Counseling Techniques
2026 | Study Guide,
Practice Questions,
Answers, Rationales &
Exam Review
Updated Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
,Biofeedback Training helps patient influence automatic, involuntary bodily functions (e.g., brain waves,
blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, skin temperature, sweat gland activity)
and better understand the mind-body connection by measuring bodily functions,
using information about how bodily functions contribute to bodily tension and stress,
and incorporating relaxation training.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has shown effectiveness for educating the patient regarding bipolar disorder and its
treatment, teaching cognitive behavior skills for coping with psychosocial stressors
and attendant problems, facilitating compliance with treatment, and monitoring the
occurrence and severity of symptoms.
... focuses on the thinking patterns and behaviors that may cause or maintain
depression. CBT provides practical skills to combat thinking errors and to contract
behavioral causes of depression.
... is the best treatment for undifferentiated Somatoform Disorder. It would help
client to control her negative thoughts and anxiety about her physical symptoms. In
this case, the client is experiencing anxiety in school due to the anticipation of
physical discomfort (vomiting) which would be appropriately treated by CBT
intervention.
... have been prescribed for the treatment of OCPD. The general approach involves
identifying and restructuring the dysfunctional thoughts underlying maladaptive
behaviors. Some approaches focus on the importance of addressing specific skill
deficits, such as social skill training, while others address maladaptive schemas,
such as unrelenting standards and emotional inhibition
Cognitive Restructuring a process of identifying and challenging irrational or maladaptive thoughts and
replacing them with positive and rational ones. Helps clients change the way
intrusive thoughts are interpreted and prevent them from taking on more significant
meaning. is a useful intervention for addressing maladaptive beliefs contributing to
depression. used to counter unrealistic, catastrophic thoughts frequently
experienced by many GAD clients.
is a cognitive-behavioral therapy technique used to identity and correct negative
thinking patterns. The technique involves altering negative automatic thoughts that
occur in anxiety-provoking situations (such as "I'm never going to graduate") by
replacing them weigh more rational beliefs (such as "I'm going to seek help from the
professor and the tutors.") As thoughts are challenged and disputed, their ability to
elicit anxiety is weakened.
... helps clients change the way intrusive thoughts are interpreted and prevent them
from taken on more significant meaning
Contingency Contracting a subtype of contingency management based on the use of predetermined positive
or negative consequences to reward abstinence or punish, and thus deter,
substance-related behaviors. As an adjunctive treatment, it has been used with a
variety of substance abuse and is shown to be effective. This approach is not
recommended for the treatment of postpartum OCD.
Contingency management of suicidal behaviors THis includes helping the client avoid vulnerable situations, teaching the client to
cope with suicidal thoughts, and providing emergency contact information.
Diaphragmatic breathing training Slow abdominal breathing to replace superficial chest breathing exhibited by many
anxious clients.
, Dialectical Behavior Therapy - DBT the best researched psychological treatment and with proven efficacy across a
range of target areas in the treatment of borderline personality disorder. It is a
cognitive-behavioral, comprehensive, principle-driven treatment program effective at
reducing frequency and severity of parasuicide, reduced general psychopathology,
and enhanced general and social functioning, and reduced emotional dysregulation.
DBT response to suicide the appropriate course of action in response to a possible suicidal event is 1)
Assess for potential of lethality. 2a) If the client is in danger, ask if he/she could
make arrangement to a hospital: if he/she cannot do it, call 911 on the client's behalf
and continue to monitor the situation. 2b) If the client is not in danger, direct the
client to get rid of any lethal means and end the call. The idea is that, calls to the
therapist after a suicide attempt are nonsensical, as the client has already "solved
the problem". Any therapist attention at this time risks reinforcing suicide-related
behavior. At the next session, however, the therapist would conduct a painstakingly
detailed analysis of the situation.
Didactic session Didactic information on the nature of anxiety is shown to be useful in the treatment
of GAD.
Dream Analysis not recommended for treatment for depression.
Eclectic psychotherapy includes a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal
psychotherapy, and general psychotherapy. CBT for this group (conversion
disorder) involves psycho-education about mind-body connection and attribution of
psychiatric or psychological causes rather than purely neurological or medical
causes for symptoms; learning to identify mood-cognition-environment connections,
automatic thoughts, catastrophic thinking, and somatic misinterpretations;
recognizing triggers associated with physical symptoms; training in healthy
communication and support seeking; recognizing emotions and ways to cope with
them; relaxation training; coping with external life stresses; and coping with internal
stress and conflict.
Electroconvulsive Therapy a procedure in which electric currents are passed through the brain, deliberately
triggering a brief seizure. It is suitable for severe refractory depression, mania and
catatonia. The exact mechanism of action remains elusive. Although is generally
safe, there are known risks and side effects including confusion and memory loss.
Empty Chair part of Gestalt therapy. The technique involves the client addressing the empty chair
as if another person was in it. Client may also move between chairs and act out two
or more sides of a discussion. A form of role-playing, the technique focuses on
exploration of self and is better for interpersonal concerns.
Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy the primary component of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which help the client
confront feared stimuli, including situations and thoughts (exposure), while
refraining from performing compensatory rituals (response prevention).
... is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy for the treatment of OCD, not OCPD. It
has been extensively studied and is shown to be highly effective. ERP is
recommended as initial treatment for an OCD client who is not too depressed,
anxious, or severely ill to cooperate with this treatment modality, or who prefers not
to take medications.
2026 | Study Guide,
Practice Questions,
Answers, Rationales &
Exam Review
Updated Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
,Biofeedback Training helps patient influence automatic, involuntary bodily functions (e.g., brain waves,
blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, skin temperature, sweat gland activity)
and better understand the mind-body connection by measuring bodily functions,
using information about how bodily functions contribute to bodily tension and stress,
and incorporating relaxation training.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has shown effectiveness for educating the patient regarding bipolar disorder and its
treatment, teaching cognitive behavior skills for coping with psychosocial stressors
and attendant problems, facilitating compliance with treatment, and monitoring the
occurrence and severity of symptoms.
... focuses on the thinking patterns and behaviors that may cause or maintain
depression. CBT provides practical skills to combat thinking errors and to contract
behavioral causes of depression.
... is the best treatment for undifferentiated Somatoform Disorder. It would help
client to control her negative thoughts and anxiety about her physical symptoms. In
this case, the client is experiencing anxiety in school due to the anticipation of
physical discomfort (vomiting) which would be appropriately treated by CBT
intervention.
... have been prescribed for the treatment of OCPD. The general approach involves
identifying and restructuring the dysfunctional thoughts underlying maladaptive
behaviors. Some approaches focus on the importance of addressing specific skill
deficits, such as social skill training, while others address maladaptive schemas,
such as unrelenting standards and emotional inhibition
Cognitive Restructuring a process of identifying and challenging irrational or maladaptive thoughts and
replacing them with positive and rational ones. Helps clients change the way
intrusive thoughts are interpreted and prevent them from taking on more significant
meaning. is a useful intervention for addressing maladaptive beliefs contributing to
depression. used to counter unrealistic, catastrophic thoughts frequently
experienced by many GAD clients.
is a cognitive-behavioral therapy technique used to identity and correct negative
thinking patterns. The technique involves altering negative automatic thoughts that
occur in anxiety-provoking situations (such as "I'm never going to graduate") by
replacing them weigh more rational beliefs (such as "I'm going to seek help from the
professor and the tutors.") As thoughts are challenged and disputed, their ability to
elicit anxiety is weakened.
... helps clients change the way intrusive thoughts are interpreted and prevent them
from taken on more significant meaning
Contingency Contracting a subtype of contingency management based on the use of predetermined positive
or negative consequences to reward abstinence or punish, and thus deter,
substance-related behaviors. As an adjunctive treatment, it has been used with a
variety of substance abuse and is shown to be effective. This approach is not
recommended for the treatment of postpartum OCD.
Contingency management of suicidal behaviors THis includes helping the client avoid vulnerable situations, teaching the client to
cope with suicidal thoughts, and providing emergency contact information.
Diaphragmatic breathing training Slow abdominal breathing to replace superficial chest breathing exhibited by many
anxious clients.
, Dialectical Behavior Therapy - DBT the best researched psychological treatment and with proven efficacy across a
range of target areas in the treatment of borderline personality disorder. It is a
cognitive-behavioral, comprehensive, principle-driven treatment program effective at
reducing frequency and severity of parasuicide, reduced general psychopathology,
and enhanced general and social functioning, and reduced emotional dysregulation.
DBT response to suicide the appropriate course of action in response to a possible suicidal event is 1)
Assess for potential of lethality. 2a) If the client is in danger, ask if he/she could
make arrangement to a hospital: if he/she cannot do it, call 911 on the client's behalf
and continue to monitor the situation. 2b) If the client is not in danger, direct the
client to get rid of any lethal means and end the call. The idea is that, calls to the
therapist after a suicide attempt are nonsensical, as the client has already "solved
the problem". Any therapist attention at this time risks reinforcing suicide-related
behavior. At the next session, however, the therapist would conduct a painstakingly
detailed analysis of the situation.
Didactic session Didactic information on the nature of anxiety is shown to be useful in the treatment
of GAD.
Dream Analysis not recommended for treatment for depression.
Eclectic psychotherapy includes a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal
psychotherapy, and general psychotherapy. CBT for this group (conversion
disorder) involves psycho-education about mind-body connection and attribution of
psychiatric or psychological causes rather than purely neurological or medical
causes for symptoms; learning to identify mood-cognition-environment connections,
automatic thoughts, catastrophic thinking, and somatic misinterpretations;
recognizing triggers associated with physical symptoms; training in healthy
communication and support seeking; recognizing emotions and ways to cope with
them; relaxation training; coping with external life stresses; and coping with internal
stress and conflict.
Electroconvulsive Therapy a procedure in which electric currents are passed through the brain, deliberately
triggering a brief seizure. It is suitable for severe refractory depression, mania and
catatonia. The exact mechanism of action remains elusive. Although is generally
safe, there are known risks and side effects including confusion and memory loss.
Empty Chair part of Gestalt therapy. The technique involves the client addressing the empty chair
as if another person was in it. Client may also move between chairs and act out two
or more sides of a discussion. A form of role-playing, the technique focuses on
exploration of self and is better for interpersonal concerns.
Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy the primary component of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which help the client
confront feared stimuli, including situations and thoughts (exposure), while
refraining from performing compensatory rituals (response prevention).
... is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy for the treatment of OCD, not OCPD. It
has been extensively studied and is shown to be highly effective. ERP is
recommended as initial treatment for an OCD client who is not too depressed,
anxious, or severely ill to cooperate with this treatment modality, or who prefers not
to take medications.
