1
NSG 527 Complete Exam (Midterm + Final) – Wilkes
University | 2025/2026 Verified Questions with Correct
Answers & Rationales
Part 1: Midterm Examination
Focus: Psychopathology, Theories of Psychotherapy, and Advanced Clinical Modalities .
Section A: Major Therapeutic Modalities
1. Existential Psychotherapy is best described as:
A) A behavioral intervention focusing on conditioning
B) A phenomenological approach enabling authentic life experiences, freedom of choice, and
responsible existence
C) A cognitive restructuring therapy for anxiety disorders
D) A family systems approach addressing communication patterns
Answer: B
Rationale: Existential psychotherapy emphasizes helping clients experience their lives freely at spiritual
and emotional levels, make authentic decisions, and take responsibility for themselves and their world .
It is phenomenological, focusing on the client's subjective experience rather than symptoms.
2. According to Yalom, which of the following is NOT one of the "givens of existence"?
A) Freedom and Responsibility
B) Isolation
C) Meaninglessness
D) Self-Actualization
Answer: D
Rationale: Yalom identified four ultimate concerns: death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness.
Self-actualization is a concept from humanistic psychology (Maslow), not existential therapy .
3. In Gestalt therapy, which statement best reflects the concept of "impasse"?
A) The point where therapy becomes ineffective
B) The point where clients stop self-support and manipulate their environment to obtain needed
support
,2
C) The termination phase of therapy
D) The moment of emotional catharsis
Answer: B
Rationale: In Gestalt therapy, an impasse occurs when clients cannot progress in self-support maturity
and instead manipulate their environment (including people) to survive, often playing helpless, crazy, or
angry to get the support they feel they need .
4. The founder of Gestalt therapy is:
A) Viktor Frankl
B) Irvin Yalom
C) Fritz Perls
D) Carl Rogers
Answer: C
Rationale: Fritz Perls founded Gestalt therapy, which emphasizes wholeness, awareness, and the "here
and now" .
5. Which statement is TRUE about the "here and now" focus in Gestalt therapy?
A) The past is completely ignored as irrelevant
B) The here and now includes residues from the past such as body posture, habits, and beliefs
C) Only current events are discussed, not emotions
D) The future is the primary focus of exploration
Answer: B
Rationale: Gestalt therapists focus on the what and how of behavior in the present moment, but they
are sensitive to how the here and now includes residues from the past, such as body posture, habits,
and beliefs .
6. Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) was developed by:
A) Jean Baker Miller
B) Daniel Hughes
C) James Prochaska
D) Carl Rogers
Answer: B
Rationale: Daniel Hughes developed Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, which focuses on
attachment and trauma in children .
,3
7. The acronym PACE in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy stands for:
A) Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy
B) Patience, Authenticity, Compassion, Engagement
C) Partnership, Action, Change, Evaluation
D) Presence, Awareness, Connection, Empathy
Answer: A
Rationale: PACE is the core therapeutic stance in DDP: Playfulness creates safety; Acceptance
communicates unconditional worth; Curiosity shows genuine interest; Empathy conveys understanding .
8. The Central Relational Paradox in Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT) refers to:
A) The conflict between independence and dependence
B) The pattern of hiding one's authentic self to maintain a relationship, which paradoxically prevents
connection
C) The tension between work and family life
D) The developmental crisis of adolescence
Answer: B
Rationale: RCT posits that chronic disconnections from empathically failing relationships early in life
become encoded as relational images. To avoid further disconnection, individuals hide their authentic
selves, which paradoxically prevents the genuine connection they seek .
9. The founders of Relational-Cultural Theory include all EXCEPT:
A) Jean Baker Miller
B) Irene Stiver
C) Janet Surrey
D) Irvin Yalom
Answer: D
Rationale: RCT was created by Jean Baker Miller, Irene Stiver, Janet Surrey, and Judith Jordan. Yalom is
an existential therapist .
Section B: Change Models & Motivational Interviewing
10. The Transtheoretical Model of Change (TTM) was developed by:
A) Miller & Rollnick
B) Prochaska & DiClemente
C) Rogers & Maslow
D) Beck & Ellis
Answer: B
, 4
Rationale: James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente developed the TTM in the 1970s, later revised with
Velicer in 1997 .
11. The six stages of change in the TTM, in correct order, are:
A) Awareness, Preparation, Action, Maintenance, Relapse, Termination
B) Precontemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance, Termination
C) Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance
D) Orientation, Exploration, Insight, Action, Resolution
Answer: B
Rationale: The correct sequence is Precontemplation (no intention to change), Contemplation
(considering change), Preparation (planning), Action (implementing), Maintenance (sustaining),
Termination (stable change) .
12. According to Prochaska and DiClemente, a client who states, "I know I have a problem, but I'm just
not ready to do anything about it yet," is in which stage of change?
A) Precontemplation
B) Contemplation
C) Preparation
D) Action
Answer: B
Rationale: Contemplation is characterized by awareness of the problem and considering change within
the next six months, but not yet committed to action .
13. Motivational Interviewing (MI) was developed by:
A) Prochaska & DiClemente
B) Miller & Rollnick
C) Rogers & Maslow
D) Frankl & May
Answer: B
Rationale: Miller and Rollnick developed MI in 1991 as a client-centered, directive method for
enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence .
14. According to MI theory, people do not change primarily because:
A) They lack willpower
B) They are afraid to change
C) They are unaware of the problem
D) They lack resources
NSG 527 Complete Exam (Midterm + Final) – Wilkes
University | 2025/2026 Verified Questions with Correct
Answers & Rationales
Part 1: Midterm Examination
Focus: Psychopathology, Theories of Psychotherapy, and Advanced Clinical Modalities .
Section A: Major Therapeutic Modalities
1. Existential Psychotherapy is best described as:
A) A behavioral intervention focusing on conditioning
B) A phenomenological approach enabling authentic life experiences, freedom of choice, and
responsible existence
C) A cognitive restructuring therapy for anxiety disorders
D) A family systems approach addressing communication patterns
Answer: B
Rationale: Existential psychotherapy emphasizes helping clients experience their lives freely at spiritual
and emotional levels, make authentic decisions, and take responsibility for themselves and their world .
It is phenomenological, focusing on the client's subjective experience rather than symptoms.
2. According to Yalom, which of the following is NOT one of the "givens of existence"?
A) Freedom and Responsibility
B) Isolation
C) Meaninglessness
D) Self-Actualization
Answer: D
Rationale: Yalom identified four ultimate concerns: death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness.
Self-actualization is a concept from humanistic psychology (Maslow), not existential therapy .
3. In Gestalt therapy, which statement best reflects the concept of "impasse"?
A) The point where therapy becomes ineffective
B) The point where clients stop self-support and manipulate their environment to obtain needed
support
,2
C) The termination phase of therapy
D) The moment of emotional catharsis
Answer: B
Rationale: In Gestalt therapy, an impasse occurs when clients cannot progress in self-support maturity
and instead manipulate their environment (including people) to survive, often playing helpless, crazy, or
angry to get the support they feel they need .
4. The founder of Gestalt therapy is:
A) Viktor Frankl
B) Irvin Yalom
C) Fritz Perls
D) Carl Rogers
Answer: C
Rationale: Fritz Perls founded Gestalt therapy, which emphasizes wholeness, awareness, and the "here
and now" .
5. Which statement is TRUE about the "here and now" focus in Gestalt therapy?
A) The past is completely ignored as irrelevant
B) The here and now includes residues from the past such as body posture, habits, and beliefs
C) Only current events are discussed, not emotions
D) The future is the primary focus of exploration
Answer: B
Rationale: Gestalt therapists focus on the what and how of behavior in the present moment, but they
are sensitive to how the here and now includes residues from the past, such as body posture, habits,
and beliefs .
6. Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) was developed by:
A) Jean Baker Miller
B) Daniel Hughes
C) James Prochaska
D) Carl Rogers
Answer: B
Rationale: Daniel Hughes developed Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, which focuses on
attachment and trauma in children .
,3
7. The acronym PACE in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy stands for:
A) Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy
B) Patience, Authenticity, Compassion, Engagement
C) Partnership, Action, Change, Evaluation
D) Presence, Awareness, Connection, Empathy
Answer: A
Rationale: PACE is the core therapeutic stance in DDP: Playfulness creates safety; Acceptance
communicates unconditional worth; Curiosity shows genuine interest; Empathy conveys understanding .
8. The Central Relational Paradox in Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT) refers to:
A) The conflict between independence and dependence
B) The pattern of hiding one's authentic self to maintain a relationship, which paradoxically prevents
connection
C) The tension between work and family life
D) The developmental crisis of adolescence
Answer: B
Rationale: RCT posits that chronic disconnections from empathically failing relationships early in life
become encoded as relational images. To avoid further disconnection, individuals hide their authentic
selves, which paradoxically prevents the genuine connection they seek .
9. The founders of Relational-Cultural Theory include all EXCEPT:
A) Jean Baker Miller
B) Irene Stiver
C) Janet Surrey
D) Irvin Yalom
Answer: D
Rationale: RCT was created by Jean Baker Miller, Irene Stiver, Janet Surrey, and Judith Jordan. Yalom is
an existential therapist .
Section B: Change Models & Motivational Interviewing
10. The Transtheoretical Model of Change (TTM) was developed by:
A) Miller & Rollnick
B) Prochaska & DiClemente
C) Rogers & Maslow
D) Beck & Ellis
Answer: B
, 4
Rationale: James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente developed the TTM in the 1970s, later revised with
Velicer in 1997 .
11. The six stages of change in the TTM, in correct order, are:
A) Awareness, Preparation, Action, Maintenance, Relapse, Termination
B) Precontemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance, Termination
C) Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance
D) Orientation, Exploration, Insight, Action, Resolution
Answer: B
Rationale: The correct sequence is Precontemplation (no intention to change), Contemplation
(considering change), Preparation (planning), Action (implementing), Maintenance (sustaining),
Termination (stable change) .
12. According to Prochaska and DiClemente, a client who states, "I know I have a problem, but I'm just
not ready to do anything about it yet," is in which stage of change?
A) Precontemplation
B) Contemplation
C) Preparation
D) Action
Answer: B
Rationale: Contemplation is characterized by awareness of the problem and considering change within
the next six months, but not yet committed to action .
13. Motivational Interviewing (MI) was developed by:
A) Prochaska & DiClemente
B) Miller & Rollnick
C) Rogers & Maslow
D) Frankl & May
Answer: B
Rationale: Miller and Rollnick developed MI in 1991 as a client-centered, directive method for
enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence .
14. According to MI theory, people do not change primarily because:
A) They lack willpower
B) They are afraid to change
C) They are unaware of the problem
D) They lack resources
