Counseling Final Exam Study Guide

Psychodynamic Theory

A psychological framework emphasizing the influence of the unconscious mind on behavior and relationships.

Defense mechanisms

Psychological strategies used to cope with reality and maintain self-image.

Denial

A defense mechanism involving refusing to accept reality or facts.

Displacement

Redirecting emotions from the original source to a safer target.

Grandiosity

A defense mechanism characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance.

Introjection

Internalizing beliefs or feelings of others as one's own.

Projection

Attributing one's unacceptable thoughts and feelings to someone else.

Regression

Reverting to behaviors characteristic of an earlier stage of development.

Repression

Excluding distressing memories or thoughts from conscious awareness.

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

A collaborative conversation method aimed at enhancing a person's motivation for change.

Evocation

Drawing out an individual's reasons for change instead of imposing ideas.

Ambivalence

Coexisting conflicting feelings about a decision or change process.

Change talk

Statements made by clients indicating desire or reasons to change.

Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)

A therapeutic approach that focuses on solutions rather than problems.

Future focused

Concentrating on possible positive outcomes instead of past issues.

Family Systems Theory (FST)

A framework for understanding individuals within the context of their family dynamics and relationships.

Boundaries

Rules that define the ways family members interact and relate to one another.

Enmeshed families

Families with blurred boundaries where individual member's emotions and identities are intertwined.

Structural Family Therapy (SFT)

A therapeutic approach that examines family structure and dynamics to facilitate change.

Gottman’s Approach

A marriage therapy method that emphasizes the importance of friendship and positive communication within relationships.

Four horsemen

Negative communication patterns identified by John Gottman that predict relationship breakdown (criticism, defensiveness, contempt, stonewalling).

Exposure Therapy

A behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders that involves exposure to feared stimuli without accompanying rituals or avoidance.

Reactance theory

The psychological response to perceived threats to freedom or autonomy, often leading to opposition or rebellion.

Multi-directed partiality

A concept in family therapy where a therapist shows empathy to multiple family members without taking sides.

Triangulation

A relational dynamic where a third party is involved in a dyadic conflict, often creating imbalance.

Righting reflex

The instinct to correct or fix someone's problems rather than allowing them to find their own solutions.

High and Low DoS (Differentiation of Self)

A concept in Family Systems Theory that describes the balance between individuality and togetherness within a family.