NRNP 6645 PSYCHOTHERAPY FINAL
EXAM COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
1. A patient in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) struggles with intense emotional volatility.
Which core module focuses on helping the patient accept the current moment without trying
to change it?
A. Emotional Regulation
B. Interpersonal Effectiveness
C. Mindfulness
D. Distress Tolerance
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Mindfulness is the core skill in DBT that teaches patients to be
present in the moment and accept reality as it is, which serves as the foundation for the
other modules.
2. According to Irvin Yalom, which curative factor refers to the realization that others have
similar problems and that the patient is not alone?
A. Altruism
,B. Catharsis
C. Universality
D. Socializing techniques
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Universality is the recognition that one is not unique in their
suffering, which helps reduce isolation and shame in a group setting.
3. In Structural Family Therapy, what is the primary goal of the therapist when observing a
mother constantly speaking for her teenage son?
A. Restructuring boundaries
B. Uncovering unconscious conflicts
C. Identifying the miracle question
D. Analyzing birth order
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Salvador Minuchin’s Structural Family Therapy focuses on
boundaries and hierarchies. The therapist aims to fix enmeshed boundaries where one
member over-functions for another.
4. Which cognitive distortion is occurring when a patient believes that a coworker’s bad
mood is entirely their fault, despite no evidence?
A. Catastrophizing
, B. Overgeneralization
C. Personalization
D. Dichotomous thinking
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Personalization occurs when an individual takes responsibility
for events outside their control or attributes external events to themselves without
justification.
5. Motivational Interviewing is primarily designed to help patients resolve what specific
psychological state?
A. Transference
B. Ambivalence
C. Psychosis
D. Cognitive dissonance
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a goal-oriented, client-
centered counseling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to explore and
resolve ambivalence.
EXAM COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
1. A patient in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) struggles with intense emotional volatility.
Which core module focuses on helping the patient accept the current moment without trying
to change it?
A. Emotional Regulation
B. Interpersonal Effectiveness
C. Mindfulness
D. Distress Tolerance
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Mindfulness is the core skill in DBT that teaches patients to be
present in the moment and accept reality as it is, which serves as the foundation for the
other modules.
2. According to Irvin Yalom, which curative factor refers to the realization that others have
similar problems and that the patient is not alone?
A. Altruism
,B. Catharsis
C. Universality
D. Socializing techniques
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Universality is the recognition that one is not unique in their
suffering, which helps reduce isolation and shame in a group setting.
3. In Structural Family Therapy, what is the primary goal of the therapist when observing a
mother constantly speaking for her teenage son?
A. Restructuring boundaries
B. Uncovering unconscious conflicts
C. Identifying the miracle question
D. Analyzing birth order
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Salvador Minuchin’s Structural Family Therapy focuses on
boundaries and hierarchies. The therapist aims to fix enmeshed boundaries where one
member over-functions for another.
4. Which cognitive distortion is occurring when a patient believes that a coworker’s bad
mood is entirely their fault, despite no evidence?
A. Catastrophizing
, B. Overgeneralization
C. Personalization
D. Dichotomous thinking
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Personalization occurs when an individual takes responsibility
for events outside their control or attributes external events to themselves without
justification.
5. Motivational Interviewing is primarily designed to help patients resolve what specific
psychological state?
A. Transference
B. Ambivalence
C. Psychosis
D. Cognitive dissonance
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a goal-oriented, client-
centered counseling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to explore and
resolve ambivalence.
