PYC3705
EXAM PACK
,TRANSFORMATIVE COUNSELLING ENCOUNTERS -
PYC3705
Semester 2 OCTOBER 2025
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
QUESTION 1
Which of the following statements correctly explains the idea of “opening up the
space” for a client during counselling?
A. The counsellor’s empathy, authenticity and unconditional acceptance of the client,
irrespective of the client’s conduct, are important for establishing an environment where
meaningful interaction can occur.
B. Counselling micro-skills should not be applied at the beginning of a session because
they could prevent the client from freely describing their experiences.
C. Creating a friendly and supportive environment might cause clients to develop
unrealistic expectations, so the counsellor should avoid opening the counselling space
too soon.
D. Opening up the counselling space happens automatically and does not require
deliberate effort from the counsellor.
Correct answer: A
Explanation:
Creating an appropriate counselling environment depends strongly on the three core
conditions associated with effective counselling: empathy, congruence and
unconditional positive regard.
, Empathy involves trying to understand the client’s experience from the client’s
own perspective. The counsellor attempts to appreciate what the client is thinking
and feeling rather than interpreting the situation solely from the counsellor’s
viewpoint.
Congruence means that the counsellor is genuine and authentic in the
counselling relationship. Being genuine can help establish trust.
Unconditional positive regard means accepting and respecting the client
without judging or condemning them. This makes it easier for clients to discuss
sensitive or difficult experiences openly.
QUESTION 2
The problem-resolution stage of counselling is best described by which ONE of the
following?
A. The stage where the counsellor investigates the client’s emotional and cognitive
processes, the nature of the problem, previous attempts at solving it and the client’s
decision-making abilities in detail.
B. The stage in which the counsellor and client establish procedures for follow-up.
C. The stage concerned mainly with establishing rapport, collecting information, setting
goals and explaining the terms of the counselling relationship.
D. The stage where counsellor and client both participate actively, with the counsellor
facilitating and supporting change while the client examines experiences, tests new
behaviours and moves away from ineffective patterns.
Correct answer: D
Explanation:
Problem resolution focuses on helping the client understand and address problems
and develop practical ways of dealing with them. Both participants have an active
role.
, The counsellor may facilitate the process, demonstrate useful approaches and provide
a supportive environment. The client, meanwhile, reassesses their situation, explores
relevant thoughts and emotions, experiments with alternative behaviours and works
towards replacing unhelpful patterns.
Problem-solving generally involves identifying and defining the problem, examining it
carefully, setting appropriate goals, developing possible solutions, selecting a suitable
option, implementing it and later evaluating whether it worked.
QUESTION 3
Which statement BEST explains empathic understanding?
A. It involves recognising that the client’s verbal description does not necessarily
provide the complete picture.
B. It means experiencing an understanding of the client’s feelings rather than simply
feeling sorry for the client.
C. It involves communicating genuine care and concern towards the client.
D. It involves dealing with factors occurring in the present moment within the counselling
relationship.
Correct answer: B
Explanation:
Empathic understanding requires the counsellor to try to experience and understand the
client’s world from the client’s frame of reference. The counsellor seeks to understand
what the client is experiencing rather than imposing the counsellor’s own interpretation.
Empathy is therefore different from sympathy. The counsellor does not simply feel sorry
for the client. Instead, the counsellor attempts to understand the client’s emotional
experience and communicate that understanding back to the client.
EXAM PACK
,TRANSFORMATIVE COUNSELLING ENCOUNTERS -
PYC3705
Semester 2 OCTOBER 2025
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
QUESTION 1
Which of the following statements correctly explains the idea of “opening up the
space” for a client during counselling?
A. The counsellor’s empathy, authenticity and unconditional acceptance of the client,
irrespective of the client’s conduct, are important for establishing an environment where
meaningful interaction can occur.
B. Counselling micro-skills should not be applied at the beginning of a session because
they could prevent the client from freely describing their experiences.
C. Creating a friendly and supportive environment might cause clients to develop
unrealistic expectations, so the counsellor should avoid opening the counselling space
too soon.
D. Opening up the counselling space happens automatically and does not require
deliberate effort from the counsellor.
Correct answer: A
Explanation:
Creating an appropriate counselling environment depends strongly on the three core
conditions associated with effective counselling: empathy, congruence and
unconditional positive regard.
, Empathy involves trying to understand the client’s experience from the client’s
own perspective. The counsellor attempts to appreciate what the client is thinking
and feeling rather than interpreting the situation solely from the counsellor’s
viewpoint.
Congruence means that the counsellor is genuine and authentic in the
counselling relationship. Being genuine can help establish trust.
Unconditional positive regard means accepting and respecting the client
without judging or condemning them. This makes it easier for clients to discuss
sensitive or difficult experiences openly.
QUESTION 2
The problem-resolution stage of counselling is best described by which ONE of the
following?
A. The stage where the counsellor investigates the client’s emotional and cognitive
processes, the nature of the problem, previous attempts at solving it and the client’s
decision-making abilities in detail.
B. The stage in which the counsellor and client establish procedures for follow-up.
C. The stage concerned mainly with establishing rapport, collecting information, setting
goals and explaining the terms of the counselling relationship.
D. The stage where counsellor and client both participate actively, with the counsellor
facilitating and supporting change while the client examines experiences, tests new
behaviours and moves away from ineffective patterns.
Correct answer: D
Explanation:
Problem resolution focuses on helping the client understand and address problems
and develop practical ways of dealing with them. Both participants have an active
role.
, The counsellor may facilitate the process, demonstrate useful approaches and provide
a supportive environment. The client, meanwhile, reassesses their situation, explores
relevant thoughts and emotions, experiments with alternative behaviours and works
towards replacing unhelpful patterns.
Problem-solving generally involves identifying and defining the problem, examining it
carefully, setting appropriate goals, developing possible solutions, selecting a suitable
option, implementing it and later evaluating whether it worked.
QUESTION 3
Which statement BEST explains empathic understanding?
A. It involves recognising that the client’s verbal description does not necessarily
provide the complete picture.
B. It means experiencing an understanding of the client’s feelings rather than simply
feeling sorry for the client.
C. It involves communicating genuine care and concern towards the client.
D. It involves dealing with factors occurring in the present moment within the counselling
relationship.
Correct answer: B
Explanation:
Empathic understanding requires the counsellor to try to experience and understand the
client’s world from the client’s frame of reference. The counsellor seeks to understand
what the client is experiencing rather than imposing the counsellor’s own interpretation.
Empathy is therefore different from sympathy. The counsellor does not simply feel sorry
for the client. Instead, the counsellor attempts to understand the client’s emotional
experience and communicate that understanding back to the client.
