TCC Texas Counselor Counseling Theories & Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In Adlerian therapy, what is the primary goal of the 'lifestyle assessment'?
- To diagnose personality disorders
- To understand the client's unique pattern of beliefs and behaviors developed in childhood (Correct answer)
- To measure cognitive distortions
- To evaluate social learning history
Correct answer: To understand the client's unique pattern of beliefs and behaviors developed in childhood
Adlerian lifestyle assessment explores the client's early recollections, family constellation, and core beliefs to understand their unique way of navigating the world.
Question 2: Which technique in Gestalt therapy involves the client speaking to an empty chair to work through unfinished business?
- Mirroring
- Empty chair technique (Correct answer)
- Role reversal
- Systematic desensitization
Correct answer: Empty chair technique
The empty chair technique allows clients to address unresolved feelings toward a person or part of themselves by speaking directly to an imagined presence.
Question 3: A counselor using Motivational Interviewing (MI) asks, 'What would have to happen for you to consider making a change?' This is an example of:
- Closed-ended questioning
- Evoking change talk (Correct answer)
- Confrontation
- Psychoeducation
Correct answer: Evoking change talk
Evoking change talk in MI involves asking questions that elicit the client's own motivations and reasons for change.
Question 4: In Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), the 'B' in the ABC model stands for:
- Behavior
- Beliefs (Correct answer)
- Background
- Baseline
Correct answer: Beliefs
In REBT's ABC model, A=Activating event, B=Beliefs (rational or irrational), and C=Consequences (emotional and behavioral).
Question 5: Which family therapy approach uses 'triangulation' as a key concept to explain relational dynamics?
- Structural family therapy
- Bowen systems theory (Correct answer)
- Strategic family therapy
- Narrative therapy
Correct answer: Bowen systems theory
Bowen's systems theory describes triangulation as the process of involving a third party to reduce tension between two individuals in a relationship.
Question 6: A counselor who uses scaling questions ('On a scale of 1-10, how confident are you?') is most likely practicing which approach?
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) (Correct answer)
- Existential therapy
- Behavioral activation
Correct answer: Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
Scaling questions are a hallmark SFBT technique used to assess client progress, confidence, and motivation.
Question 7: In Person-Centered therapy, the therapist quality of 'congruence' refers to:
- Agreeing with the client's worldview
- Being genuine and transparent in the therapeutic relationship (Correct answer)
- Maintaining strict professional boundaries
- Mirroring the client's body language
Correct answer: Being genuine and transparent in the therapeutic relationship
Congruence means the counselor is authentic and does not present a façade, allowing genuine presence in the therapeutic relationship.
TCC Texas Counselor Counseling Theories & Techniques 2
In Adlerian therapy, what is the primary goal of the 'lifestyle assessment'?