NR668 WEEK 3 FINAL PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH FULL SOLUTION
◉ Tiffany is a 24-year-old who presents for therapy after
encouragement from her sister. She endorses difficulty forming close
relationships and admits to sexually promiscuous behavior
regularly. During the intake interview, she discloses a history of
physical abuse by both parents; she has never admitted the abuse to
anyone but her sister. She also admits to cutting as a coping strategy.
Which of the psychodynamic psychotherapies below is best suited
for Tiffany?
supportive psychotherapy
expressive psychotherapy
psychoanalytic psychotherapy
brief psychodynamic therapy. Answer: expressive psychotherapy
Rationale: Tiffany presents with behaviors consistent with
borderline personality structure, including difficulty forming
relationships, acting out via sexually promiscuous behavior, and self-
harm. Expressive psychotherapy can assist Tiffany with reliving her
past trauma and activating emotions to begin the healing process.
,◉ Terrell is a 40-year-old who presents for therapy. He is recently
separated from his partner of 10 years, and he tearfully states that
thinking about returning to dating is "horrifying," but he expresses
anxiety about "being alone for the rest of my life."
Which of the psychodynamic psychotherapies below is best suited
for Terrell?
supportive psychotherapy
expressive psychotherapy
psychoanalytic psychotherapy
brief psychodynamic therapy. Answer: supportive psychotherapy
Rationale: Terrell presents with an emotional communication style,
life stressors related to a recent breakup, and anxiety related to
change. Supportive psychotherapy will help Terrell problem solve,
reduce anxiety, and build appropriate resources.
◉ Olathe is a 26-year-old who presents for therapy related to
relationship issues with her spouse. She states that their
communication has been "nonexistent" for several months and that
she is "at the point where divorce seems like the only option." While
she verbalizes understanding that therapy is not a "quick fix," she
indicates that she would like to learn communication tools that she
can use immediately.
Which of the psychotherapies below is best suited for Olathe?
,supportive psychotherapy
expressive psychotherapy
psychoanalytic psychotherapy
brief psychodynamic therapy. Answer: brief psychodynamic therapy
Rationale: Olathe presents with a specific conflict that is related to
communication with her spouse. Because she is interested in
pursuing therapy to address this specific conflict and learn new
communication tools, brief psychodynamic therapy to challenge and
overcome her defenses is a good option.
◉ defense mechanisms. Answer: Displacement
Projection
Denial
Regression
Repression
Rationalization
Intellectualization
Sublimation
, ◉ Aleksander received an inferior performance evaluation at work.
When he arrived home after a long day, he shouted at his 3-year-old
daughter for leaving her toys out in the playroom.
What defense mechanism is displayed?
Displacement
Projection
Denial
Regression
Repression
Rationalization
Intellectualization
Sublimation. Answer: Displacement
Rationale: Displacement occurs when a person expresses an
emotion, such as anger or frustration, towards a "safe" person rather
than towards the cause of the emotion.
◉ Frieda drinks 5-6 alcoholic beverages each night when she comes
home from work. She typically drinks until she passes out; however,
she never drinks during the day and never misses work due to her
drinking, though her drinking has impacted her relationship with
her spouse. She does not believe that her drinking is a problem
because she goes to work and pays bills on time.
WITH FULL SOLUTION
◉ Tiffany is a 24-year-old who presents for therapy after
encouragement from her sister. She endorses difficulty forming close
relationships and admits to sexually promiscuous behavior
regularly. During the intake interview, she discloses a history of
physical abuse by both parents; she has never admitted the abuse to
anyone but her sister. She also admits to cutting as a coping strategy.
Which of the psychodynamic psychotherapies below is best suited
for Tiffany?
supportive psychotherapy
expressive psychotherapy
psychoanalytic psychotherapy
brief psychodynamic therapy. Answer: expressive psychotherapy
Rationale: Tiffany presents with behaviors consistent with
borderline personality structure, including difficulty forming
relationships, acting out via sexually promiscuous behavior, and self-
harm. Expressive psychotherapy can assist Tiffany with reliving her
past trauma and activating emotions to begin the healing process.
,◉ Terrell is a 40-year-old who presents for therapy. He is recently
separated from his partner of 10 years, and he tearfully states that
thinking about returning to dating is "horrifying," but he expresses
anxiety about "being alone for the rest of my life."
Which of the psychodynamic psychotherapies below is best suited
for Terrell?
supportive psychotherapy
expressive psychotherapy
psychoanalytic psychotherapy
brief psychodynamic therapy. Answer: supportive psychotherapy
Rationale: Terrell presents with an emotional communication style,
life stressors related to a recent breakup, and anxiety related to
change. Supportive psychotherapy will help Terrell problem solve,
reduce anxiety, and build appropriate resources.
◉ Olathe is a 26-year-old who presents for therapy related to
relationship issues with her spouse. She states that their
communication has been "nonexistent" for several months and that
she is "at the point where divorce seems like the only option." While
she verbalizes understanding that therapy is not a "quick fix," she
indicates that she would like to learn communication tools that she
can use immediately.
Which of the psychotherapies below is best suited for Olathe?
,supportive psychotherapy
expressive psychotherapy
psychoanalytic psychotherapy
brief psychodynamic therapy. Answer: brief psychodynamic therapy
Rationale: Olathe presents with a specific conflict that is related to
communication with her spouse. Because she is interested in
pursuing therapy to address this specific conflict and learn new
communication tools, brief psychodynamic therapy to challenge and
overcome her defenses is a good option.
◉ defense mechanisms. Answer: Displacement
Projection
Denial
Regression
Repression
Rationalization
Intellectualization
Sublimation
, ◉ Aleksander received an inferior performance evaluation at work.
When he arrived home after a long day, he shouted at his 3-year-old
daughter for leaving her toys out in the playroom.
What defense mechanism is displayed?
Displacement
Projection
Denial
Regression
Repression
Rationalization
Intellectualization
Sublimation. Answer: Displacement
Rationale: Displacement occurs when a person expresses an
emotion, such as anger or frustration, towards a "safe" person rather
than towards the cause of the emotion.
◉ Frieda drinks 5-6 alcoholic beverages each night when she comes
home from work. She typically drinks until she passes out; however,
she never drinks during the day and never misses work due to her
drinking, though her drinking has impacted her relationship with
her spouse. She does not believe that her drinking is a problem
because she goes to work and pays bills on time.
