ICDVP Counseling Approaches 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which therapeutic modality specifically uses bilateral stimulation to help survivors process traumatic memories associated with domestic violence?
- Somatic experiencing
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) (Correct answer)
- Narrative therapy
- Psychodrama
Correct answer: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements) while the client focuses on traumatic memories to facilitate adaptive processing.
Question 2: A survivor describes feeling completely numb and disconnected from her body during sessions. This presentation is most consistent with which trauma response?
- Hyperarousal
- Hypoarousal and dissociation (Correct answer)
- Acute stress reaction
- Grief response
Correct answer: Hypoarousal and dissociation
Numbness and depersonalization are hallmarks of hypoarousal and dissociation, common responses to prolonged trauma exposure.
Question 3: The power and control wheel developed by the Duluth Model is primarily used in counseling to:
- Assess the survivor's readiness to leave the relationship
- Educate survivors about the patterns and tactics abusers use (Correct answer)
- Train counselors in court advocacy procedures
- Measure the severity of physical injuries
Correct answer: Educate survivors about the patterns and tactics abusers use
The power and control wheel is an educational tool that illustrates the various tactics abusers use to maintain dominance over their partners.
Question 4: When a counselor notices a survivor repeatedly minimizes the abuse and defends the abuser, the most therapeutic response is to:
- Challenge the survivor firmly to acknowledge the severity of abuse
- Reflect the ambivalence and explore the meaning behind the survivor's loyalty (Correct answer)
- Document the minimization as evidence of poor insight and adjust treatment goals
- Refer the client to a DV support group immediately
Correct answer: Reflect the ambivalence and explore the meaning behind the survivor's loyalty
Exploring the survivor's ambivalence with empathy preserves the therapeutic alliance and respects the complexity of trauma bonding.
Question 5: Somatic experiencing, developed by Peter Levine, is particularly useful for DV survivors because it:
- Focuses on reframing negative thoughts about the abuse
- Helps release stored physiological tension from trauma in the body (Correct answer)
- Provides legal coaching for restraining order hearings
- Addresses childhood attachment wounds through reparenting
Correct answer: Helps release stored physiological tension from trauma in the body
Somatic experiencing tracks and releases physical sensations associated with unresolved trauma held in the nervous system.
Question 6: A DV counselor uses 'externalizing the problem' during sessions with a survivor. This technique originates from which approach?
- CBT
- Narrative therapy (Correct answer)
- DBT
- Solution-focused brief therapy
Correct answer: Narrative therapy
Narrative therapy uses externalization to help clients see the problem (e.g., 'the abuse' or 'the shame') as separate from their identity.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the counseling principle of 'unconditional positive regard' as applied to DV work?
- The counselor accepts the survivor regardless of whether she returns to the abuser or not (Correct answer)
- The counselor provides positive feedback when the survivor makes safety-promoting decisions
- The counselor avoids expressing any concern about dangerous situations
- The counselor maintains neutrality between victim and abuser
Correct answer: The counselor accepts the survivor regardless of whether she returns to the abuser or not
Unconditional positive regard means the counselor accepts and values the survivor without conditions, including if she chooses to remain in or return to the relationship.
ICDVP Counseling Approaches 3
Which therapeutic modality specifically uses bilateral stimulation to help survivors process traumatic memories associated with domestic violence?