PBC Communication & Client Relations 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A bereaved parent from a culture where open grief expression is discouraged appears emotionally flat during the meeting. The counselor should:
- Encourage them to express emotions more openly
- Assess whether they are in psychological distress
- Respect their cultural norm and follow their lead (Correct answer)
- Provide psychoeducation about healthy grieving
Correct answer: Respect their cultural norm and follow their lead
Culturally competent care requires honoring differing expressions of grief without imposing dominant cultural norms.
Question 2: A client discloses that their family is pressuring them to 'move on' three weeks after their loss. The counselor's best response is:
- 'Three weeks is still very early; grief has no timeline.'
- 'How does that pressure make you feel?' (Correct answer)
- 'Would you like me to speak with your family?'
- 'Some people do begin to feel better around this time.'
Correct answer: 'How does that pressure make you feel?'
Exploring the client's emotional experience of the pressure centers their needs without immediately problem-solving.
Question 3: During a telephone follow-up call, a bereaved mother seems distracted and gives brief answers. The counselor should:
- Proceed through all planned check-in questions efficiently
- Ask if this is a good time to talk (Correct answer)
- Schedule a longer in-person appointment immediately
- End the call and follow up again in a week
Correct answer: Ask if this is a good time to talk
Checking whether the timing is appropriate demonstrates respect for the client's current state and availability.
Question 4: A couple disagrees during a joint session about whether to hold a memorial service. The counselor's role is to:
- Side with whichever partner seems most distressed
- Recommend the option most commonly chosen by bereaved parents
- Facilitate exploration of each partner's needs and values (Correct answer)
- Suggest they decide later when emotions are less intense
Correct answer: Facilitate exploration of each partner's needs and values
Facilitating mutual exploration respects both partners' autonomy and promotes shared decision-making.
Question 5: Which phrase BEST demonstrates empathic attunement with a grieving parent?
- 'I understand completely how you feel.'
- 'It sounds like you're carrying an enormous weight right now.' (Correct answer)
- 'Things will get easier with time, I promise.'
- 'At least you know you can get pregnant again.'
Correct answer: 'It sounds like you're carrying an enormous weight right now.'
Reflecting the emotional experience without minimizing or projecting understanding demonstrates genuine attunement.
Question 6: A client requests that the counselor not tell the hospital social worker about their session. The counselor should:
- Agree immediately to build trust
- Explain the limits of confidentiality clearly (Correct answer)
- Decline to see the client unless they consent to sharing
- Consult with the social worker before the next session
Correct answer: Explain the limits of confidentiality clearly
Explaining confidentiality limits transparently allows the client to make informed decisions about disclosure.
Question 7: When a bereaved parent expresses anger directly at the counselor, the therapeutic response is to:
- Clarify that the anger is misdirected
- Acknowledge the feeling without becoming defensive (Correct answer)
- Set a firm boundary that anger is not acceptable in sessions
- End the session and allow them time to calm down
Correct answer: Acknowledge the feeling without becoming defensive
Acknowledging anger without defensiveness validates the emotion and maintains the therapeutic relationship.
PBC Communication & Client Relations 3
A bereaved parent from a culture where open grief expression is discouraged appears emotionally flat during the meeting.
The counselor should: