INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING This test examines the basics of counseling theory and practice and various aspects of the counseling profession. Topics include: the foundations of counseling; psychological theories; techniques and processes relevant to counseling; professional, ethical and legal issues; the different fields of counseling and counseling practice. (3 s.h.) PSY-331-TE This is a two-hour examination in which you must answer 100 multiple-choice questions (worth 1 point each). A passing score is 60 out of 100 points. Test results are transcripted on a Pass/Fail basis only. Here are the topics covered and their approximate importance on the test. I. THE COUNSELING PROCESS AND WORK (10%) A. The occupation of professional counseling B. Settings in which professional counselors work C. Training and education of professional counselors D. Historical development of the counseling profession E. Challenges and recent trends in counseling II. COMPONENTS OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING (5%) A. Ethical codes and concerns in the counseling process B. Legal issues C. Professional competencies of effective counselors D. Personal qualities of effective counselors E. Components of professional counseling III. THEORIES AND TECHNIQUES OF COUNSELING (10%) A. Human development theories B. Psychoanalytic and psychodynamic theories C. Contemporary life-span development theories D. Humanistic and existential counseling theories E. Behavioral and cognitive counseling theories F. Constructivist counseling theories IV. ASSESSMENT AND COUNSELING (10%) A. How counselors use assessments B. Qualitative assessment skills C. Standardized tests and inventories D. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) E. Psychoeducation F. Crisis intervention V. INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING AND FAMILY COUNSELING (15%) A. Individual counseling and the steps in the counseling process B. Marriage and family counseling and therapy C. The changing family and marriage patterns D. Family systems theories E. Trends in family therapy
VI. GROUP AND CAREER COUNSELING (15%) A. Group counseling theories B. The group experience C. Ethical guidelines with group counseling D. History of career counseling and current situation E. Career counseling process F. Theoretical approaches to career counseling G. Tools used in career counseling H. Business and industry counseling programs I. Vocational rehabilitation counseling VII. SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING; COUNSELING IN A PLURALISTIC SOCIETY; COUNSELING OLDER ADULTS (15%) A. Counseling persons with alcohol abuse problems B. Counseling persons with drug abuse problems C. Counseling older adults D. Counseling gays, lesbians, and bisexuals E. Multicultural counseling F. Counseling men and women VIII. COUNSELING IN ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, SECONDARY SCHOOLS (10%) A. Role of the elementary school counselor B. Problems of elementary school students C. Counseling and outreach activities for elementary school students D. Problems of middle and secondary school students E. Counseling middle and secondary school students F. Outreach activities for middle and secondary school students IX. COUNSELING IN COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY AND THE COMMUNITY (10%) A. Problems of college students B. Counseling college students C. Outreach activities for college students D. Age-related counseling E. Spiritual counseling F. Counseling persons at risk G. Crisis prevention and intervention A textbook to help you prepare: Frank A. Nugent and Karyn Dayle Jones. Introduction to the Profession of Counseling. Current edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice-Hall
SAMPLE QUESTIONS 1. A major force behind the origin of counseling psychology was a. the American Personnel and Guidance Association b. Division 16 of the APA c. NDEA Institutes d. the Veterans Administration 2. The early guidance programs and activities were mostly a. vocational b. recreational c. psychiatric d. educational 3. Which of the following interviewing skills is intended to help clients change their self-defeating behaviors? a. Self-disclosure b. Confrontation c. Open-ended questions d. Focusing 4. A major goal of Gestalt Therapy is a. relaxation b. integration c. closure d. behavioral change 5. Phobias, panic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorders fall into which diagnostic category? a. Adjustment disorders b. Psychotic disorders c. Personality disorders d. Anxiety disorders 6. Standardized tests were originally developed a. to help counselors in vocational counseling b. to diagnose learning problems of children c. for selection and screening of army personnel d. for vocational and educational placement 7. The degree to which a test appears to measure what it is supposed to measure is known as a. content validity b. construct validity c. consequential reliability d. criterion reliability
8. Structural family therapy originated in the work of a. Bowen b. Satir c. Haley d. Munichin 9. In which stage of counseling are family grief and shame most likely to arise? a. Initial stage b. Middle stage c. Final stage d. Termination stage 10. Empathy involves a. assertiveness b. approval c. knowledge d. reinforcement 11. One of the most influential figures in the origin and development of group work was a. Perls b. Gazda c. Moreno d. Berne 12. What is the acceptable size range for a counseling group? a. 3-4 members b. 5-10 members c. 7-8 members d. 11-13 members 13. SIGI-PLUS and DISCOVER are types of a. psychological assessment tools b. information systems c. standardized tests d. interactive guidance systems 14. Ethnic minorities make up about what percentage of the population of the United States? a. 5% b. 10% c. 25% d. 33%
15. A popular therapy group that is used with older adults is a a. task group b. life skills group c. reminiscing group d. educational group 16. Which of the following persons is both physically and psychologically dependent on alcohol? a. Alcoholic b. Social drinker c. Problem drinker d. Enabler 17. The most common characteristic of middle school age children is their a. level of cognitive development b. unlikeness c. level of moral development d. similarity 18. One of the most effective means of dissuading adolescents from engaging in destructive behaviors is a. peer education b. parent workshops c. self-discovery d. community service 19. Community counselors are often employed in a. mental health organizations b. educational organizations c. depression-oriented organizations d. crisis-oriented organizations 20. What are the two most common clinical symptoms presented when a client voluntarily requests counseling services? a. Depression and mania b. Substance abuse and anxiety c. Anxiety and depression d. Neurosis and psychosis ANSWERS TO SAMPLE QUESTIONS 1. d 2. a 3. b 4. b 5. d 6. c 7. a 8. d 9. b 10. a 11. c 12. b 13. d 14. c 15. c 16. a 17. b 18. a 19. d 20. c