Question 1

'Informed Consent' in a counseling situations means__________.

Accepted Answer

Informed consent is a "contract" between the clinician and the client, brought out and discussed in the first session, outlining both clinician and client responsibilities to the therapeutic process. Informed consent forms may vary from clinician to clinician, but usually include information about confidentiality, duty to warn, the clinician's approach to therapy, and other "housekeeping" duties such as scheduling, after hours information, etc. Client responsibilities may include keeping appointments, agreeing to do assignments, or other elements the clinician believes are important enough to put in writing.

Question 2

If a counselor is aware that a client is engaging in using illegal drugs, is the counselor bound by law to notify the proper authorities of this activity?

Accepted Answer

If a counselor is aware that a client is engaging in illegal drug use, the counselor is not bound by law to notify the proper authorities or this activity. The counselor should only break confidentiality and notify the proper authorities if the client's activities will likely do harm to him or herself, another person, or property. Once a client trusts his or her counselor, the counselor might ask if he or she would like help with the drug issue. The counselor might cite health, financial, or legal reasons as incentive for the client to kick his or her habit.

Question 3

Counselors have a responsibility to protect clients who threaten suicide or any other form of physical harm against themselves. This is usually called ____________.

Accepted Answer

Duty to warn is the duty to protect clients who present a danger to themselves or others. The decision to break confidentiality is not an easy one and should be made with extreme care; consult with a colleague or supervisor when faced with this issue.

Question 4

Confidentiality is an important aspect of the therapeutic relationship. Why?

Accepted Answer

Confidentiality is an important aspect of the therapeutic relationship because it helps the clients feel safe in treatment and encourages them to share sensitive material. It helps the client trust the clinician, not the other way around. At the same time, confidentiality has limits; for clients who are minors, those who present a danger to themselves or others, or those who have abused a child, an elderly person, or a disabled person.

Question 5

When a counselor is seeing clients under supervision, what does the client need to know about the arrangement?

Accepted Answer

The counselor will need to receive consent to release information from the client in most states in order to discuss counseling progress with the supervisor. It is important for clients to realize the counselor is being supervised by a licensed clinician and what this entails for the client. It is not necessary for the client to know how often the counselor meets with the supervisor, although they might ask.

Question 6

What rights do clients have in relation to the testing process?

Accepted Answer

In a clinical test, the client has the right to receive pertinent information before giving consent to participate. Furthermore, the client has the right to approve or deny in writing the publication of results of the test. The client also has the right to an interpreter if necessary. Of course, there may be extenuating circumstances that need special care.

Question 7

Counseling practitioners may fully discuss clients with which of the following?

Accepted Answer

None of the options listed are people with whom counseling practitioners may fully discuss clients. Practitioners discuss confidential matters of their work only for appropriate scientific or professional reasons and only with other professionals that are concerned with such matters.

Question 8

How would you describe a dual relationship in one word?

Accepted Answer

Dual relationships usually cause a counselor to lose objectivity and effectiveness, therefore they are considered unethical. There is occasionally a relationship between client and counselor that is considered ethical if it can reasonably be expected to cause no harm to, or exploitation of, the client.

Question 9

What method is often used in securing informed consent?

Accepted Answer

After thoroughly informing the client of all aspects of the counseling, such as fees, style, and expectations of both parties, the counselor then asks for either a written or oral (or both) consent.

Question 10

What is one instance that might cause a clinician to break the strong code of client confidentiality?

Accepted Answer

The duty to warn directive is one instance whereby the therapist might need to break the confidentiality within its code of ethics. If the client is strongly indicating suicide or the harming of someone else, the therapist would probably discuss this with a colleague or supervisor and then act as needed with the decision reached between the therapist and colleague/supervisor. The therapist's duty is to protect his/her client and any person that client might harm.

Question 11

One aspect of role induction is ______________.

Accepted Answer

Role induction is the process of familiarizing the client with the nature of counseling, their responsibilities in this collaborative process, and the kinds of changes that can realistically be expected from treatment. This undertaking can help both client and clinician view each other as engaged in a common endeavor that is likely to succeed.

Question 12

Driving a car; telephone etiquette

Accepted Answer

Helping people develop skills like resume writing and interviewing techniques are some of the things career counselors do to create a more effective job search. Other skills they might teach include post-interview etiquette, the 30-second "sound bite" of personal information, and dressing for success.

Question 13

When is clinician self-disclosure appropriate? Choose all that apply.

Accepted Answer

Clinician self-disclosure may be used judiciously when it enhances the collaborative nature of the client-clinician relationship or when providing a different perspective. Clinician self-disclosure may also be used to provide useful feedback and to normalize a client's reactions.

Question 14

Elena's client admitted to drinking excessively at a party. Which of the following questions is most likely to have a negative impact on the client?

Accepted Answer

The question "why did you drink so much?" has an accusatory ring to it and can put the client on the defensive, closing down any further communication between client and clinician. "How did you feel about that" elicits the client's feelings about her actions and is nonjudgmental, likely leading to an exploration of her feelings behind the action of drinking excessively. "What happened?" is a general question asking for clarification and the client would go on with her narrative, perhaps giving background information and leading to more discussion. "What would you do differently next time?" allows the client to see drinking excessively as a behavior she can choose or not choose and would again lead to further conversation and insight into the behavior.

Question 15

In modifying faulty self-efficacy beliefs, a social cognitive career counselor may assist their client to __________ and ____________.

Accepted Answer

A social cognitive career counselor may assist their client in modifying a faulty self-efficacy belief by helping them develop new performance beliefs and reanalyze past experiences that have led to the faulty beliefs they hold. An example may be a person who believes they cannot learn to use a computer based on a past experience. A counselor may enroll them in a basic computer class and as the person learns computer skills, they also develop new performance beliefs about the computer and can then reanalyze the faulty belief that they could not have a career that had anything to do with computers.

Question 16

What are some techniques used in psychodynamic therapy?

Accepted Answer

Free association and building a strong therapeutic alliance are some techniques used in psychodynamic therapy. Other techniques include recognizing resistance and transference, working through painful memories and difficult issues, and catharsis. A main belief in psychodynamic therapy is that problems develop mainly from early childhood events.

Question 17

One way an expectancy table can be used in counseling is for making decisions. Another way is:

Accepted Answer

Another way an expectancy table can be used in counseling is to provide clients with information on how they might succeed in a particular area. For example, when deciding upon a career path, one might use an expectancy table to calculate the likelihood of success in any given career. The higher the score indicated on the table, the more likely you are to succeed at a career.

Question 18

When considering treatment goals for brief solution-based therapy, what considerations need to be kept in mind?

Accepted Answer

Treatment goals for brief solution-based therapy need to be meaningful and important to clients, need to be small and within easy reach rather than large and challenging, and need to be written down, with a copy for both the client and clinician. Additionally, goals should be realistic and achievable, measurable and within the client's control.

Question 19

What type of therapy would be the basis for a smoking cessation program?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that cognitive behavior therapy is effective in smoking cessation programs. Additionally, evidence indicates that this type of therapy is useful for treating mental health disorders such as eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Treatment is well planned and structured, focusing on changing thoughts and behaviors.

Question 20

Before cognitive therapists move forward with interventions, they take the time to develop a _______________.

Accepted Answer

A case formulation allows clinicians to develop a treatment plan that is likely to be successful. It includes six elements including a list of problems and concerns, hypotheses about the core belief or schema, relationship of this believe to current problems, precipitants of current problems, understanding of the background relevant to the core belief, and anticipated obstacles to treatment.

Quiz 3: Counseling and Psychotherapy