MSN 674 FINAL EXAM AND STUDY
GUIDE (NKU) NEWEST 2026/ 2027 TEST
BANK| MSN674 PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR
PSYCH-MENTAL HEALTH NURSE
PRACTITIONER (PMHNP) FINAL EXAM
PREP QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS/ GRADED A+
QUESTION 1
A patient in psychodynamic therapy consistently arrives late
and forgets appointments. The PMHNP recognizes this
behavior as:
A) A sign the patient is ready for termination
B) Resistance that should be explored ✓
C) A scheduling error by the office staff
D) Normal therapeutic progress
Rationale: In psychodynamic therapy, resistance refers to
behaviors that interfere with therapeutic progress, often reflecting
unconscious avoidance of difficult emotions, topics, or changes.
The therapist should explore the meaning and purpose of
resistance rather than ignore it .
, QUESTION 2
According to psychoanalytic theory, behavior is primarily
determined by:
A) Conscious choices and rational thinking
B) Unconscious drives, past conflicts, and repressed feelings ✓
C) Environmental reinforcement contingencies
D) Irrational beliefs and cognitive distortions
Rationale: Psychoanalytic and psychodynamic theory hold that
the unconscious mind drives behavior. The patient is often
unaware of the underlying motivations, conflicts, and repressed
feelings that influence their actions .
QUESTION 3
A patient who has been in therapy for several months begins
to idealize the therapist, stating, "You're the only one who
truly understands me." The PMHNP recognizes this as:
A) A healthy therapeutic alliance
B) Transference that should be explored clinically ✓
C) Countertransference that requires supervision
D) A sign the patient is ready for termination
Rationale: In psychodynamic therapy, strong reactions from the
client toward the therapist—whether positive (idealization) or
, negative—are viewed as transference. The therapist uses this
material to explore the patient's underlying expectations and
patterns .
QUESTION 4
A PMHNP notices they feel unusually frustrated and
dismissive toward a client who reminds them of a difficult
family member. The therapist recognizes this as:
A) Transference
B) Countertransference ✓
C) Projection
D) Free association
Rationale: Countertransference occurs when the therapist's own
unresolved feelings, biases, or past experiences are triggered by
the client. It must be recognized and managed through self-
awareness and supervision .
QUESTION 5
Free association is a technique used primarily in which
therapeutic approach?
A) Person-Centered Therapy
B) Psychoanalytic Therapy ✓
, C) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
D) Solution-Focused Therapy
Rationale: Free association involves letting the client talk freely
without censorship, allowing unconscious material to emerge. This
technique is a hallmark of psychoanalytic and psychodynamic
approaches .
QUESTION 6
Alfred Adler's Individual Psychology emphasizes that human
behavior is:
A) Driven by unconscious sexual impulses
B) Purposeful and goal-directed, motivated by inferiority feelings
and the need to belong ✓
C) Shaped by environmental reinforcement contingencies
D) Determined by irrational beliefs and cognitive distortions
Rationale: Adlerian theory posits that people are driven by
feelings of inferiority and a desire to belong. Behavior is
purposeful and goal-directed rather than random .
QUESTION 7
A PMHNP uses early recollections and family constellation
information to understand a patient's core beliefs. This
approach is most consistent with:
GUIDE (NKU) NEWEST 2026/ 2027 TEST
BANK| MSN674 PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR
PSYCH-MENTAL HEALTH NURSE
PRACTITIONER (PMHNP) FINAL EXAM
PREP QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS/ GRADED A+
QUESTION 1
A patient in psychodynamic therapy consistently arrives late
and forgets appointments. The PMHNP recognizes this
behavior as:
A) A sign the patient is ready for termination
B) Resistance that should be explored ✓
C) A scheduling error by the office staff
D) Normal therapeutic progress
Rationale: In psychodynamic therapy, resistance refers to
behaviors that interfere with therapeutic progress, often reflecting
unconscious avoidance of difficult emotions, topics, or changes.
The therapist should explore the meaning and purpose of
resistance rather than ignore it .
, QUESTION 2
According to psychoanalytic theory, behavior is primarily
determined by:
A) Conscious choices and rational thinking
B) Unconscious drives, past conflicts, and repressed feelings ✓
C) Environmental reinforcement contingencies
D) Irrational beliefs and cognitive distortions
Rationale: Psychoanalytic and psychodynamic theory hold that
the unconscious mind drives behavior. The patient is often
unaware of the underlying motivations, conflicts, and repressed
feelings that influence their actions .
QUESTION 3
A patient who has been in therapy for several months begins
to idealize the therapist, stating, "You're the only one who
truly understands me." The PMHNP recognizes this as:
A) A healthy therapeutic alliance
B) Transference that should be explored clinically ✓
C) Countertransference that requires supervision
D) A sign the patient is ready for termination
Rationale: In psychodynamic therapy, strong reactions from the
client toward the therapist—whether positive (idealization) or
, negative—are viewed as transference. The therapist uses this
material to explore the patient's underlying expectations and
patterns .
QUESTION 4
A PMHNP notices they feel unusually frustrated and
dismissive toward a client who reminds them of a difficult
family member. The therapist recognizes this as:
A) Transference
B) Countertransference ✓
C) Projection
D) Free association
Rationale: Countertransference occurs when the therapist's own
unresolved feelings, biases, or past experiences are triggered by
the client. It must be recognized and managed through self-
awareness and supervision .
QUESTION 5
Free association is a technique used primarily in which
therapeutic approach?
A) Person-Centered Therapy
B) Psychoanalytic Therapy ✓
, C) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
D) Solution-Focused Therapy
Rationale: Free association involves letting the client talk freely
without censorship, allowing unconscious material to emerge. This
technique is a hallmark of psychoanalytic and psychodynamic
approaches .
QUESTION 6
Alfred Adler's Individual Psychology emphasizes that human
behavior is:
A) Driven by unconscious sexual impulses
B) Purposeful and goal-directed, motivated by inferiority feelings
and the need to belong ✓
C) Shaped by environmental reinforcement contingencies
D) Determined by irrational beliefs and cognitive distortions
Rationale: Adlerian theory posits that people are driven by
feelings of inferiority and a desire to belong. Behavior is
purposeful and goal-directed rather than random .
QUESTION 7
A PMHNP uses early recollections and family constellation
information to understand a patient's core beliefs. This
approach is most consistent with:
