NCE National Counselor Exam Prep 5

Question 1

In structural family therapy (Minuchin), 'enmeshment' refers to:

Accepted Answer

Overly diffuse boundaries where members are excessively intertwined

Answer

Rigid, impermeable boundaries between family subsystems

Answer

Triangulation of a child into parental conflict

Answer

A family coalition against one member

Question 2

A counselor practicing Gestalt therapy asks a client to 'speak to' an empty chair. This technique is used to:

Accepted Answer

Help the client process unfinished business with someone significant

Answer

Assess psychotic symptoms

Answer

Practice assertiveness for real-world confrontation

Answer

Desensitize anxiety related to social situations

Question 3

Which level of Maslow's hierarchy must generally be met before esteem needs can be fully addressed?

Accepted Answer

Belongingness and love needs

Answer

Cognitive needs

Answer

Self-actualization

Answer

Aesthetic needs

Question 4

A school counselor notices a student's academic performance has sharply declined. Before concluding the cause is emotional, the counselor should first:

Accepted Answer

Rule out learning disabilities or medical factors through appropriate assessment

Answer

Refer the student for immediate psychiatric evaluation

Answer

Contact the parents to discuss removing extracurricular activities

Answer

Start individual therapy sessions immediately

Question 5

The term 'vicarious traumatization' describes:

Accepted Answer

Cumulative transformation in a counselor's worldview from repeated exposure to clients' trauma

Answer

A client re-experiencing another person's trauma during EMDR

Answer

Secondhand PTSD caused by watching violent media

Answer

Trauma symptoms triggered by witnessing a session

Question 6

In research, 'internal validity' is threatened by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Failure to randomly assign participants to conditions (selection bias)

Answer

Using a non-representative sample

Answer

Not generalizing results beyond the study sample

Answer

Using a measurement tool with low test-retest reliability

Question 7

Super's developmental self-concept theory of career development emphasizes that career choice is:

Accepted Answer

An implementation of one's self-concept that evolves across the lifespan

Answer

Determined primarily by socioeconomic status at birth

Answer

A one-time decision made in late adolescence

Answer

Based solely on matching personality type to job type