CCE CPCE Exam Questions

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61.

How should one deal with hidden agendas in a therapeutic group?

  • Identify and confront them

  • Allow the group to address them

  • Let them remain hidden

  • Question group members individually

Correct answer: Identify and confront them 

Groups may have hidden agendas. That is, there may be some issue or conflict, or even unspoken concern, that will meaningfully affect the work of the group if left unaddressed. In these situations, it is best to spend some time identifying and confronting the issue so that the group's actual work can continue. 

If left to the group, the issue may not emerge into the open soon enough, and the confrontation is best handled within the group process so that the group's members all have a fair chance to comment.

62.

Who should set the goals for a therapeutic group?

  • Group members, with help from the group leader

  • The group leader, with input from the group members

  • The goals are standardized and set before the group begins

  • A leader appointed by the group members

Correct answer: Group members, with help from the group leader 

It is important for a therapeutic group to be working toward goals that are meaningful to the group on an individual as well as a group basis. Ideally, the group members should arrive at the goals of the group in a group process, with assistance from the group leader if necessary. No group leader is necessary for this process. 

Though some standardized goals are acceptable, the group should have the power to accept or reject these.

63.

How is informed consent different in group work as opposed to individual counseling?

  • The right to informed consent is exactly the same 

  • The right to informed consent is not present in group work 

  • The right to informed consent is handled on a per-session basis in group work

Correct answer: The right to informed consent is exactly the same 

The right to informed consent is a constant in any form of counseling, with informed consent being absolutely required of any participant in either individual or group counseling. 

The issue is not handled on a session basis in either case, though it is helpful in group work to briefly remind participants of various ethical rules at the beginning of each group session.

64.

Which of the following would be an example of successive approximation?

  • Breaking down a large goal into achievable steps

  • Becoming more skilled at designing goals

  • Revising and discarding obsolete goals

Correct answer: Breaking down a large goal into achievable steps

Successive approximation is a tool that can help clients and counselors clarify goal-setting by illustrating smaller steps toward a larger goal. For example, a larger goal might be sobriety, with successive approximations being the daily, weekly, and monthly steps necessary to achieve that goal. 

Successive approximation does not necessarily help people become more skilled at designing or revising goals.

65.

What is a frequency distribution intended to show?

  • The frequency of people receiving a certain score

  • How many people failed the overall test

  • How much time people take on individual items

  • The frequency of false positives in scoring

Correct answer: The frequency of people receiving a certain score 

Frequency distribution is a graphical representation of how many people receive a certain score on an assessment. If properly done, such a chart can indicate possible problems with a test in terms of its structure and validity, but can also serve the more basic function of indicating the overall drift of scores. 

Such a distribution will also probably indicate a range of failing scores, but its intended purpose is to report on score frequency itself. False positives and time sampling are not indicated in such a distribution. 

66.

Which of the following is the first step in Super's Model of Career Development of Children? 

  • Curiosity

  • Information

  • Exploration

Correct answer: Curiosity 

Super (1981) suggested a Model of Career Development of Children that stressed the role of early development in the selection of a career path. This was thought to go through several stages, beginning with curiosity, proceeding through exploration of possibilities, and then further along the actual gathering of information about the career in question. These stages are tied with psychological developments around identity and relationships.

67.

When is it permitted to terminate a client relationship for nonpayment?

  • After the client has been given a chance to make arrangements

  • As soon as the client shows they cannot afford a session

  • It is not permitted to terminate a client relationship for nonpayment

  • Only after referral to a different counselor

Correct answer: After the client has been given a chance to make arrangements 

Counselors have a right to be compensated for their work. Though specific jurisdictions may differ on the details, a counselor may terminate a client relationship for nonpayment after the client has been given notification that the process is underway and has been given a chance to make alternate payment arrangements. 

Counselors should avoid the appearance of abandoning their clients instantly when a financial issue is present. Though there may be times when a referral is in order, in general, this is not done for reasons of nonpayment. 

68.

Which of the following is the role of CACREP? 

  • Setting national standards for counselors in education 

  • Auditing the performance of professional counselors 

  • Discipline of master's level counseling professionals 

Correct answer: Setting national standards for counselors in education 

CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) was begun in the 1960s as a way to regularize and establish national standards for the accreditation of master's and doctorate-level programs in counseling. 

This body does not audit professional performance or discipline professionals in the counseling professions; such would be the role of state behavioral licensing boards.

69.

Which of the following corresponds to Bowlby's ideas about the relationship between client and therapist?

  • The client will treat the therapist as they have been treated 

  • The client will treat the therapist as a parent 

  • The client will treat the therapist as an enemy 

Correct answer: The client will treat the therapist as they have been treated 

John Bowlby, whose work in attachment theory is central to the understanding of psychological development, said at the end of his life that a client will treat a therapist as they have been treated—referring to their struggles and issues in their own early development. This is a helpful diagnostic idea for counselors and therapists, as observation of this dynamic can lead to therapeutic insight. 

The relationship is not one of enmity, nor is it necessarily parental, but it will be inflected by previous attachment issues or struggles.

70.

Which of the following is true regarding credentialing for counselors? 

  • There is wide variability among credentialing requirements 

  • There is a recent, uniform standard established for such credentialing 

  • There is variability at the federal level among credentialing requirements 

Correct answer: There is wide variability among credentialing requirements 

Generally speaking, credentialing requirements for counselors are a matter of state law as defined in statutes regarding state-level behavioral sciences credentialing. One major, long-standing issue in most behavioral science professions is the wide variability among such state standards. Though reciprocity agreements do exist, there is still no uniform standard of credentialing for these professions.

71.

Which of the following would be most consistent with Miller-Tiedeman's Lifecareer theory? 

  • There is a difference between personal and common reality

  • People choose careers that are good for them 

  • Careers are the end product of a lifetime of study 

Correct answer: There is a difference between personal and common reality

Miller-Tiedeman's Lifecareer theory describes individuals as their own theory makers with respect to formulating their careers. Key to this idea is the difference between personal and common reality; personal reality is one's personal feeling about a right career choice, while common reality is what others tell the person about their career choice. 

The theory does not necessarily say that people choose careers that are good for them or that careers are the product of a lifetime of active study; instead, Lifecareer theory suggests that one has a spiritual, personal engagement with the idea of career selection.

72.

Is it appropriate to tell a terminating client details about the therapist they are referred to?

  • Yes, in most circumstances

  • No, under no circumstances

  • No, as this is against the ACA Code of Ethics

  • Yes, in all circumstances

Correct answer: Yes, in most circumstances 

Termination can be a challenging and stressful time for clients, who may see the process as risking their therapeutic gains. It's important to broker this transition carefully, with as much comfort and information offered to the client as possible. Clients should be able to know a little about the receiving therapist before the transition, given the receiving therapist's approval. Ideally, the receiving therapist is involved during the process.

73.

Is confrontation appropriate among group members?

  • Yes, in some circumstances 

  • No, under no circumstances 

  • Yes, in substance abuse groups 

  • No, unless the group leader asks for it 

Correct answer: Yes, in some circumstances 

Though it should be properly framed and handled to avoid aggression or abuse, some kinds of confrontation can be valuable in a therapeutic group context. In fact, groups can be an excellent place for group members to learn how to confront issues in a caring and effective way. Ideally, this begins to happen organically within the group when necessary and is not an explicit direction of the group leader.

74.

What role does a person take on when they become the focus of group frustration? 

  • Scapegoat 

  • Leader 

  • Reflector 

Correct answer: Scapegoat 

Therapeutic groups are subject to the same array of relational dynamics as all other human groups. It is common among human groups of any kind for a person to be assigned the role of scapegoat, meaning that they become the focus of group frustration or hostility. This is not a role that is usually chosen but is a natural progression of forces within the group. When it happens, counselors should intervene to stop it. 

75.

What does the Standards for Multicultural Assessment (2012) indicate about advocacy?

  • Clinicians are directed to engage in advocacy

  • Clinicians are offered the option to engage in advocacy

  • Clinicians are encouraged to discuss advocacy with clients

  • Clinicians are encouraged to discuss advocacy with other clinicians

Correct answer: Clinicians are directed to engage in advocacy 

Though discussion of advocacy with other professionals is desirable, and discussion of advocacy issues with clients important in practice, the specific guidance of the Standards for Multicultural Assessment (2012) explicitly directs clinicians to engage in advocacy on behalf of their clients. Most often, this is anticipated to take place in the context of advocating for culturally relevant assessments and clearing away barriers to appropriate assessment and care.

76.

What is the difference in terms of participation between counseling consultation versus counseling supervision? 

  • Counseling supervision involves at least two parties, while consultation involves at least three

  • Counseling supervision involves at least three parties, while consultation involves at least two

  • Counseling supervision and counseling consultation involve no minimum personnel

Correct answer: Counseling supervision involves at least two parties, while consultation involves at least three

There is a difference between counseling supervision, which is meant to help a trainee counselor become a better counselor, and counseling consultation, which seeks to provide insight and support on a given client case. In the case of supervision, there are generally two parties concerned; the trainee and the supervisor. In counseling consultation, there are at least three parties concerned; the client, the consultant, and the consultee (usually the counselor serving the client in question).

77.

Do self-rewards work in the same way as external reinforcers?

  • Yes, the behavioral mechanism is the same

  • No, the behavioral response is weaker

  • No, the behavioral response is stronger

  • Yes, but only when the reward is tangible

Correct answer: Yes, the behavioral mechanism is the same 

In behavioral counseling plans, a reward structure is often built into a set of desired behaviors so that, when the goal or behavior is accomplished, a reward is granted. This is the basic behavioral mechanism and works much the same way if the rewards come from the self as they do if coming from an external source. This is why self-contracting is a valid behavioral strategy, where a client builds their own reward structure around their own desired change in behavior. 

Reward structures are highly variable and may be tangible or intangible, but must be meaningful to the client. 

78.

What is likely to happen to a dysfunctional family system without intervention?

  • It will continue functioning in its current way

  • It will break down quickly

  • It will break down slowly

  • It will slowly repair its dysfunction over time

Correct answer: It will continue functioning in its current way 

Unfortunately, dysfunctional families tend to preserve their dysfunction if no intervention occurs. This is due to the principle of homeostasis, which means that a family tries to preserve its stable status quo even if that status quo is dysfunctional. 

Change, even change that promises improvement, is generally seen as a threat to the stability of the system and will likely be rejected. Such families may break down, but homeostasis exists to preserve the family system (even in a dysfunctional state), so a true breakdown would be unlikely.

79.

Which of the following is the usual goal of systematic desensitization?

  • Anxiety reduction

  • Affective relief

  • Personality repair

Correct answer: Anxiety reduction 

Systematic desensitization is a process of anxiety reduction that is usually aimed at relief from a given feared stimulus or situation, such as a specific phobia or a more general anxiety. Generally speaking, the technique involves graduated exposure to a feared stimulus so that the responses of the individual with respect to anxiety decrease as the process continues, finally resulting in total mitigation of the specific anxiety. 

The technique is not explicitly meant to address affective states such as depression, nor is it meant to address deep issues within the personality; it is a way of addressing very specific anxiety-provoking phenomena.

80.

How would a hierarchy construction work in counseling?

  • By arranging fears in order of importance

  • By assessing power structures in the client's life

  • By formulating a set of achievable goals

  • By creating a schedule of desired behaviors

Correct answer: By arranging fears in order of importance 

In the treatment of specific anxiety and phobia, the first part of many management techniques is for the client to describe their fear in detail according to a hierarchy. This hierarchy will describe a structure of the fear, from related stimuli that induce barely any discomfort all the way to those that the client believes would induce intolerable horror. The strategy will then focus on working up this ladder by desensitizing it, starting with the lower-stress items. 

The technique is not related to power structures, goals, or desired behaviors, except as these are reflected in a desire to manage a specific anxiety.