Counseling Exam 1

Q1: What are common motivations for entering a helping profession?

  • Need to make an impact

  • Need to reciprocate (following a role model)

  • Need to care for others

  • Need for self-help (resolving personal issues)

  • Need to be needed

  • Need for recognition & status

  • Need to provide answers

  • Need for control

Q2: What are pitfalls of wanting to "make an impact"?

  • Feeling inadequate if clients do not change

  • Frustration when advice is ignored

Q3: How can following a role model be problematic?

  • Unfair comparisons to mentors

  • Pressure to meet their level of success

Q4: What are risks of the "helper" role?

  • Over-focusing on others while neglecting self-care

  • Burnout from constantly helping others

Q5: Why is self-care important for counselors?

  • Helps maintain personal well-being

  • Prevents emotional exhaustion

  • Enables better client support

Q6: How can financial motivation harm therapy quality?

  • Prioritizing money over client well-being

  • Taking on too many clients

  • Becoming detached from client concerns

Q7: What is the biggest misconception about giving advice in counseling?

  • The counselor’s role is not to provide answers but to help clients find their own

Q8: What are the key traits of an "ideal helper"?
A:

  • Self-awareness of strengths and weaknesses

  • Strong interpersonal skills

  • Emphasis on the therapeutic relationship

  • Commitment to lifelong learning

  • Genuine care for clients

  • Ability to inspire change

  • Cultural competence

Q9: What is the number one predictor of therapy success?
A:

  • The quality of the therapeutic relationship

Q10: What should therapists do if they dislike a client?
A:

  • Consider referring them to another professional

  • Ensure personal biases don’t interfere with therapy

Q11: Why is it important for counselors to understand their vulnerabilities?
A:

  • Prevents personal struggles from interfering with client care

  • Reduces countertransference

  • Enhances therapeutic effectiveness

Q12: How can therapy help therapists?
A:

  • Increases self-awareness

  • Helps process unresolved issues

  • Provides a model for client experiences

Q13: What is countertransference?
A:

  • When a therapist’s personal issues affect their responses to a client

Q14: What is transference?
A:

  • When a client projects unresolved feelings onto the therapist

Q15: How can therapists set healthy boundaries?
A:

  • Avoid over-involvement in clients’ lives

  • Maintain professional detachment

  • Engage in self-care practices

Q16: How do personal values impact therapy?
A:

  • Influence therapist responses

  • Affect the client-therapist relationship

  • Can lead to bias if not managed

Q17: What is ethical bracketing?
A:

  • Separating personal values from professional responsibilities

Q18: When is it appropriate to share personal values in therapy?
A:

  • Only when therapeutically beneficial for the client

Q19: Why is imposing values on clients unethical?
A:

  • The therapeutic process is about the client’s growth, not the therapist’s beliefs

Q20: Why is referral due to value conflict unethical?
A:

  • It is a form of discrimination unless based on a lack of competency

Q21: What are examples of privileged vs. marginalized groups in counseling?
A:
Privileged:

  • White individuals

  • College-educated individuals

  • Financially stable individuals

Marginalized:

  • Women

  • LGBTQ+ individuals

  • Those with disabilities

Q22: Why was "homosexuality" removed from the DSM?
A:

  • It was wrongly classified as a mental disorder until 1973

Q23: What is Erikson’s psychosocial theory?
A:

  • A model of human development across the lifespan

  • Each stage presents a key psychological conflict

Q24: What is the primary conflict in adolescence?
A:

  • Identity vs. Role Confusion: Finding a sense of self

Q25: What is the conflict in middle adulthood?
A:

  • Generativity vs. Stagnation: Leaving a legacy vs. feeling unfulfilled

Q26: What is the final conflict in Erikson’s model?
A:

  • Integrity vs. Despair: Reflecting on one’s life with satisfaction or regret

Q27: What are key elements of a healthy family?
A:

  • Open communication

  • Emotional support

  • Flexibility in rules

Q28: What defines a dysfunctional family?
A:

  • Rigid control

  • Poor communication

  • Fear-based parenting

Q29: How do family rules impact identity development?
A:

  • Influence self-esteem

  • Shape conflict resolution skills

  • Affect relationships in adulthood

Q30: What is the impact of family secrets?
A:

  • Create confusion about family roles

  • Foster mistrust

  • Can lead to unresolved emotional struggles

Q31: How do cultural values influence therapy?
A:

  • Shape client expectations for treatment

  • Impact comfort level with discussing emotions

  • Influence beliefs about mental health

Q32: Why is gender role awareness important for therapists?
A:

  • Helps understand client struggles with identity

  • Reduces biases in therapy

Q33: What is physician-assisted death, and where is it legal?
A:

  • Legal in 10 U.S. states + Washington, D.C.

Q34: What ethical guidelines apply to end-of-life counseling?
A:

  • Respect client autonomy

  • Ensure decisions align with their values, not the therapist’s

Q35: What ethical concerns exist around abortion counseling?
A:

  • Counselors must remain neutral

  • Clients must be given full information to make their own decisions

Q36: Why must counselors be aware of their own sexual values?
A:

  • Personal biases can affect how they discuss topics like casual sex, contraception, and monogamy