Deck 9: Existential Therapy

Question 1

"Logotherapy" refers to therapy focused on

A)symbols.
B)meaning.
C)work.
D)literature.

Answer 1

meaning.

Question 2

Existential guilt results when we

A)fail to take responsibility for making our lives meaningful.
B)realize that we have physically or emotionally hurt another person.
C)realize that we have not helped those who are less fortunate.
D)admit that we cannot accomplish all of our goals in life.

Answer 2

fail to take responsibility for making our lives meaningful.

Question 3

_____________ is often the result of efforts to defend against existential guilt.

A)Anxiety
B)Psychosis
C)Regression
D)Depression

Answer 3

Depression

Question 4

Existential therapists believe that emotional difficulties stem from failure to

A)develop meaningful bonds with early parental figures.
B)develop congruence among thoughts, feelings, and actions.
C)deal with and transcend characteristics of the human condition.
D)integrate the various ego states.

Question 5

The existential concept of "dasein" includes

A)being problem-free.
B)being present.
C)denying the inevitability of death.
D)the static nature of existence.

Question 6

The practice of not telling children that they were adopted has largely been replaced by telling children of this fact at an early age. The current practice is an example of support for the existential concept of

A)disclosure.
B)awareness.
C)fairness.
D)responsibility.

Question 7

Adam, a legislator, was asked by a special interest group to vote for legislation which he did not truly support. Despite his feelings, Adam voted for the law because he had offended the group in the past and wanted to garner their support for future legislative efforts. In existential terms, Adam is

A)experiencing existential guilt.
B)demonstrating dasein.
C)subordinating his wishes to the common good.
D)wearing a mask of inauthenticity.

Question 8

A concept shared by both existential and person-centered therapy is that of

A)nondirectiveness.
B)actualization.
C)dasein.
D)logotherapy.

Question 9

The fundamental goal of existential therapy is to

A)help people accept the futility of life.
B)accurately diagnose and treat client dysfunction.
C)avoid the pitfalls of cognitive-behavioral therapy.
D)help people find value, meaning, and purpose in their lives.

Question 10

"Being in the world" refers to

A)Clients' ability to continue toward self-actualization after treatment termination.
B)Clinician's ability to develop a therapeutic alliance.
C)Clients' understanding how they relate to the world at large.
D)Clinicians' understanding of clients' objective and subjective worlds.

Question 11

Existential therapy is more a philosophy than a structured treatment system.

Question 12

Yalom and other existential therapists believe that confronting the fear of death can help people to live a more meaningful life.

Question 13

The unconscious sexual and aggressive drives are important areas for exploration in existential therapy.

Question 14

Existential therapists emphasize the importance of experiencing the unity of self and world.

Question 15

Existential clinicians attempt to create a value-free therapeutic environment.

Question 16

Existential clinicians do not hold back their views.

Question 17

Existential therapists seek "I to thou" relationships with their clients.

Question 18

Existential therapy is an appropriate choice for crisis resolution.

Question 19

Inventories are rarely used in existential therapy.

Question 20

The growing emphasis on spirituality in counseling is consistent with the existential perspective.

Question 21

Explain the four steps in the exploration of a Symbolic Growth Experience.

Question 22

Define paradoxical intention and dereflection. Provide one example of a paradoxical intention.

Question 23

Describe the kinds of people and diagnostic groups for whom existential therapy seems most appropriate. Include a discussion of its applicability to culturally diverse groups.

Question 24

Describe the differences among expressed, manifest, and inventoried values. Provide three questions that you would use to explore expressed values and three questions that you would use to explore manifest values. How would you explore inventoried values?