PSYC 526: Clinical Counseling Basic

Question 1

Active Listening

Answer 1

A psychotherapeutic technique in which the therapist listens to a client closely, asking questions as needed, in order to fully understand the content of the message and the depth of the client’s emotions.

Question 2

Biopsychosocial

Answer 2

This term refers to a systematic integration of biological, psychological, and social approaches to the study and treatment of mental health.

Question 3

Capping

Answer 3

Capping is done either via a question or a statement and it is intended to help move clients away from emotion-drawn discussions into more cognitive-based dialogue. The therapist will often revisit the emotion-based topic at a later time.

Question 4

Clarification

Answer 4

A basic counseling technique in which the therapist asks the client to clear up vague/ambiguous thoughts, feelings, or behaviors to ensure that the therapist fully understands what the client has said. This is done in clear terms and without indicating any sort of approval or disapproval.

Question 5

Client Expectancies

Answer 5

This is what the client expects/hopes, or doesn’t expect/hope, to get out of treatment. Client expectancies are a common feature of therapies and wildly influential in client progress/engagement in treatment.

Question 6

Confrontation

Answer 6

A basic counseling technique in which the therapist calls attention to a difficult situation, realization, or contradiction involving client beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors. This technique should only be used after a strong therapeutic alliance/rapport has been established.

Question 7

Congruence

Answer 7

This refers to a match between one’s psychological attributes and their behaviors. It was a concept coined by Rogers and used in client-centered therapy due to his theory that many clients entered treatment due to a lack of congruence in their lives. Rogers worked to model this ability of being genuine and consistent in his verbal and nonverbal behaviors.

Question 8

Encouraging

Answer 8

A minimal statement or nonverbal cue that encourages the client to continue talking about the subject they’re currently focused on. This technique demonstrates that the clinician is listening and allows the client to continue talking without interruption.

Question 9

Engagement

Answer 9

The effort the client makes during therapy to achieve their desired treatment goals. This term was coined by Rogers and referred to their active participation in treatment as client engagement is essential for treatment success.

Question 10

Fixed vs. Growth Mindset

Answer 10

A fixed mindset refers to a permanent and unchangeable thought pattern. Whereas a growth mindset refers to a thought pattern that allows room for learning, change, and patience throughout the process.

Question 11

Hierarchy of Needs

Answer 11

A concept developed by Maslow that focused on meeting basic human needs and progressing toward self-actualization. It is theorized that physiological needs must be met first, secondly safety, thirdly love/belonging, fourthly esteem, and fifthly self-actualization. Clients cannot meet later needs if the former are not established.

Question 12

Holding vs. Shifting the Focus

Answer 12

There are basic counseling techniques that guide the direction of the therapeutic discussion. Holding the focus refers to purposely maintaining focus on the discussion at hand. Shifting the focus refers to purposely moving away from the current discussion and toward something more therapeutic/productive for the client.

Question 13

Immediacy

Answer 13

This skill is used when the therapist provides the client with feedback in the moment of what they are experiencing – their experience of the session, the client, or what the client is saying. To utilize immediacy appropriately, the feedback needs to be anchored in the current content of the moment.

Question 14

Interpretation

Answer 14

A term used in psychotherapy that refers to an informed explanation from the therapist that is meaningful to the client’s behaviors or feelings. The therapist takes the information from the client and interprets or offers a new explanation about what is being discussed.

Question 15

Logical Consequences

Answer 15

This is a behavioral term that refers to actions or reposes that naturally happen after a behavior occurs. Logical consequences may serve to alter a problem behavior and can also help understand the consequences of behaviors experienced by the client.

Question 16

Miracle Question

Answer 16

This is when the therapist asks the client to envision what their life would look like if one day they woke up and their problems suddenly disappeared, as if a miracle occurred. This technique helps the client and therapist determine what the client’s goals are and what they hope to gain from therapy.

Question 17

Open-Ended Questions

Answer 17

These are a type of question that is used to promote a detailed discussion that pertains to part of the client’s story. Open-ended questions do not allow for one-worded responses and are intended to elicit a lengthy response for the client.

Question 18

Paraphrasing

Answer 18

This is a basic counseling technique that’s used to expressed the meaning of what the client has said but in different words, often for the sake of clarity of brevity. This skill allows the client to know the therapist has heard/understood what they have said and allows the client to correct any misunderstanding on the therapist’s part.

Question 19

Positive Asset Search

Answer 19

This is a technique when the therapist helps the client brainstorm what their strengths and attributes are. Positive asset search is an essential part of behavioral analysis and identifying client strengths can help increase client self-efficacy.

Question 20

Power Dynamics

Answer 20

The authority relationship between the client and the therapist. There is a natural power differential between the two and exists merely due to the role of each party in a therapeutic relationships. Power dynamics can elicit responses from a client, though these dynamics can be lessened by use of warmth, empathy, and genuineness.

Question 21

Reflection of Content

Answer 21

This is a skill that refers to when the therapist repeats back the most important content information the client has said but does not “parrot” the client’s exact words. Reflection of content demonstrates active listening and also allows the client to clarify any misunderstanding on the therapist’s part.

Question 22

Reflection of Feeling

Answer 22

This refers to a statement made by the therapist that’s intended to highlight the feelings or attitudes that are implicitly expressed in a client’s words or affect. The reflection of feeling is meant to draw emotion out and demonstrates that the therapist sees the client’s emotions, while also helping them identify/recognize their own emotions.

Question 23

Reflection of Deeper Meaning

Answer 23

This is a skill that refers to when the therapist shows the client they have understood the underlying meaning of what the client has said – this typically reflects client core beliefs that guide their actions.

Question 24

Reframing

Answer 24

This skill refers to the process of reconceptualizing a problem by seeing it from a different perspective. By exploring alternative meanings, this can build insight for the client. Reframing statements often put a more positive spin on statements made by the client.

Question 25

Self-Disclosure

Answer 25

This occurs when the therapist reveals personal or private information about themselves to the client. Self-disclosure should only be used when it will benefit the client’s process and/or strengthen the therapeutic alliance. Self-disclosure needs to be client focused and avoid shifting the full focus onto the therapist.

Question 26

Stages of Change

Answer 26

A model that’s used to assess a client’s readiness for change. The five stages of the model include precontemplation (i.e. resistant to change), contemplation (i.e. ambivalence about change), preparation (i.e. commitment to change), action (i.e. making the change), and maintenance (i.e. keeping the change). The cycle can continue if a client relapses or changes mind about change. Understanding what stage of change a client is in allows the therapist to tailor the intervention to where the client is at.

Question 27

Structuring

Answer 27

This is typically done in the first few sessions of treatment and it refers to when the therapist explains specific procedures and conditions of the therapeutic process. Structuring is important because it establishes norms and allows the client to form expectations of what treatment will be like.

Question 28

Suicidality

Answer 28

This refers to the risk of suicidal behavior/completion. Suicidality is typically indicated by suicidal ideation or intent, as typically evident by the presence of a well-established plan.

Question 29

Summarization

Answer 29

This is a skill that captures the general sense of the discussion over an extended period of time. Summarization is typically used at the beginning or end of a session to reflect on the material discussed, either from earlier in the session or from the previous session.

Question 30

Termination

Answer 30

This refers to the conclusion of treatment, either immediately or over a prolonged period of time. Termination can be suggested by the client, therapist, or via mutual agreement. Typically this occurs when treatment goals have been achieved and therapeutic services are no longer needed. Ideally this is planned in advance.

Question 31

Transference & Countertransference

Answer 31

Transference refers to the client’s displacement or projection of unconscious feelings, often directed toward important individuals in their life, onto the therapist. Countertransference refers to the therapist’s reaction to the client and their potential transference. Countertransference is thoughts/feelings that are based on the therapist’s own psychological needs and conflicts.

Question 32

Trustworthiness

Answer 32

This is when the client trusts the therapeutic relationship and views it as helpful, safe, free from blame/harm, and as a reliable dynamic. Trustworthiness is important in therapeutic relationships because it promotes client honesty/genuineness and builds rapport.

Question 33

WEG Skills

Answer 33

Non-negotiable therapeutic conditions coined by Rogers – Warmth, Empathy, and Genuineness. Warmth refers to the therapist’s unconditional positive regard for the client. Empathy refers to when the therapist works to fully understand a client’s experience and “steps into their worldview.” Genuineness refers to a congruence between the therapist’s words and actions and demonstrates the humanity of the expert.

Question 34

Working Alliance

Answer 34

The collaborative and affective bond between the therapist and client. A working alliance is crucial for client progress and healing. A working alliance occurs when both the client and therapist are active collaborators throughout treatment.