Deck 6: Initial Assessment in Counseling

Question 1

When assessing and defining each of the different problems a client is experiencing, it is important to:

A)ascertain problem intensity.
B)explore the problem from multiple perspectives.
C)identify previous methods the client has used to solve the problem.
D)all of the above

Answer 1

all of the above

Question 2

Clients who perceive their counselors as __________, __________, and __________, tend to have better outcomes in counselor than clients who do not have such perceptions.

A)intelligent; spontaneous; challenging
B)humorous; older; warm
C)reserved; pragmatic; articulate
D)trustworthy; expert; attractive

Answer 2

trustworthy; expert; attractive

Question 3

When interviewing clients, counselors need to attend to both the _____________ and the __________ of the interview.

A)breadth; depth
B)specificity; intensity
C)content; process
D)length; structure

Answer 3

content; process

Question 4

The first stage of Prochaska's transtheoretical model of behavior change is:

A)precontemplation
B)contemplation
C)preparation
D)action

Question 5

One of the major advantages of structured over unstructured interviews is:

A)the client is less likely to feel interrogated.
B)they tend to be more valid than unstructured interviews.
C)they tend to be more reliable than unstructured interviews.
D)all of the above

Question 6

When interviewing children, counselors should:

A)gear the interview toward the child's developmental level and provide an explanation of why they are asking questions.
B)skip over any questions the child appears to be reluctant to answer.
C)ask closed-ended questions because children cannot answer open-ended questions.
D)typically use an established structured interview.

Question 7

All of the following questions might be the focus of an initial intake interview, except:

A)What is the client's preference in theoretical orientation?
B)What are client's major issues?
C)Can counseling be effective with this client?
D)What is the best treatment approach?

Question 8

If a child during a counseling session begins crying, plays disruptively, or misbehaves in some way, Greenspan and Greenspan (1981) recommend:

A)immediately stopping the disruptive behavior.
B)requesting that the parents/guardians of the child help stop the behavior.
C)not stopping the behavior too quickly.
D)do nothing and let the child stop the behavior on his/her own.

Question 9

A(n) ____________ interview consists of an established set of questions that are asked in the same manner and sequence to each client.

A)standardized
B)structured
C)semi-structured
D)unstructured

Question 10

One of the major advantages of unstructured interviews is:

A)they are always more valid than structured interviews.
B)they are more reliable than structured interviews.
C)they are easier to perform than a structured interview.
D)they can be easily modified to respond to the unique needs of the client.

Question 11

Initial intake interviews usually focus on:

A)the range and scope of the client's concerns.
B)pertinent details about the current situation.
C)relevant background information to the current problems.
D)all of the above

Question 12

In an initial interview, it is usually better to use:

A)closed-ended questions because they are more valid.
B)open-ended questions because they are less likely to lead or unduly influence the client.
C)open-ended questions at first and then closed-ended questions in the last half of the session.
D)few questions because clients typically feel uncomfortable with questions.

Question 13

Prochaska and associates have found that:

A)the change process starts when people initiate new behaviors.
B)the process of change is unique for every individual.
C)people progress through five stages in the change process.
D)effective counseling results in the completion of all stages of change.

Question 14

A psychosocial interview is typically associated with:

A)Wechsler's specific questions on psychosocial development.
B)gathering client background information.
C)instruments that measure psychosocial development.
D)determining the client's developmental level.

Question 15

According to Prochaska's model, at which stage of change to clients begin to make small changes in their behavior, with the intent of taking stronger action in the near future?

A)precontemplation
B)preparation
C)contemplation
D)action

Question 16

Once the counselor has identified each of the significant problems the client is experiencing, the next step is to:

A)work on establishing a good relationship.
B)prioritize these problems.
C)administer a personality assessment.
D)select a treatment approach to address all problems.

Question 17

The issues that clients have are:

A)often hidden, with real issues never being expressed in the initial session.
B)multidimensional and require skill in identifying and clarifying.
C)clearly articulated by most clients in the initial session of counseling.
D)connected to one underlying problem that the counselor needs to identify.

Question 18

In an intake interview, health and medical conditions should:

A)typically be addressed.
B)not be addressed unless the client is over 40.
C)not be addressed since questions about health issues can influence the relationship.
D)be explored if the client brings it up first.

Question 19

Client demographic information:

A)may be gathered through agency paperwork rather than during an interview
B)may be need to aid in clinical decision making
C)should be reviewed with the client to check for accuracy and correctness
D)all of the above

Question 20

An effective initial interview should involve a balance of gathering information and:

A)describing the theoretical orientation of the clinician.
B)beginning the implementation of therapeutic interventions.
C)building a therapeutic relationship.
D)establishing ground rules for fee payment.

Question 21

It is important that counselors identify ________________ that a client may be taking.

A)prescription medications
B)over-the-counter medications
C)street drugs
D)all of the above

Question 22

A rating scale where clients are asked to indicate their placement on a spectrum between two opposite terms (i.e., place an X on the spot that best describes how you feel: shy ------------------ outgoing) is called a(n) ________________ rating scale.

A)bipolar
B)opposites
C)dual-term
D)semantic-differential

Question 23

In ___________, clients are instructed to mark the given words or phrases that apply to them.

A)checklists
B)rating scales
C)projective techniques
D)clinical scales

Question 24

A very well-known and used standardized checklist that examines client distressing symptoms is the :

A)Distressed Symptomology Scale (DSS).
B)Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
C)Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R).
D)Symptom Index 3^rd Ed (SI-III).

Question 25

Which of the following is not a common symptom of depression?

A)feelings of anxiety and resentment
B)difficulties with concentration and decision making
C)feeling keyed-up and on edge
D)changes in sleep patterns

Question 26

The most widely-used instrument that assesses depression is the:

A)Beck Depression Inventory or Beck Depression Inventory-II
B)Hamilton Depression Inventory
C)Minnesota Depression Scale
D)Reynolds Depression Scale

Question 27

When assessing substance abuse, counselors need to focus on assessing:

A)internal and external triggers that precede the substance use.
B)social and interpersonal factors.
C)type of substances used and amount taken.
D)all of the above.

Question 28

The findings that people are influenced by first impressions, and these impressions influence subsequent ratings is called the:

A)leniency error
B)first impressions error
C)positive tendency error
D)halo effect

Question 29

In conducting an interview with a client from another culture, the counselor should:

A)conduct the interview using closed-ended questions.
B)consider the degree to which self-disclosure is encouraged in that culture.
C)use a multiple-choice format in the interviewing.
D)use checklists or rating scales rather than interviews.

Question 30

During the initial session, counselors should be sure to assess clients for each of the following problems except for:

A)depression
B)irritability
C)substance abuse
D)suicide potential

Question 31

Which of the following demographic factors related to suicide is incorrect?

A)Women are more likely to attempt suicide as compared to men.
B)Single, divorced, or widowed individuals are at greater risk of committing suicide than married individuals.
C)White or Caucasian clients are more likely to commit suicide than African-American clients.
D)Male adolescents are more likely to commit suicide than males over the age of 85.

Question 32

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (2010), suicide is the _____ leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 15 and 24.

A)1^st
B)5^th
C)2^nd
D)3^rd

Question 33

An instrument that requires clients to rate their level of anxiety from (1) not at all anxious to (5) extremely anxious is a:

A)checklist
B)rating scale
C)projective technique
D)clinical scale

Question 34

The central component of motivational interviewing is to:

A)roll with resistance
B)express empathy
C)support self-efficacy
D)develop discrepancy

Question 35

Informal checklists that do not have psychometric data:

A)should not be used by clinicians.
B)can be used for diagnostic purposes.
C)should be researched by an impartial third party in order to establish their reliability and validity.
D)may be used with caution for gathering preliminary information and identifying possible concerns.

Question 36

Central tendency error refers to the tendency for individuals to:

A)score near the mean.
B)respond in the middle of the ratings on rating scales.
C)prefer to give middle ratings rather than unfavorable ratings.
D)answer correctly about 50% of the time.

Question 37

In general, a strength of interviews as an assessment strategy is that:

A)they are shorter than most standardized assessments
B)they allow counselors to directly question clients about their concerns
C)they have the strongest reliability and validation evidence
D)they are the most cost-effective of the published assessment instruments

Question 38

One of the problems with instruments designed to assess suicide potential is:

A)there is too little research on factors that predict potential to commit suicide.
B)validating an instrument that predicts committing suicide.
C)clinicians are not interested in using these instruments.
D)all of the above

Question 39

When assessing the risk of suicide, the counselor should explore:

A)if there is an actual plan.
B)the availability of the method and the degree to which the method is lethal.
C)past, present, and future stressors.
D)all of the above

Question 40

The counselor should evaluate the client for possible suicidal ideation if the client:

A)is depressed.
B)exhibits generalized anxiety.
C)has low self-esteem.
D)is hostile.

Question 41

In addition to the six required categories of the MSE it also important to include _______________________ in the MSE report.

A)psychosocial background information
B)an extensive developmental history
C)a list of client strengths and weaknesses
D)recommendations for assessment and intervention

Question 42

The SASSI-3 has very high rate (93%) of identifying individuals with __________________.

A)substance-related disorders
B)high levels of depression
C)disorganized thoughts
D)possible suicidal ideation

Question 43

An assessment technique where clients are asked to limit or control their drinking (e.g., limit the number of drinks to 2 drinks at any occasion) is called the:

A)SASSI
B)acid test
C)Jelinek Scale
D)Rand Scale

Question 44

Which of the following is not included in a typical mental status exam (MSE)?

A)appearance, attitude, and activity
B)interpersonal skills
C)speech and language
D)insight and judgment Discussion Questions

Question 45

Cognition, the fifth category assessed in the MSE, refers to:

A)current and past thoughts about perception of self.
B)the ability to solve multiple word problems in a fixed period of time.
C)level of intelligence based upon client's historical records of intelligence testing.
D)intellectual functioning and the ability to think logically and rationally.

Question 46

A ______________________ may conducted during the initial session or intake interview for the purpose of understanding a client's level of functioning and self-presentation.

A)detailed structured interview
B)self-administered checklist
C)mental status exam (MSE)
D)perception-presentation interview