National Counselor Exam

National Counselor Exam

Prep Class

Multiple Choice

A behavioral counselor is working with a client who complains of anxiety. The counselor and client examine antecedents and consequences of the anxiety. The counselor decides to eliminate the unwanted behavior through extinction by

• aversive counterconditioning

• implosion or flooding

• punishment

• thought stopping

A behavioral counselor is working with a client who complains of anxiety. The counselor and client examine antecedents and consequences of the anxiety. The counselor decides to eliminate the unwanted behavior through extinction by

• antecedents and consequences = behavioral

• aversive counterconditioning - ex. alcohol abuse + drug -> nausea

• thought stopping = cognitive

• punishment = unethical

• Tah, dah -> implosion or flooding is the answer!

Multiple Choice

On a college campus, a group of minority students has been protesting their treatment alluding to harassing comments by whites and what they believe to be discrimination in the grading system by their professors. Eleven of these students have come to the campus counseling center and want to begin a group experience to arrive at some answers and find solutions. The most appropriate theoretical orientation of the counselor assigned to lead the group is

• behavioral

• psychoanalytic

• gestalt

• client-centered

On a college campus, a group of minority students has been protesting their treatment alluding to harassing comments by whites and what they believe to be discrimination in the grading system by their professors. Eleven of these students have come to the campus counseling center and want to begin a group experience to arrive at some answers and find solutions. The most appropriate theoretical orientation of the counselor assigned to lead the group is

• Want to find answers and solutions

• psychoanalytic = unconscious motivations

• Gestalt = energy blocks

• client centered = congruence

• behavioral = change in behavior

Multiple Choice

An employment counselor uses the General Aptitude Test Battery, which measures nine aptitudes important for different jobs. His clients are typically uneducated. Because the counselor is concerned about how his clients' scores stack up against others and how they would perceive their aptitudes, he interprets the scores to each of his clients

• ipsatively

• using national norms

• using local norms

• in relationship to other tests

An employment counselor uses the General Aptitude Test Battery, which measures nine aptitudes important for different jobs. His clients are typically uneducated. Because the counselor is concerned about how his clients' scores stack up against others and how they would perceive their aptitudes, he interprets the scores to each of his clients

• GAT-B provides aptitude for individual

• concern about client perceptions

• national norms, local norms, and other tests could cause comparison

Multiple Choice

Individuals come to counseling for a variety of reasons. An immediate goal for many clients might be

• self-understanding

• skill development

• self-disclosure

• employment

Individuals come to counseling for a variety of reasons. An immediate goal for many clients might be

• Key words: immediate goal

• self-understanding, skill development, and employment would take some time

Multiple Choice

A counselor educator at a large university studied different counseling modalities for students who came to the counseling center with relationship/self-esteem problems. There was a waiting list to accommodate all the students. The researcher was curious if men or women gained self-esteem differentially whether they were seen in individual counseling, group counseling, or small psychoeducational class (18 to 20 students). There was also a possibility of an interaction between gender and the kind of service they received. The appropriate statistical technique to use in this situation was

• one-way analysis of variance

• factorial analysis of variance

• t-test

• multivariate analysis of variance

A counselor educator at a large university studied different counseling modalities for students who came to the counseling center with relationship/self-esteem problems.  There was a waiting list to accommodate all the students.  The researcher was curious if men or women gained self-esteem differentially whether they were seen in individual counseling, group counseling, or small psychoeducational class (18 to 20 students). There was also a possibility of an interaction between gender and the kind of service they received.  The appropriate statistical technique to use in this situation was

• 2 IVs: Gender x counseling modalities

• 1 DV:  Self-esteem

• 3 Groups:  individual counseling, group counseling, or small psychoeducational class 

• Key word:  interaction

Statistics in Review

• Dependent variable = outcome

• Independent variable = conditions of study that impact outcome

• Example: The rolling stone gathers no moss.

• Example: Birds of a feather flock together.

Statistics in Review

• 2 scores: pre to post = dependent t-test

• 2 scores/two groups = independent t-test

• > 3 groups, 1 IV = ANOVA

• > 3 groups, > 2 IV (interaction) = factorial ANOVA

• > 3 groups, > 2 IV, > DV = MANOVA

• relationship = correlation

• prediction = regression

Multiple Choice

To establish its validity, a new test was administered to the same group which took a well-established test. The correlation coefficient between the two tests was 0.70. The amount of variance common to both instruments was

• less than 50 percent

• 50 - 60 percent

• 61 to 70 percent

• more than 70 percent

To establish its validity, a new test was administered to the same group which took a well-established test. The correlation coefficient between the two tests was 0.70. The amount of variance common to both instruments was

• Correlation is not causation.

• Correlation coefficient squared = coefficient of determination = variance

• 0.70² (coefficient of determination) = 49% variance

Multiple Choice

Accreditation of counselor training programs requires that counseling theories are taught followed by a developmental process of skill-building and application in practica and internships. A key component of accreditation is evaluation of this skill development. The body which accredits more counselor training programs than any other is

• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

• Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs

• American Psychological Association

• North Central Association of Schools and Colleges

Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs

Multiple Choice

The counselor determines that the client can more easily discuss painful material as part of a story or vignette. She decides to administer the Thematic Apperception Test to help the client in this process. This counselor is likely to be practicing from a ____ perspective.

• Gestalt

• rational-emotive

• client-centered

• psychoanalytical

• Gestalt = energy blocks

• rational-emotive = change in thoughts

• client centered = congruence

• psychoanalytic = unconscious motivations

Multiple Choice

A middle school principal is curious whether different math-teaching techniques result in different (and better) math learning. She has three classrooms of fourth-grade math students and assigns different math-teaching techniques to the three teachers to use for the school year. All students completed the same math exam in September as a pretest and will posttest in May. Upon examining math pretest scores, the principal finds that the Classroom A mean math score is 72, Classroom Bmean is 88, and Classroom C mean is 73. In May, after posttest data are collected, an appropriate statistical procedure for the principal to apply first is

• multiple regression

• ANOVA

• t-test

• ANCOVA

A middle school principal is curious whether different math-teaching techniques result in different (and better) math learning. She has three classrooms of fourth-grade math students and assigns different math-teaching techniques to the three teachers to use for the school year. All students completed the same math exam in September as a pretest and will posttest in May. Upon examining math pretest scores, the principal finds that the Classroom A mean math score is 72, Classroom B mean is 88, and Classroom C mean is 73. In May, after posttest data are collected, an appropriate statistical procedure for the principal to apply first is

• DV = math learning

• IV = Teaching techniques

• Keyword = first

• Need to account for differences that pre-existing in classes

Multiple Choice

Jaime, a sixteen-year-old sophomore, has developed a pattern of skipping classes. His homework is seldom completed and when it is, it does not represent his ability level. His parents have begun to look for an appropriate counselor for him. Although they don't know all the approaches available, Jaime might be helped best with a counselor using theoretical concepts from

• behavioral and existential

• person-centered and rational emotive behavior

• Gestalt and reality

• Behavioral and person-centered

Jaime, a sixteen-year-old sophomore, has developed a pattern of skipping classes. His homework is seldom completed and when it is, it does not represent his ability level. His parents have begun to look for an appropriate counselor for him. Although they don't know all the approaches available, Jaime might be helped best with a counselor using theoretical concepts from

• Existential = searching for the meaning, purpose and values of life

• Behavioral = behavioral changes

• Person-centered = congruence of ideal and perceived self

• Reality = change current behavior

• Gestalt = Taking responsibility

Multiple Choice

At a treatment center for delinquent girls, one of Carmen's clients expresses considerable rage toward her probation officer for "putting me in this place." The girl has a plan to harm the probation officer when she gets an opportunity. Carmen believes she is justified in breaking confidence and warning the probation officer because of the

• Buckley amendment

• 72-hour hold law

• mandatory disclosure rule

• Tarasoff case

Important

• The duty to warn refers to a counselor's obligation to warn identifiable victims.

• The duty to protect is a counselor's duty to reveal confidential client information in the event that the counselor has reason to believe that a third party may be harmed.

• https://cdn.nabita.org/website-media/nabita.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/04161144/DUTYTOWARN.pdf

• NC: Gregory v. Kilbride: https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1248790/gregory-v-kilbride/

Multiple Choice

A personnel director of a medium-sized manufacturing firm was instructed to increase the percentage of hires who could successfully perform the delicate and complex jobs requiring finger dexterity. The personnel director was reluctant to add a test because the hiring procedures were already extensive. In reviewing possible tests to use in employee selection, the personnel director was most concerned about

• standard error of measurement

• stability reliability

• face validity

• the norm group

A personnel director of a medium-sized manufacturing firm was instructed to increase the percentage of hires who could successfully perform the delicate and complex jobs requiring finger dexterity. The personnel director was reluctant to add a test because the hiring procedures were already extensive. In reviewing possible tests to use in employee selection, the personnel director was most concerned about

• SEM = how repeated measures of a person on the same instrument tend to be distributed around his or her “true” score

• stability reliability (aka test-retest) = degree to which scores remain constant from the test to the retest 

• norm group = refers to the sample of test-takers who are representative of the population for whom the test is intended

• face validity = the degree to which a procedure appears effective in terms of its stated aims.

Multiple Choice

A random sample of 100 students from each class at a large university was sent a computer message by the Division of Student Services. The message title simply said "Important Message from Student Services" and asked for acknowledgment of receipt. The number of hours it took the students to respond during the next seven days was measured for each of the four samples. Student Services was attempting to determine how effective e-mailing information to students might be. An appropriate statistical analysis of the differences between the four classes was

• one-way analysis of variance

• t-test for groups

• multivariate analysis of variance

• analysis of covariance

A random sample of 100 students from each class at a large university was sent a computer message by the Division of Student Services. The message title simply said "Important Message from Student Services" and asked for acknowledgment of receipt. The number of hours it took the students to respond during the next seven days was measured for each of the four samples. Student Services was attempting to determine how effective e-mailing information to students might be. An appropriate statistical analysis of the differences between the four classes was

• n = 100

• DV = # hours

• IV = message - how effective emailing by class

Multiple Choice

In graduate school, Raul found none of the traditional counseling theories to his liking. Based on his undergraduate coursework in philosophy and psychology, Raul developed his own personal theory of helping. In practicum and internship, he found that some processes and techniques from "textbook" theories fit with his theory and were helpful in addressing particular client problems. Raul's theory accurately be called **

• integrative

• client-centered

• eclectic

• individualistic

In graduate school, Raul found none of the traditional counseling theories to his liking. Based on his undergraduate coursework in philosophy and psychology, Raul developed his own personal theory of helping. In practicum and internship, he found that some processes and techniques from "textbook" theories fit with his theory and were helpful in addressing particular client problems. Raul's theory accurately be called

• Integrative

• Client-centered

• Eclectic

• Individualistic

Multiple Choice

A 50-year-old African American Vietnam Vet has been assigned to a young, white female counselor at the VA Hospital. He is experiencing symptoms of PTSD and has been in and out of counseling for many years. During the third session with his new counselor, the client gets frustrated and angry and says, "I'm not getting any help here! This is just getting worse. What are you writing down about me? I want to see my records." The counselor.

• deflects the client's request for the records and focuses on the anger.

• tells the client that the agency's policy is to not release records to clients.

• can ethically deny records to clients if they may be harmed by the contents.

• can ethically provide 'sanitized' summaries to the client.

A 50-year-old African American Vietnam Vet has been assigned to a young, white female counselor at the VA Hospital. He is experiencing symptoms of PTSD and has been in and out of counseling for many years. During the third session with his new counselor, the client gets frustrated and angry and says, "I'm not getting any help here! This is just getting worse. What are you writing down about me? I want to see my records." The counselor

• deflects the client's request for the records and focuses on the anger.

• tells the client that the agency's policy is to not release records to clients.

• can ethically deny records to clients if they may be harmed by the contents.

• can ethically provide 'sanitized' summaries to the client.

Multiple Choice

A counselor at a mental health agency noticed that the clients who complained of anxiety also tended to introversion. As part of the agency's intake process, test scores were collected from all clients on these two, as well as other, variables. The counselor decided to examine the relationship between these two variables and her statistic of choice was a

• t-test

• MANOVA

• Pearson's correlation

• canonical correlation

A counselor at a mental health agency noticed that the clients who complained of anxiety also tended to introversion. As part of the agency's intake process, test scores were collected from all clients on these two, as well as other, variables. The counselor decided to examine the relationship between these two variables and her statistic of choice was a

• t-test

• MANOVA

• Pearson's correlation

• canonical correlation

Multiple Choice

Of the major counseling theories, some are more conducive to measuring the effectiveness with clients than are others. All may be effective as applied by some counselors with certain clients who have certain problems. In general, however, the two theoretical approaches showing most effectiveness through research are.

• reality and Gestalt

• behavioral/cognitive behavioral and rational emotive

• person-centered and behavioral/cognitive behavioral

• Adlerian and rational emotive

Of the major counseling theories, some are more conducive to measuring the effectiveness with clients than are others. All may be effective as applied by some counselors with certain clients who have certain problems. In general, however, the two theoretical approaches showing most effectiveness through research are.

• reality and Gestalt

• behavioral/cognitive-behavioral and rational emotive

• person-centered and behavioral/cognitive-behavioral

• Adlerian and rational emotive

Multiple Choice

In a training session on ethical and legal issues, the trainer discussed a number of professional issues of which counselors should be aware. At one point, he asked the participants this question: "Name a professional counselor activity that doesn't require the passage of a state law?" The trainer took responses from the audience. Jackson said, "Involuntary commitment." Marcia responded with, "Licensure." Naomi suggested, "Accreditation." Phil said, "Privileged communication." The correct response came from.

• Naomi

• Phil

• Jackson

• Marcia

In a training session on ethical and legal issues, the trainer discussed a number of professional issues of which counselors should be aware. At one point, he asked the participants this question: "Name a professional counselor activity that doesn't require the passage of a state law?" The trainer took responses from the audience. Jackson said, "Involuntary commitment." Marcia responded with, "Licensure." Naomi suggested, "Accreditation." Phil said, "Privileged communication." The correct response came from.

• Phil - Privileged communication = legal standard

• Jackson - Involuntary commitment = legal standard

• Marcia - Licensure = legal standard

• Naomi - Accreditation = private organization

Multiple Choice

A counselor working in a juvenile group home designed an inventory of social skills which each resident takes. The purpose of this inventory is to substitute for other ways of estimating the social skills level of the residents. Since the purpose of this inventory is to substitute for other methods of measurement, the most appropriate type of validity we are concerned with here is

• construct

• concurrent

• content

• face

A counselor working in a juvenile group home designed an inventory of social skills which each resident takes. The purpose of this inventory is to substitute for other ways of estimating the social skills level of the residents. Since the purpose of this inventory is to substitute for other methods of measurement, the most appropriate type of validity we are concerned with here is

• Construct = whether a test measures the intended construct

• Content = the adequacy with which the test items adequately and representatively sample the content area to be measured

• Concurrent = measures how well a new test compares to an well-established test

• Face = the degree to which a procedure appears effective in terms of its stated aims.

Multiple Choice

Antonio is finishing a master's degree in counseling and must complete a thesis. He decides to investigate the differences in social skills between homeless veterans and a sample of veterans who are not homeless. As he gets to the point of data collection, he realizes that he will be limited to assessing only those veterans of each group who volunteer to participate. Because of that, when it comes time for data analysis, Antonio will probably have to use

• regression statistics

• nonparametric statistics

• parametric statistics

• factor analysis

Antonio is finishing a master's degree in counseling and must complete a thesis. He decides to investigate the differences in social skills between homeless veterans and a sample of veterans who are not homeless. As he gets to the point of data collection, he realizes that he will be limited to assessing only those veterans of each group who volunteer to participate. Because of that, when it comes time for data analysis, Antonio will probably have to use

• Regression statistics - predictions

• Nonparametric statistics - not based on probability distributions

• Parametric statistics - based on probability distributions

• Factor analysis - used to reduce a large number of variables into fewer numbers of factors

Multiple Choice

A counselor has set up an elaborate experimental study which includes gathering pretest and posttest data. However, she is concerned that the pretest itself might influence or interact with the experimental treatment. To deal with this contingency, she decided to use

• a chi-square design

• multiple regression

• Duncan's multiple range test

• Solomon four-group design

A counselor has set up an elaborate experimental study which includes gathering pretest and posttest data. However, she is concerned that the pretest itself might influence or interact with the experimental treatment. To deal with this contingency, she decided to use

• Chi-square = difference between Observed and Expected frequency

• Multiple regression = prediction

• Duncan's multiple range test = a post hoc test to measure specific differences between pairs of means

• Solomon Four Square= controls for the effect of the pre-test

Multiple Choice

A child has considerable difficulty writing words because of physical limitations. Periodically, the teacher reinforces the child with a smile and an encouraging word. This is an example of ____ reinforcement.

• variable interval

• variable ratio

• fixed interval

• fixed ratio

A child has considerable difficulty writing words because of physical limitations. Periodically, the teacher reinforces the child with a smile and an encouraging word. This is an example of ____ reinforcement.

• Variable interval = Reinforcement is delivered at unpredictable time intervals (e.g., after 5, 7, 10, and 20 minutes).

• Variable ratio = Reinforcement is delivered after an unpredictable number of responses (e.g., after 1, 4, 5, and 9 responses).

• Fixed interval = Reinforcement is delivered at predictable time intervals (e.g., after 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes).

• Fixed ratio = Reinforcement is delivered after a predictable number of responses (e.g., after 2, 4, 6, and 8 responses).

Multiple Choice

A career assessment and information system that replaced the Dictionary of Occupational Titles and developed by the Department of Labor.

• DISCOVER

• Improved Career Decision Making Model

• O*Net

• Harrington-O'Shea

A career assessment and information system that replaced the Dictionary of Occupational Titles and developed by the Department of Labor

• DISCOVER

• Improved Career Decision-Making Model

• O*Net

• Harrington-O'Shea

Multiple Choice

A term that refers to communication through use of micro-space, that is, the distance we maintain, or attempt to maintain, is what?

• kinesics

• proxemics

• paralanguage

• neurolinguistics

A term that refers to communication through use of micro-space, that is, the distance we maintain, or attempt to maintain, is what?

• kinesics - movement

• proxemics - space

• paralanguage - intonation, pitch and speed of speaking, hesitation noises, gesture, and facial expression.

• neurolinguistics - relationship between language and the structure and functioning of the brain.

Multiple Choice

When any culture makes an effort to become a part of the larger culture this process is known as what?

• integration

• assimilation

• segregation

• accommodation

When any culture makes an effort to become a part of the larger culture this process is known as what?

• integration - the intermixing of people or groups previously segregated.

• assimilation - the process of taking in or absorbing

• segregation - something apart from others.

• accommodation - adjustment of

Multiple Choice

Which of the following career theorists advocates individual differences in backgrounds, physical and psychological variables, and accumulated experiences?

• Robert Hoppock

• Donald Super

• Edward Bordin

• Anne Roe

Which of the following career theorists advocates individual differences in backgrounds, physical and psychological variables, and accumulated experiences?

• Robert Hoppock - vocation development begins with the first awareness that a job can help meet one's needs

• Donald Super - based on the belief that self-concept changes over time and develops as a result of experience

• Edward Bordin - no matter our age, we all have the urge to play because it is an intrinsically satisfying activity and gives us pleasure and joy

• Anne Roe - focused on the emotional/functional relationship and expereinces between parent and child

Multiple Choice

Several authors (e.g., Super, Levinson, Erikson) suggest that clients are vulnerable at certain times and during these times counselors are needed more than ever. A term that refers to this point in time is?

• mentoring

• transition

• critical juncture

• novice phase

Several authors (e.g., Super, Levinson, Erikson) suggest that clients are vulnerable at certain times and during these times counselors are needed more than ever. A term that refers to this point in time is?

• mentoring

• transition

• critical juncture

• novice phase