,Test Bank For Theory and Treatment Planning in Counseling and Psychotherapy
Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Counseling Theory, Competency, Research, and You:
Connecting the Dots
1. Therapeutic theories provide ___________________________________________.
a. a step-by-step guideline for sessions
b. a means for sifting through information and identifying key areas of change
c. therapists a way to speak the language of the client.
d. a replacement for medication
Answer B (Why Theory Matters)
2. Which of the following statements best represents the effect the competency movement,
the expanded research base, and the evidence-based treatment movements have on
theory?
a. These movements have made using theory more complicated for the client.
b. These movements have helped change the need for theory, relying on information
to guide the session rather than theory.
c. These movement have changed how theory is conceptualized, adapted, and
applied.
d. These movements have helped illustrate the ambiguous nature of theory.
Answer C (Connecting with Theory: Do I Have To Choose Just One?)
3. Competencies refers to a necessary set of skills, consistent across all disciplines, in which
the counselor must learn to interact in a way that is best for ___________________.
a. the chosen theory
b. the changing situation
c. the client
d. the counselor
Answer C (Connecting with Theory: Do I Have To Choose Just One?)
4. The major mental health disciplines agree that the competent use of theory entails all of
the following areas EXCEPT: _____________________________________.
a. assessment and diagnosis
b. diversity and multicultural competence
c. research and the evidence base
d. the person-of-the-therapist
Answer A (Common Threads of Competency)
1
,Test Bank For Theory and Treatment Planning in Counseling and Psychotherapy
Chapter 1
5. Regarding diversity and multicultural competence, it is important to recognize that
everything one thinks, does or says is ___________________________________.
a. contextualized and should be informed by diversity issues
b. informed by training and practice and is more likely accurate than client
perspective
c. better informed if the counselor has also experienced being marginalized
d. biased and therefore it is better for clients to seek counselors with similar
backgrounds
Answer A (Common Threads of Competency)
6. Which of the following statements is TRUE about a therapist who is competent working
with diversity issues?
a. A therapist who says, “I don’t have any culture.” and therefore cannot help with
diversity issues is competent in diversity issues.
b. A therapist who reports being from a diverse or marginalized group, making them
an expert in diversity issues.
c. A therapist who admits handling diversity issues is a career-long struggle and a
journey that adds depth to the person-of-the-therapist.
d. A therapist who assumes because they have read about topics in diversity, that
they are competent in diversity issues.
Answer C (Diversity and Competency)
7. The mental health movement to become more evidence based involves using existing
research to inform clinical decisions and treatment planning, and which of the following?
a. Learning evidence-based treatments that are specific for working with distinct
populations and issues.
b. Focusing that research in one area to gain expertise and skimming other areas to
ensure basic understanding.
c. Becoming well versed in one evidence-based theory, so that it can be applied
efficiently and effectively.
d. Understanding that once you have practiced for some time, this will no longer be
necessary.
Answer A (Research and Competency)
8. There is much disagreement between professional mental health organizations and
federal and state laws regarding the key issues and principles.
a. True
b. False
Answer B (Law, Ethics, and Competency)
2
, Test Bank For Theory and Treatment Planning in Counseling and Psychotherapy
Chapter 1
9. Ethical counseling concerns all of the following EXCEPT:
a. adaptation of the counseling approach to respect client diversity.
b. open discussion about how confidential information will be handled when
working with couples and families.
c. counselor awareness that personal concerns may be affecting the ability to work
with a client.
d. understanding the right of parents to any and all information pertaining to their
children.
Answer D (Law, Ethics, and Competency)
10. Regarding person-of-the-therapist competence, research indicates that clients need to feel
_____________, _______________, and _________________.
a. hope; safety; confidence
b. heard; understood; accepted
c. trusted; competent; appreciated
d. valued; intelligent; capable
Answer B (Person-of-the-Counselor and Competency)
11. Common factors research and evidence-based treatment research have forced counselors
and therapists to ______________________________________________.
a. provide clients with a step-by-step guideline for sessions
b. sift through difficult information in order to identify key areas of change
c. reexamine their assumptions about theory
d. find a replacement for traditional diagnosis
Answer C (Research and the Evidence Base)
12. Common factors proponents, supported by metaanalyses of outcome studies, contend that
the effectiveness of counseling has more to do with _________________________ than
with a specific theory?
a. unique components of a specific theory
b. counselor education and training
c. how ready the client is for therapy
d. key elements found in all theories
Answer D (Common Factors Research: Reframing Theory)
3
Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Counseling Theory, Competency, Research, and You:
Connecting the Dots
1. Therapeutic theories provide ___________________________________________.
a. a step-by-step guideline for sessions
b. a means for sifting through information and identifying key areas of change
c. therapists a way to speak the language of the client.
d. a replacement for medication
Answer B (Why Theory Matters)
2. Which of the following statements best represents the effect the competency movement,
the expanded research base, and the evidence-based treatment movements have on
theory?
a. These movements have made using theory more complicated for the client.
b. These movements have helped change the need for theory, relying on information
to guide the session rather than theory.
c. These movement have changed how theory is conceptualized, adapted, and
applied.
d. These movements have helped illustrate the ambiguous nature of theory.
Answer C (Connecting with Theory: Do I Have To Choose Just One?)
3. Competencies refers to a necessary set of skills, consistent across all disciplines, in which
the counselor must learn to interact in a way that is best for ___________________.
a. the chosen theory
b. the changing situation
c. the client
d. the counselor
Answer C (Connecting with Theory: Do I Have To Choose Just One?)
4. The major mental health disciplines agree that the competent use of theory entails all of
the following areas EXCEPT: _____________________________________.
a. assessment and diagnosis
b. diversity and multicultural competence
c. research and the evidence base
d. the person-of-the-therapist
Answer A (Common Threads of Competency)
1
,Test Bank For Theory and Treatment Planning in Counseling and Psychotherapy
Chapter 1
5. Regarding diversity and multicultural competence, it is important to recognize that
everything one thinks, does or says is ___________________________________.
a. contextualized and should be informed by diversity issues
b. informed by training and practice and is more likely accurate than client
perspective
c. better informed if the counselor has also experienced being marginalized
d. biased and therefore it is better for clients to seek counselors with similar
backgrounds
Answer A (Common Threads of Competency)
6. Which of the following statements is TRUE about a therapist who is competent working
with diversity issues?
a. A therapist who says, “I don’t have any culture.” and therefore cannot help with
diversity issues is competent in diversity issues.
b. A therapist who reports being from a diverse or marginalized group, making them
an expert in diversity issues.
c. A therapist who admits handling diversity issues is a career-long struggle and a
journey that adds depth to the person-of-the-therapist.
d. A therapist who assumes because they have read about topics in diversity, that
they are competent in diversity issues.
Answer C (Diversity and Competency)
7. The mental health movement to become more evidence based involves using existing
research to inform clinical decisions and treatment planning, and which of the following?
a. Learning evidence-based treatments that are specific for working with distinct
populations and issues.
b. Focusing that research in one area to gain expertise and skimming other areas to
ensure basic understanding.
c. Becoming well versed in one evidence-based theory, so that it can be applied
efficiently and effectively.
d. Understanding that once you have practiced for some time, this will no longer be
necessary.
Answer A (Research and Competency)
8. There is much disagreement between professional mental health organizations and
federal and state laws regarding the key issues and principles.
a. True
b. False
Answer B (Law, Ethics, and Competency)
2
, Test Bank For Theory and Treatment Planning in Counseling and Psychotherapy
Chapter 1
9. Ethical counseling concerns all of the following EXCEPT:
a. adaptation of the counseling approach to respect client diversity.
b. open discussion about how confidential information will be handled when
working with couples and families.
c. counselor awareness that personal concerns may be affecting the ability to work
with a client.
d. understanding the right of parents to any and all information pertaining to their
children.
Answer D (Law, Ethics, and Competency)
10. Regarding person-of-the-therapist competence, research indicates that clients need to feel
_____________, _______________, and _________________.
a. hope; safety; confidence
b. heard; understood; accepted
c. trusted; competent; appreciated
d. valued; intelligent; capable
Answer B (Person-of-the-Counselor and Competency)
11. Common factors research and evidence-based treatment research have forced counselors
and therapists to ______________________________________________.
a. provide clients with a step-by-step guideline for sessions
b. sift through difficult information in order to identify key areas of change
c. reexamine their assumptions about theory
d. find a replacement for traditional diagnosis
Answer C (Research and the Evidence Base)
12. Common factors proponents, supported by metaanalyses of outcome studies, contend that
the effectiveness of counseling has more to do with _________________________ than
with a specific theory?
a. unique components of a specific theory
b. counselor education and training
c. how ready the client is for therapy
d. key elements found in all theories
Answer D (Common Factors Research: Reframing Theory)
3
