SCS Pastoral Counseling Techniques 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In narrative therapy applied to pastoral counseling, what is the technique of 'externalizing the problem'?
- Blaming external circumstances for the client's spiritual struggles
- Separating the problem from the person's identity so they can relate to it differently (Correct answer)
- Referring the problem to an outside spiritual authority
- Encouraging the client to share their story with the congregation
Correct answer: Separating the problem from the person's identity so they can relate to it differently
Externalizing treats the problem as separate from the person, which reduces shame and empowers the client to take action against it.
Question 2: A pastoral counselor practicing 'motivational interviewing' would MOST likely respond to a client's ambivalence about change by:
- Directly advising the client on what changes to make
- Exploring and reflecting the client's own reasons for and against change (Correct answer)
- Assigning scripture readings that address the problematic behavior
- Challenging the client to commit to change by the next session
Correct answer: Exploring and reflecting the client's own reasons for and against change
Motivational interviewing evokes the client's intrinsic motivation by exploring ambivalence through reflective listening and open-ended questions.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of a 'genogram' in pastoral family counseling?
- To create a timeline of the client's prayer history
- To map multigenerational family patterns, relationships, and religious influences (Correct answer)
- To document the client's denominational background
- To assign scripture passages relevant to each family member
Correct answer: To map multigenerational family patterns, relationships, and religious influences
A genogram is a pictorial representation of family relationships and history that helps identify intergenerational patterns that may affect the presenting concern.
Question 4: When a pastoral counselor practices 'theological reflection,' they are:
- Memorizing theological arguments to use in debate with clients
- Examining human experience in light of faith tradition and Scripture to discern meaning and guidance (Correct answer)
- Quoting theology texts to clients during sessions
- Reflecting on whether the client's beliefs are orthodox
Correct answer: Examining human experience in light of faith tradition and Scripture to discern meaning and guidance
Theological reflection integrates lived experience with faith tradition, helping clients find deeper meaning and divine guidance in their circumstances.
Question 5: Which ethical principle is MOST directly violated when a pastoral counselor shares a client's personal disclosures during a congregational prayer meeting?
- Beneficence
- Fidelity
- Confidentiality (Correct answer)
- Justice
Correct answer: Confidentiality
Sharing client disclosures without consent violates the principle of confidentiality, which is foundational to any therapeutic relationship.
Question 6: A client presents with survivor's guilt after a traumatic event. Which initial pastoral counseling approach is MOST appropriate?
- Challenging the irrational nature of the guilt cognitively
- Providing trauma-informed, empathic listening before any interpretive work (Correct answer)
- Reading the story of Job to contextualize their suffering
- Encouraging the client to count their blessings
Correct answer: Providing trauma-informed, empathic listening before any interpretive work
Trauma-informed care prioritizes safety and empathic attunement before any meaning-making or interpretive interventions.
Question 7: In Bowen's Family Systems Theory as applied in pastoral counseling, 'differentiation of self' refers to:
- The process of leaving one's family of origin physically
- The ability to maintain one's identity and values while remaining emotionally connected to others (Correct answer)
- Separating one's pastoral role from one's personal identity
- The theological concept of being set apart for ministry
Correct answer: The ability to maintain one's identity and values while remaining emotionally connected to others
Differentiation of self describes the capacity to think and act autonomously while staying emotionally connected, avoiding both fusion and cutoff.
SCS Pastoral Counseling Techniques 3
In narrative therapy applied to pastoral counseling, what is the technique of 'externalizing the problem'?