Counseling Skills

Question 1

Describe the 4 stages of counseling

Answer 1

Initiating, Exploring, Understanding, Acting

Question 2

Define Process Goals

Answer 2

Goal that helps clients to grow, develop and learn new behaviors. Establishes a facilitative counseling relationship.

Question 3

Define an outcome goal

Answer 3

Specifies why clients have sought counseling help. The client will learn how to do something very specific. For example to budget and to account for expenditures.

Question 4

What should be included on an action plan?

Answer 4

Well-written goals aimed at problem solving and a plan to accomplish each goal.

Question 5

Why would a counselor want to shift responsibility to a client?

Answer 5

To help clients become their own solution generators. Client confidence can be enhanced and they believe they have control over their destiny.

Question 6

List some good reasons to use visualization with a client

Answer 6

Discover and transform underlying problems or to rehearse needed behaviors.

Question 7

List some principles to keep in mind when using reinforcing strategies

Answer 7

Reinforce performance not client. specific to the behavior, and most appropriate for the behavior. Timing – the closer to the behavior the reinforcement is the more powerful it is.

Question 8

What happens during Initiating Stage of Counseling?

Answer 8

Provide overview of the counseling process. Build rapport, reduce tension, small talk.

Question 9

What happens during the Exploring Stage of Counseling?

Answer 9

What does the client want to accomplish? Gather information regarding the financial situation of the client.

Question 10

What happens during the Understanding Stage of Counseling?

Answer 10

Help clients create an Action Plan.

Question 11

What happens during the Acting Stage of Counseling?

Answer 11

Clients are implementing Action Plans that were developed during the Understanding stage. This is done outside of a counseling session.

Question 12

What are some key point to consider when providing feedback to clients?

Answer 12

Focus on behaviors rather than on the person. Be constructive, focus on immediate situations and don’t overwhelm client with large amounts of feedback at a time.

Question 13

Define a process goal.

Answer 13

Established to provide conditions in which clients can grow, develop and learn new behaviors. Establishes a facilitative counseling relationship.

Question 14

Define an outcome goal.

Answer 14

The client will learn to do something very specific. i.e to budget, to account for expenditures etc.

Question 15

List some important points to remember about helping clients create good solutions or strategies for accomplishing goals.

Answer 15

Effective information gathering, realistic goals, specific objectives and generating a number of possible solutions.

Question 16

What should be included on an Action Plan?

Answer 16

Well written goals that includes strategies or solutions that can be monitored for progress.

Question 17

Why might a counselor ask a client for Exceptions to their problems?

Answer 17

To help clients see alternate possibilities for dealing with their concerns. It helps clients feel like they’ve gained control because they understand how they can contribute to making these exceptions occur.

Question 18

Why shift responsibility to the client?

Answer 18

Helps clients become their own solution generators. Client confidence can be enhanced and they believe they have control over their destiny.

Question 19

List some reasons to use Visualization with a client

Answer 19

Can be used to help discover and transform underlying problems or to rehearse needed behaviors. Helps to focus clients on a future time when they will be acting in a manner consistent with the goals they’ve established.

Question 20

List principles when using Reinforcing Strategies.

Answer 20

Reinforce performance, not client. Must be specific and most appropriate to the behavior. Interpersonal, social aspects of the financial counseling relationship. Timing is key - the closer to the behavior the reinforcement is the more powerful. More important behaviors should receive relatively greater reinforcement.

Question 21

What is the role of a gatekeeper in communication patterns with more than 2 people?

Answer 21

Control the communication and its focus so that it is channeled through them.

Question 22

In a conflict situation, which position would be more effective for a counselor to be in?

Answer 22

Facilitative - as a participant observer role helping to move toward a resolution and help redirect.

Question 23

List which shapes of tables are more effective in creating an atmosphere of equality for counseling?

Answer 23

Round, square and oval.

Question 24

When should termination and closure of counseling occur?

Answer 24

When clients reach a point where they are responsible for their own behavior. If clients learn how to use the process, closure is a logical consequence.

Question 25

In which stage of counseling are goals and strategies reevaluated?

Answer 25

Acting Stage

Question 26

In which of the stages of counseling would a counselor give an overview of the client-counselor relationship?

Answer 26

Initiating Stage

Question 27

After a counseling session, what is a role of a counselor at this point, going into the Acting Stage?

Answer 27

Check in with the client later to monitor progress towards goals.

Question 28

What should a counselor do at the beginning of a counseling session?

Answer 28

Inform client of the terms of the client-counselor relationship.

Question 29

What is the goal of shifting responsibility?

Answer 29

To have the client make better decisions after counseling terminates.

Question 30

When in a conflict situation with clients, what is a preferred situation to be in during the conflict?

Answer 30

Participant Observer

Question 31

Would establishing a facilitative counseling relationship be a process goal?

Answer 31

Yes

Question 32

Is closure a logical consequence after the client believe he can use the same process on his own that was used in counseling?

Answer 32

Yes

Question 33

A room with a round table and earth tone paint that is a little ways off from the main entrance creates a welcoming space for clients. True or False

Answer 33

True