Mixed Deck — All CRC Topics Flashcards

A CRC helping a couple who feel emotionally disconnected would most likely first explore:

Answer: What meaningful connection looked like when they first fell in love

Exploring past moments of connection helps couples remember and reconnect with what intimacy feels and looks like for them.

Daniel Goleman's model of emotional intelligence includes which of the following core domains?

Answer: Self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, social skills

Goleman's EI model consists of five domains: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.

The concept of 'enmeshment' in family systems theory describes:

Answer: Boundaries that are too blurred, limiting individual autonomy and identity

Enmeshment describes a system where boundaries between individuals are so diffuse that members lose a clear sense of their individual identity.

What is 'relationship renegotiation' and when is it most needed?

Answer: Revisiting and updating relational agreements, roles, and expectations during major life changes

Relationship renegotiation is the conscious process of updating agreements and expectations when circumstances, needs, or goals change significantly.

Which attachment style, when identified during assessment, most often presents with goals centered on reducing jealousy and increasing trust?

Answer: Anxious-preoccupied attachment

Anxious-preoccupied attachment is characterized by hypervigilance to relationship threats, making jealousy reduction and trust-building common goal themes.

A coach who consistently interprets clients' behaviors through the lens of their own cultural background is demonstrating:

Answer: Ethnocentrism

Ethnocentrism is the tendency to evaluate other cultures according to the standards and norms of one's own culture, which undermines culturally competent coaching.

Which technique involves the coach narrating what they observe about a client's energy, tone, or body language to deepen awareness?

Answer: Direct communication / noticing

Noticing and direct communication involve the coach transparently sharing observations about the client's presence, opening deeper self-awareness.

In relationship coaching, 'emotional triggers' are best described as:

Answer: Specific situations or words that provoke a strong, often disproportionate emotional reaction

Emotional triggers are stimuli that provoke strong emotional reactions, often rooted in past experiences or unmet needs.

A CRC client describes feeling responsible for managing their partner's emotions at all times. This pattern is best described as:

Answer: Emotional caretaking and over-responsibility

Emotional caretaking and over-responsibility involve taking on the burden of regulating a partner's emotions, often at the cost of one's own wellbeing.

Which transition often triggers renegotiation of relational roles and can strain established relationship dynamics?

Answer: Retirement of one or both partners

Retirement fundamentally changes how much time couples spend together, role identities, and structure, requiring intentional renegotiation of the relationship.

Which of the following best describes 'co-created' goals in relationship coaching?

Answer: Goals developed through a collaborative dialogue between coach and client, integrating client values with coaching expertise

Co-created goals balance the client's self-knowledge and values with the coach's skill in structuring achievable, meaningful objectives.

Physical non-sexual touch in relationships (hand-holding, hugging) promotes connection primarily through the release of:

Answer: Oxytocin

Oxytocin, often called the 'bonding hormone,' is released through physical touch and promotes feelings of trust, safety, and closeness.

What is the role of 'meaning-making' in relationship transitions during coaching?

Answer: Helping clients construct a coherent story that integrates the transition into their identity and growth

Meaning-making helps clients integrate experiences — including difficult transitions — into a narrative of growth, resilience, and evolving identity.

In cognitive behavioral coaching, the ABC model stands for Activating event, Beliefs, and:

Answer: Consequences

In the ABC model, 'C' stands for Consequences — the emotional and behavioral results of the beliefs held about the activating event.

Which communication style difference can create misunderstandings between partners from different cultural backgrounds?

Answer: High-context versus low-context communication styles

High-context cultures rely on implicit meaning, shared understanding, and nonverbal cues, while low-context cultures prefer direct explicit communication — a common source of cross-cultural misunderstanding in couples.

A CRC coach working with a client navigating divorce should primarily focus on:

Answer: Supporting the client's emotional processing and vision for their next relationship chapter

The coach's role is to support the client's emotional resilience, self-discovery, and readiness to build a healthy future — not to guide legal or clinical decisions.

A client sets a goal to 'never argue' with their partner. The coach's best response is to:

Answer: Help the client reframe toward healthier conflict engagement, since conflict-free relationships are unrealistic

Conflict is a normal part of relationships; coaching reframes goals from avoidance to constructive engagement skills.

Which of the following is an example of an effective relationship coaching goal?

Answer: Improve communication by scheduling a weekly talk session for 30 minutes

An effective relationship coaching goal is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). "Improve communication by scheduling a weekly talk session for 30 minutes" clearly outlines an action, a frequency, and a duration, making it a concrete and trackable objective. This contrasts with vague or externally focused goals, providing a clear path for client action and progress.

In the context of relationship coaching, what does 'speaking the same love language' help achieve in communication?

Answer: Expressing and receiving affection in ways the partner finds meaningful and recognizes

Gary Chapman's Love Languages framework teaches that partners often give love in their own preferred style, not their partner's, causing the partner to feel unloved.

A client scores low on relationship self-efficacy during initial assessment. How should this influence the coaching plan?

Answer: Begin with smaller, achievable milestones that build the client's belief in their capacity for change

Starting with achievable wins builds self-efficacy gradually, creating momentum for larger goals.