Question 1

In order to provide a safe space for clients to express themselves spiritually, which of the following might help signal the client that it is safe to discuss?

Accepted Answer

Books on therapy and religion show that you are someone who recognizes the importance of spirituality in the work that you do. All of the other options seem to imply a certain impression that religion itself could make upon the client that leaves less room for a spiritual discussion if it didn't include religion.

Question 2

Which of the following addresses how to work with someone grieving the loss of a pet?

Accepted Answer

When people are making choices about who to include in their lives and who or what to value, we respect those decisions, even if they are decisions that we might not make for ourselves. The only answer in this set that provides for the opportunity for someone to grow is A, treating the relationship as very valuable.

Question 3

When a client has romantic feelings for his therapist, how should the therapist provide the safest environment?

Accepted Answer

Transference is a very common occurrence in therapy, particularly if you spend enough time with the same therapist. This person's safe space would best be provided by explaining the normalcy of this happening, the surprising frequency, and that the outcome does not need to be a relationship beyond that of therapist and client. The client will have an entirely new sense of safety and responsibility.

Question 4

Brett is a thirteen-year-old high school freshman. Which might be the best way to get to know him?

Accepted Answer

High school teens always have interests. No matter what, they have friends, they're going to school, and they have experiences at home that they like to relate to people who can understand. The other options all have an aspect of blaming that is involved. In order to make progress, you must be willing to explore some of those interests further and eventually, you will be able to talk about underlying issues that brought him in.

Question 5

When a family presents about a father's drinking problem, where might you be most helpful as a therapist?

Accepted Answer

People with an addiction can often make some of the strongest contributions to their own recovery and in order for them to realize it, it takes a family appreciating what they have done to bring themselves into therapy, let alone recognizing a problem. Shame reduction is key for individuals who want to make tremendous progress.

Question 6

Philosophically, marriage and family therapy deals specifically with:

Accepted Answer

While there is a misconception out there that MFTs only deal with issues that center around marriage, family, children, and the systems, the fact is that MFTs are able to deal with any and all types of mental issues, including personality disorders and interpersonal conflict.

Question 7

Up to this point, you have connected well with the children in a family, but the parents have been resistant. In order to gain the trust of parents and develop a therapeutic relationship, you must be sure to:

Accepted Answer

When parents present in therapy with their younger children, they are often under the impression that they have done something wrong or that they have somehow forgotten to do something that is right or appropriate and often fear rejection or punishment form the therapist for having made improper decisions, when really, it's a matter of how they communicate.

Question 8

A family presents as very artistic, each in their own way. When gathering a family history, you have an idea that perhaps they would like to express their history artistically. Rather than ask, you proceed with a standard genogram. You have missed:

Accepted Answer

As artists, you could have opened with an opportunity for them to do art therapy, to see what it would have been like to have them collaborate in order to produce a piece of work. You always want to make sure that you are giving as much opportunity as possible for their talents and abilities to show through.

Question 9

When working with Alicia's family, it is clear that they could use some restructuring of the family dynamic. When restructuring, it also becomes clear that Alicia needs to build self-esteem. One way to build self-esteem for Alicia is to practice:

Accepted Answer

As a therapist, this is perhaps one of our most overlooked abilities. We have the ability, even by simply acknowledging that the client has a valid point, to make a tremendous impact on what they think and how they perceive therapy.

Question 10

It is clear that in order to address Harvey's problem, you must be able to speak with his school personnel. When Harvey's parents hear this, they are hesitant to allow you to speak to the school. Their fear most likely comes from:

Accepted Answer

Parents and schools are often on the same page, but sometimes have different ways of presenting it that make it seem like they are unable to connect with the child or that the child continues to be a problem. When parents examine it more closely, especially with the help of a therapist, they may be able to see how much the school actually has invested in their child's success.

Question 11

You notice that every time you speak with David about alcoholism and addiction, that he becomes defensive. You may want to try:

Accepted Answer

Clients react differently to different words. It could be that the word you are using has a negative stigma attached or that the person is uncomfortable identifying as someone with an addiction issue. AA may not be appropriate, since that would be pushing the issue.

Question 12

When creating a safe place for clients to express themselves, one of the more important aspects of safety is:

Accepted Answer

As a therapist, you have undoubtedly seen a lot. However, nothing is more frightening than arriving at a place where you are made to feel as if your therapist or professional help has heard the same stories before. At every possible opportunity, you'll want to give the client an opportunity to relay his experience in his own words.

Question 13

When interviewing a family for the first time, it is important to ask questions that:

Accepted Answer

If one person answers the questions more openly than others, it could be a sign that things are not going as well. It could also be a sign that others may not be as comfortable with the questions. As a therapist examining from all angles, it is your job to make sure that all questions can address your concerns while they are able to be answered by all, but not too simply so that you won't have some material to work with.

Question 14

When determining which therapeutic model to use, it could be helpful to measure a family or individual's level of:

Accepted Answer

If someone is tolerant of ambiguity, it would open up many more options for them than if they had low levels of tolerance or lower levels of coping skills. Tolerating ambiguity is also a direct link to whether or not anyone is able to show insight around presenting issues, which can also be critical to treatment success.

Question 15

Mom and dad present as a united front. When meeting the children, you can't help but notice that the boy aligns with dad and the girl with mom. With the gender gap in this family, it is evident that:

Accepted Answer

When gender presents so readily in the room, it is not a statement about how uneducated the children are or about how much their parents need therapy. Instead, it only shows you that children often are able to mimic exactly what they see at home. If gender is already largely at play, it will be at play in the family's own understanding.

Question 16

When making references to popular culture with adults or children, it is important to consider:

Accepted Answer

If the culture you are addressing does not allow references to such material, it could be difficult to get a point across. You may need to re-orient your frame of mind to accommodate those people who do not watch TV, use the internet, or read the same magazines that you're able to. When viewed in the framework of class and social norms, it can sometimes be a staunch reminder to consider the cultural place of others.

Question 17

Even benign icebreaker questions like "How was your weekend?" can have unintended consequences because:

Accepted Answer

If there is nothing to say, the individual may feel embarrassed, like a failure or like less of a person. There is a tendency in human nature to want to fill in the gaps of silence with something that could be considered worthy of conversation. Be prepared when asking open ended questions to not always hear what you have come to expect.

Question 18

When you hear that Eric is only able to provide for his family by going to the discount grocery store, where they do not sell any healthy alternatives, your most appropriate course of action might be to:

Accepted Answer

While all of the options may be helpful, connecting Eric with social services will most likely last longer and have a more lasting impact on the level of self-sufficiency that you need for him to accomplish. Shopping helps Eric connect himself with only groceries, while he needs more than that.

Question 19

and Mrs. Commitment have made an appointment for an assessment of their marriage. At the end of the assessment, they ask what you think about their odds of survival. What do you share with them?

Accepted Answer

There is absolutely no reason to doom a marriage or an attempt at a marriage from the beginning with naysayers and negative attitudes. Instead, it would benefit all if they were to understand that they cannot get any help if they make no attempt at all. Their ability to make things work will depend on their follow-through.

Question 20

If CBT theory states that in order to extinguish a behavior, one should ignore it, how do you make such an impression work in your private practice when someone is being obnoxious?

Accepted Answer

While it may seem like a simple answer, it can be difficult to do when it comes to sitting in a room, waiting for an action to stop. Any other option would reward the behavior with attention, positive or negative. This is the only way to assure that no attention is given.

Quiz 4: Practice