NCE Helping Relationships 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In family systems theory, 'triangulation' occurs when:
- Three family members form a supportive coalition
- A third person is brought into a dyadic conflict to reduce tension (Correct answer)
- A therapist meets with three family members simultaneously
- Family members form geometric communication patterns
Correct answer: A third person is brought into a dyadic conflict to reduce tension
Triangulation, described by Bowen, involves drawing a third party into a two-person conflict to reduce anxiety in the dyad.
Question 2: Which defense mechanism involves attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to another person?
- Displacement
- Reaction formation
- Projection (Correct answer)
- Rationalization
Correct answer: Projection
Projection is the unconscious process of attributing one's own unacceptable impulses or emotions to someone else.
Question 3: The concept of 'individuation' in Jungian analytical psychology refers to:
- Separation from the family of origin
- The process of becoming an integrated, whole individual by integrating unconscious material (Correct answer)
- Developing a unique cultural identity
- Achieving independence from the therapist
Correct answer: The process of becoming an integrated, whole individual by integrating unconscious material
Jung's individuation is the lifelong process of integrating the conscious and unconscious aspects of the psyche into a unified self.
Question 4: A counselor working with a client who has experienced trauma uses EMDR. The 'EM' in EMDR stands for:
- Emotional management
- Eye movement (Correct answer)
- Empathic mirroring
- Exposure method
Correct answer: Eye movement
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, using bilateral stimulation to process traumatic memories.
Question 5: In motivational interviewing, the acronym OARS stands for:
- Openness, Assertion, Reflection, Strategy
- Open questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening, Summarizing (Correct answer)
- Observation, Assessment, Reframing, Support
- Outcome, Agenda, Rapport, Skills
Correct answer: Open questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening, Summarizing
OARS represents the four core communication skills in motivational interviewing: Open questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening, and Summarizing.
Question 6: The 'working alliance' in counseling, as described by Bordin, consists of which three elements?
- Trust, empathy, and genuineness
- Goals, tasks, and the bond between client and counselor (Correct answer)
- Assessment, treatment, and evaluation
- Rapport, insight, and behavior change
Correct answer: Goals, tasks, and the bond between client and counselor
Bordin's tripartite model of the working alliance includes agreement on goals, agreement on tasks, and the affective bond between client and counselor.
Question 7: Which theoretical orientation emphasizes that psychological distress arises primarily from distorted or irrational thinking patterns?
- Humanistic therapy
- Behavioral therapy
- Cognitive therapy (Correct answer)
- Existential therapy
Correct answer: Cognitive therapy
Cognitive therapy, developed by Aaron Beck, holds that maladaptive thoughts (cognitive distortions) drive emotional distress and behavioral problems.
NCE Helping Relationships 4
In family systems theory, 'triangulation' occurs when: