Deck 6: Observing and Reflecting Feelings: the Heart of Empathic Understanding

Question 1

Classify each of the following counseling leads as a paraphrase (P), encourage (E), or reflection of feeling (RF). Client : Yes, somehow it just doesn't seem fair. I've taken care of myself, worked hard, and my spouse just says I'm angry and bitter. It hurts.
You feel hurt that your spouse says that.

A) P
B) E
C) RF

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Assuming you have sufficient trust, to help a client increase emotional expression, you might try

A) commenting on their nonverbals.
B) asking them to repeat emotionally loaded words.
C) holding back for an interview or two and avoiding the issue.
D) commenting on their nonverbals; asking them to repeat emotionally loaded words.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Classify each of the following counseling leads as a paraphrase (P), encourage (E), or reflection of feeling (RF). Client : If it were just my arthritis, I think I could deal with it, but I didn't expect to have muscle spasms and leg cramps so bad I can't walk as well. I feel totally useless.
I hear you saying you are very discouraged and hurting right now. Am I hearing you correctly?

A) P
B) E
C) RF

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Write reflections of feeling, paraphrases, and encouragers to the following client statements.
a. "I don't like this test. It is too long and difficult. It makes me angry when the instructor provides open-ended statements and expects me to provide the correct answer."
b. "I'm so pleased with myself. I did well on the examination in spite of the unfairness of the instructor. He's a nice person, but it was I who straightened the situation out. But on the other hand, he did sit and listen to me when I complained. A funny person he is."
c. "How do you expect me to handle role-playing, a skill I don't even understand? I've read the book three times and still it isn't clear. I've tried, but I am just so confused in this course.

Question 5

If you should be working in management, reflection of feeling

A) is often shortened to a brief acknowledgment of feeling.
B) plays itself out exactly the same as it does in counseling.
C) is a skill that should be reserved only for the most serious management problems.
D) all of these.

Question 6

Feelings are so important in the counseling process that

A) you should reflect every feeling you observe as it comes along.
B) you should only reflect those feelings that are directly apparent.
C) you should avoid reflecting discrepant feelings.
D) none of these.

Question 7

Classify each of the following counseling leads as a paraphrase (P), encourage (E), or reflection of feeling (RF). Client : I really wonder what's going to happen to me. I find myself aging faster than I anticipated. I simply can't do all that I'd like to do anymore. It makes me sick just to think of it. I'm confused and worried.
You're confused and worried over the changes that come with age.

A) P
B) E
C) RF

Question 8

The goal of reflection of feeling is to

A) help clients make implicit (or partially implicit) feelings explicit and clear.
B) identify feelings that the client denies.
C) make clients aware of the importance of emotion.
D) all of these.

Question 9

Classify each of the following counseling leads as a paraphrase (P), encourage (E), or reflection of feeling (RF). Client : If it were just my arthritis, I think I could deal with it, but I didn't expect to have muscle spasms and leg cramps so bad I can't walk as well. I feel totally useless.
Having more than one physical issue complicates things a good deal.

A) P
B) E
C) RF

Question 10

Which of the following is false?

A) individuals from different cultures may express feelings in different ways.
B) mixed emotions are usually obvious to the counselor and to the client.
C) effective counselors will note the feelings of clients and may reflect them back.
D) all of these.

Question 11

"I feel really terrible. My folks have divorced. They have moved apart and I don't know where to live." Which would be a reflection of feeling in response to this client?

A) "You're really confused."
B) "Really terrible?"
C) "Sounds like you're really upset and are confused as to what to do next."
D) "Looks like you have had a bad experience. I can see that it would be tough deciding what to do next."

Question 12

The check-out is important because

A) it provides the client room to clarify things that the interviewer may have missed.
B) it tends to clarify what the client has been saying.
C) if the counselor is wrong, the client can come back and restate the issue more clearly.
D) all of these.

Question 13

Write three responses: present tense, past tense, and future tense, to each of the following client statements. Indicate whether your response is an open or closed question, a paraphrase, an encourager, or a reflection of feeling.
a. "I've lived alone all my life. My parents died when I was young and it has been tough. But I've survived and I'm proud of what I have done."
b. "Well, one thing's for sure. My stepfather was really hard on me. I can't say I really like him, but I do respect him a great deal."
c. "But then, my mother-in-law right now really bugs me. She reminds me of my stepmother-always harsh and brassy. Not sensitive at all."

Question 14

When the feelings of the client are not fully understandable and seem confused,

A) it is best to ignore the feeling until you understand fully what the client is saying.
B) paraphrase and summarize what you have heard.
C) reflect the feelings as you have heard them, but include a check-out for accuracy.
D) all of these.

Question 15

Classify each of the following counseling leads as a paraphrase (P), encourage (E), or reflection of feeling (RF). Client : I really wonder what's going to happen to me. I find myself aging faster than I anticipated. I simply can't do all that I'd like to do anymore. It makes me sick just to think of it. I'm confused and worried.
You are wondering how to cope with the changes that age is bringing to you.

A) P
B) E
C) RF

Question 16

Classify each of the following counseling leads as a paraphrase (P), encourage (E), or reflection of feeling (RF). Client : I really wonder what's going to happen to me. I find myself aging faster than I anticipated. I simply can't do all that I'd like to do anymore. It makes me sick just to think of it. I'm confused and worried.
Confused and worried?

A) P
B) E
C) RF

Question 17

The tense of a reflection of feeling can be important. The authors state that the most immediate and potentially most powerful tense for a reflection of feeling would be

A) past tense.
B) present tense.
C) future tense.
D) all of these.

Question 18

Classify each of the following counseling leads as a paraphrase (P), encourage (E), or reflection of feeling (RF). Client : Yes, somehow it just doesn't seem fair. I've taken care of myself, worked hard, and my spouse just says I'm angry and bitter. It hurts.
The situation isn't fair after you've worked so hard to do right.

A) P
B) E
C) RF

Question 19

Classify each of the following counseling leads as a paraphrase (P), encourage (E), or reflection of feeling (RF). Client : If it were just my arthritis, I think I could deal with it, but I didn't expect to have muscle spasms and leg cramps so bad I can't walk as well. I feel totally useless.
You can't walk?

A) P
B) E
C) RF

Question 20

Classify each of the following counseling leads as a paraphrase (P), encourage (E), or reflection of feeling (RF). Client : Yes, somehow it just doesn't seem fair. I've taken care of myself, worked hard, and my spouse just says I'm angry and bitter. It hurts.
It hurts.

A) P
B) E
C) RF

Question 21

How might you encourage a client who resists emotion to express feelings more fully?

Question 22

You are working with a client who gets over-involved and too deep in emotion. There is a clear need to tone down emotional expression. How would you go about this?

Question 23

Discuss how the skill of acknowledgment of feeling may be useful in settings outside of counseling and interviewing.

Question 24

With some cultural groups, reflection of feeling may be inappropriate. Discuss how and when reflection may be used unwisely.