CALIFORNIA BOARD OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
(BBS) CLINICAL COUNSELOR EXAM,
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026
Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which of the following is the best example of transference in
therapy?
A. A client misremembers events from childhood
B. A client projects feelings from a parent onto the therapist
C. A client develops coping skills in session
D. A client experiences a panic attack in session
B. A client projects feelings from a parent onto the therapist
Transference occurs when a client unconsciously redirects feelings from
past relationships onto the therapist.
2. Which approach emphasizes free association, dream interpretation,
and unconscious processes?
A. Cognitive-behavioral therapy
B. Psychodynamic therapy
C. Person-centered therapy
D. Solution-focused therapy
B. Psychodynamic therapy
Psychodynamic therapy focuses on unconscious processes and early life
experiences to understand behavior.
,3. A client demonstrates persistent sadness, loss of interest, and
fatigue for over two weeks. Which disorder is most likely?
A. Bipolar I Disorder
B. Major Depressive Disorder
C. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
D. Schizophrenia
B. Major Depressive Disorder
Symptoms lasting at least two weeks with significant impairment
indicate Major Depressive Disorder.
4. When a counselor notices a client becoming overly dependent on
them, the counselor should:
A. Increase personal disclosures
B. Set appropriate boundaries
C. Avoid discussing dependency
D. Encourage dependency for treatment
B. Set appropriate boundaries
Setting clear boundaries helps maintain professional and ethical
therapeutic relationships.
5. Which of the following is an example of a cognitive distortion?
A. Progressive muscle relaxation
B. All-or-nothing thinking
C. Systematic desensitization
D. Exposure therapy
,B. All-or-nothing thinking
Cognitive distortions are biased or irrational thinking patterns; all-or-
nothing thinking is a common example.
6. A counselor is working with a client with PTSD. Which intervention
is considered evidence-based?
A. Psychoanalysis
B. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
C. Client-centered therapy only
D. Play therapy
B. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is an empirically supported treatment for PTSD.
7. A client reports feeling anxious about an upcoming presentation.
Which approach would likely involve challenging negative thoughts?
A. Psychoanalytic therapy
B. Cognitive-behavioral therapy
C. Gestalt therapy
D. Humanistic therapy
B. Cognitive-behavioral therapy
CBT helps clients identify, challenge, and modify maladaptive thoughts.
8. Confidentiality may be broken legally in which situation?
A. The client requests it
B. The client expresses suicidal intent
, C. The client shares financial troubles
D. The client expresses boredom with therapy
B. The client expresses suicidal intent
Therapists are mandated to take protective action when clients pose
danger to themselves or others.
9. Which defense mechanism involves redirecting unacceptable
impulses into socially acceptable behaviors?
A. Denial
B. Sublimation
C. Projection
D. Regression
B. Sublimation
Sublimation channels unacceptable impulses into constructive activities.
10. What is the main goal of person-centered therapy?
A. Restructuring thoughts
B. Resolving unconscious conflicts
C. Facilitating self-actualization
D. Reinforcing behaviors
C. Facilitating self-actualization
Person-centered therapy emphasizes the client’s growth and realization
of their potential.
11. When working with clients from diverse backgrounds, counselors
should:
(BBS) CLINICAL COUNSELOR EXAM,
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026
Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which of the following is the best example of transference in
therapy?
A. A client misremembers events from childhood
B. A client projects feelings from a parent onto the therapist
C. A client develops coping skills in session
D. A client experiences a panic attack in session
B. A client projects feelings from a parent onto the therapist
Transference occurs when a client unconsciously redirects feelings from
past relationships onto the therapist.
2. Which approach emphasizes free association, dream interpretation,
and unconscious processes?
A. Cognitive-behavioral therapy
B. Psychodynamic therapy
C. Person-centered therapy
D. Solution-focused therapy
B. Psychodynamic therapy
Psychodynamic therapy focuses on unconscious processes and early life
experiences to understand behavior.
,3. A client demonstrates persistent sadness, loss of interest, and
fatigue for over two weeks. Which disorder is most likely?
A. Bipolar I Disorder
B. Major Depressive Disorder
C. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
D. Schizophrenia
B. Major Depressive Disorder
Symptoms lasting at least two weeks with significant impairment
indicate Major Depressive Disorder.
4. When a counselor notices a client becoming overly dependent on
them, the counselor should:
A. Increase personal disclosures
B. Set appropriate boundaries
C. Avoid discussing dependency
D. Encourage dependency for treatment
B. Set appropriate boundaries
Setting clear boundaries helps maintain professional and ethical
therapeutic relationships.
5. Which of the following is an example of a cognitive distortion?
A. Progressive muscle relaxation
B. All-or-nothing thinking
C. Systematic desensitization
D. Exposure therapy
,B. All-or-nothing thinking
Cognitive distortions are biased or irrational thinking patterns; all-or-
nothing thinking is a common example.
6. A counselor is working with a client with PTSD. Which intervention
is considered evidence-based?
A. Psychoanalysis
B. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
C. Client-centered therapy only
D. Play therapy
B. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is an empirically supported treatment for PTSD.
7. A client reports feeling anxious about an upcoming presentation.
Which approach would likely involve challenging negative thoughts?
A. Psychoanalytic therapy
B. Cognitive-behavioral therapy
C. Gestalt therapy
D. Humanistic therapy
B. Cognitive-behavioral therapy
CBT helps clients identify, challenge, and modify maladaptive thoughts.
8. Confidentiality may be broken legally in which situation?
A. The client requests it
B. The client expresses suicidal intent
, C. The client shares financial troubles
D. The client expresses boredom with therapy
B. The client expresses suicidal intent
Therapists are mandated to take protective action when clients pose
danger to themselves or others.
9. Which defense mechanism involves redirecting unacceptable
impulses into socially acceptable behaviors?
A. Denial
B. Sublimation
C. Projection
D. Regression
B. Sublimation
Sublimation channels unacceptable impulses into constructive activities.
10. What is the main goal of person-centered therapy?
A. Restructuring thoughts
B. Resolving unconscious conflicts
C. Facilitating self-actualization
D. Reinforcing behaviors
C. Facilitating self-actualization
Person-centered therapy emphasizes the client’s growth and realization
of their potential.
11. When working with clients from diverse backgrounds, counselors
should:
