NCE Counseling Theory 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best describes the concept of 'countertransference' in psychodynamic therapy?
- The client's redirection of feelings from past relationships onto the therapist
- The therapist's emotional reactions to the client influenced by the therapist's own unresolved issues (Correct answer)
- A mutual resistance that develops between client and therapist
- The therapist's deliberate use of personal feelings as a therapeutic tool
Correct answer: The therapist's emotional reactions to the client influenced by the therapist's own unresolved issues
Countertransference refers to the therapist's unconscious emotional responses to the client, shaped by the therapist's own history and conflicts.
Question 2: Person-centered therapy's concept of 'congruence' refers to:
- Agreement between the client's stated goals and the counselor's treatment plan
- The therapist being genuine and transparent rather than hiding behind a professional facade (Correct answer)
- Matching the client's communication style and cultural background
- Consistency between the client's thoughts and reported emotions
Correct answer: The therapist being genuine and transparent rather than hiding behind a professional facade
Congruence (genuineness) means the therapist's inner experience and outer expression are aligned, fostering an authentic therapeutic relationship.
Question 3: Narrative therapy, associated with Michael White and David Epston, encourages clients to:
- Reauthor their life stories by separating themselves from problem-saturated narratives (Correct answer)
- Explore early childhood memories to uncover repressed traumas
- Challenge irrational core beliefs through Socratic questioning
- Practice mindfulness to reduce experiential avoidance
Correct answer: Reauthor their life stories by separating themselves from problem-saturated narratives
Narrative therapy uses externalizing conversations and re-storying to help clients see that they are not their problems and can write alternative life narratives.
Question 4: According to Erikson's psychosocial theory, the central conflict of adolescence is:
- Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
- Industry vs. Inferiority
- Identity vs. Role Confusion (Correct answer)
- Intimacy vs. Isolation
Correct answer: Identity vs. Role Confusion
During adolescence (ages 12–18), Erikson believed the primary developmental task is forming a coherent personal identity versus experiencing confusion about one's role.
Question 5: In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, 'behavioral activation' is primarily used to treat:
- Panic disorder with agoraphobia
- Depression and anhedonia (Correct answer)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Bipolar I disorder during manic episodes
Correct answer: Depression and anhedonia
Behavioral activation targets depression by increasing engagement in rewarding activities to break cycles of withdrawal, avoidance, and low mood.
Question 6: Which theoretical approach uses the concept of 'differentiation of self' to explain emotional functioning within families?
- Structural family therapy
- Bowen Family Systems Theory (Correct answer)
- Strategic family therapy
- Experiential family therapy
Correct answer: Bowen Family Systems Theory
Bowen's theory centers on differentiation of self — the ability to maintain one's identity and values while staying emotionally connected to others.
Question 7: A counselor working with a trauma survivor uses EMDR. The 'bilateral stimulation' in EMDR is thought to function by:
- Reinforcing adaptive cognitions through classical conditioning
- Facilitating the brain's natural information processing of traumatic memories (Correct answer)
- Distracting the client from distressing content during exposure
- Activating the parasympathetic nervous system through guided imagery
Correct answer: Facilitating the brain's natural information processing of traumatic memories
EMDR's bilateral stimulation (eye movements, taps, or tones) is hypothesized to facilitate adaptive processing of traumatic memories stored in a dysfunctional state.
NCE Counseling Theory 3
Which of the following best describes the concept of 'countertransference' in psychodynamic therapy?