Ch2 Full Test Bank The Skills, Process and Pitfalls of

Bob Shebib

Choices: Interviewing and Counselling Skills for Canadians, 6/e

Chapter 2

The Skills, Process and Pitfalls for Counselling

Test Bank

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Brain research has demonstrated that counselling

a. does not result in fundamental changes to the brain

b. cannot stimulate neurogenesis

c. stimulates neurogenesis

d. should be supplemented with appropriate medication

e. can dampen the effects of medication

2. Psychotherapy

a. targets severe emotional difficulties

b. is limited to behavioural change

c. focuses on working with psychopaths

d. usually utilizes Freudian techniques

e. uses advocacy to effect systemic change

3. Which of the following statements is true?

a. counsellors are versatile, but psychotherapists use only standardized techniques

b. there is no clear dividing line between the terms “counselling” and “psychotherapy” and they are often used interchangeably

c. counsellors pay attention to the social environment

d. psychotherapists prescribe medicine

e. psychotherapy requires a degree in medicine

4. A “one size fits all” approach to counselling

a. insures uniformity in the application of principles

b. recognizes the importance of equal treatment for all clients

c. respects diversity

d. prevents counsellors from tailoring their approach to meet the needs of individual clients.

e. is a requirement of all ethical codes

5. All but one of the following statements are true

a. counsellors can motivate clients by conveying optimism

b. counselling requires an extended period of time in order to be effective

c. counsellor empathy may help clients accept their feelings as normal

d. short sessions or even brief encounters with clients have the potential to be helpful

e. counselling can be modified to fit the needs of individual clients

6. The term “positive regard” is best defined as

a. being real and honest with clients

b. remaining optimistic

c. recognizing the inherent worth of people

d. paying attention to strengths

e. none of the above

7. Which of the following is a core condition

a. silence

b. asking questions

c. attending

d. summarizing

e. genuineness

8. Attending means

a. contracting re: role and purpose

b. showing up on time

c. modifying one’s approach to meet individual needs

d. communicating physical and psychological attention

e. focusing on key aspects of the interview

9. According to Egan, immediacy is

a. a tool for examining and deepening counselling relationships

b. one of the core conditions of helping

c. a contract on the goals of the helping relationship

d. a specialized technique that should only be used by trained therapists

e. none of the above

10. Empowering skills

a. help clients develop control and self-esteem

b. represents an abuse of the power relationship

c. helps counsellors manage the flow of the interview

d. require involuntary clients to accept counselling

e. are strictly prohibited by professional codes of ethics

11. Which of the following is an example of a directive?

a. It sounds like you are feeling sad

b. What do you expect to achieve from counselling?

c. How do you feel?

d. Tell me more

e. “Uh huh”

12. According to the text, which of the following is not a phase of counselling?

a. transition

b. beginning

c. ending

d. preliminary

e. action

13. A trauma-informed approach

a. recognizes that people respond in unique ways to trauma

b. requires that counsellors assume responsibility for client decisions

c. insures psychological safety before dealing with basic needs

d. requires that all traumatized clients are referred for psychological evaluation

e. minimizes pressure on clients to make choices

14. Catharsis is best described as

a. a mental disorder

b. a brain test

c. suppression of feelings

d. release of feelings

e. emphasis on Catholic doctrine

15. Pseudo-counselling is

a. the “illusion of work”

b. counselling based on Freudian principles

c. counselling performed by licensed professionals

d. counselling performed by unlicensed professionals

e. a counselling approach developed by Carl Rogers

True-False Questions

1. The overall goal of counselling is client empowerment.
2. Counsellors should be consistent in their use of skills regardless of the motivation
   of their clients.
3. Professional counsellors must attain competence in all areas of the work.
4. All human behaviour has a purpose.
5. A one-size fits all model of counselling insures that people are treated equally.
6. Attending communicates physical and psychological presence.
7. Genuineness is the capacity to be real and consistent with clients.
8. Active listening requires counsellors to do most of the talking.
9. Silence in counselling should be avoided if it makes clients uncomfortable.
10. Counsellors should routinely self-disclose as a way of reminding clients that they
    are human.
11. Each phase of counselling is distinguished by different activities and skills.
12. The skill of tuning in is used to anticipate feelings and concerns that clients might bring to the interview.
13. Catharsis involves systematic questioning to help clients identify solutions.
14. The core conditions are questioning, appropriate use of silence, and empowerment.
15. Defence mechanisms are problematic ways of responding to stress.

Answers: True – 1, 4, 6, 7, 11, 12; False – 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15

Short Answer Questions

1. What are the four phases of counselling? What skills are associated with each phase?
2. Identify the six skills associated with active listening.
3. Explain why good listening requires counsellors to be good responders.
4. What is the strengths approach to counselling?
5. Identify some of the reasons why counselling might be unsuccessful.
6. What are the key features of trauma-informed approach to counselling?

Essays

1. Imagine that you are seeing a counsellor for the first time. Explore your fears and expectations regarding the counselling process. Discuss what counsellor attitudes, skills and responses you would find most helpful. How do you think your experience might be the same or different for other people?
2. Review how the terms “counselling” and “psychotherapy” are defined and discussed in professional books and articles. Conclude your paper by offering your own definition of each.

3. The textbook emphasizes the importance of counsellor versatility. Write an essay that supports this notion. Use concrete examples to support your arguments.

4. One essential theme of the text is that effective counsellors need to be versatile and not rely on a “one size fits all” approach to clients. Our natural tendency to repeat our comfort style acts against the goal of versatility. For example, many people tend to be quiet when they first meet people, then open up as they become more relaxed. For many situations, this is a good way to begin relationships, but it is not the only choice. Consider, for example, that in some social service encounters with clients, the preferred choice is for the counsellor to more extroverted in order to reach out to quieter or isolated clients. We assume that not all people will respond favourably to your preferred style and situational variables may require different approaches. Consequently, it is important to develop a range of different strategy choices for handling beginnings so that you are not locked into repeating the same established pattern each time.

• Identify a skill that you wish to develop.

• Detail your rationale (reasons) for picking this particular skill. Include some discussion of your current limitations.

• Describe your typical use (or non-use) of this skill.

• Discuss the circumstances (with reference to clients) you might encounter in a social service setting) under which your typical style might be an asset and a limitation. Be specific.

• Identify a goal for development. This goal will represent a style choice that you wish to add to your skill repertoire.

• Outline an action plan for reaching your goal.

5. Write a paper that explores the risks of burnout and vicarious trauma. Identify strategies that counsellors can use to avoid these unfortunate outcomes.