Deck 8: Expressing Understanding

Question 1

Some clients may not be able to express their feelings. In these cases, the practitioner may need to

A) work around the client's avoidance of their feelings.
B) tell the client that progress would be much quicker if s/he would only acknowledge their feelings.
C) suggest names for feelings and share hunches in a tentative voice.
D) terminate therapy with them.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

How might a practitioner create an atmosphere in which people are comfortable and willing to be corrected?

A) The practitioner should only work with people who have stated that they are willing to be corrected.
B) The practitioner should be a role model by demonstrating a willingness to share hunches and express appreciation for being corrected.
C) The practitioner should tell the members that they shouldn't feel embarrassed when they're corrected because that feeling is counter-productive and they would end up hindering the group.
D) The practitioner should spend the majority of the first few sessions focused on correction and criticizing the members' ideas, so that the members become accustomed and comfortable with being corrected.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The most important reason for reflecting content is

A) to let the client know that s/he is understood.
B) to show the client how competent the practitioner is.
C) to avoid reflecting feelings.
D) to diagnose the client.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Since people from different backgrounds may give different meanings to events, it is important for the practitioner to _______ when expressing his/her understanding of the client's meaning.

A) be forceful
B) be gentle
C) be tentative
D) be understanding

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons why language differences present significant challenges in developing an empathic relationship?

A) Language differences indicate that culturally, the practitioner and client will never be able to understand each other.
B) Slang words and phrases may vary between regions and generations
C) Clients using a second language may not be fluent enough to express how they feel.
D) Practitioners using a second language may not be fluent enough to express their thoughts.

Question 6

The statement, "It sounds like you are unhappy because your friend has ignored what you told her about how you feel" is an example of:

A) reflecting feelings.
B) reflecting content and feelings.
C) reflecting content.
D) summarizing.

Question 7

When reflecting feelings, it is important to always ensure that the reflection of feeling is accompanied by _________EXCEPT

A) congruent facial expressions.
B) more firmness in your tone of voice.
C) more softness in your tone of voice.
D) a reflection on whether the client's feelings are appropriate given their situation.

Question 8

Reflecting feelings requires that the practitioner use empathy to do all of the following EXCEPT

A) joining with the client.
B) understanding the client's feelings.
C) communicating this understanding.
D) reflecting how the practitioner would feel if he/she was in the client's shoes.

Question 9

Why is it useful to move beyond what the client has stated?

A) It uses the practitioner's assumptions to understand the client's current situation.
B) It often helps the client gain new understanding or insight.
C) It requires the client to become creative in his/her responses.
D) It is dangerous to do so because it involves making conjectures that may or may not be true.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT an aspect of empathy?

A) Seeing the world as the person sees it, not as you would see it were you in their place
B) Grasping the assumptions that influence the person's worldview
C) Feeling sorry for the person in that particular situation.
D) Understanding the meaning that person is giving to events.

Question 11

Your client tells you that his wife is quite ill, and he is worried about her. Which of the following is NOT an appropriate response?

A) "I notice that your eyes are tearing up. I wonder if you're feeling sad."
B) "It sounds like it's been hard for you to have your wife ill."
C) "You seem to be quite anxious about her."
D) "My wife also has cancer, so I know how you feel."

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT an example of reflecting content?

A) Client: I don't know if we're ready to select an option.
Practitioner: It sounds like you think we should explore the options some more.
B) Client: Mom is sick a lot. It's awful at my house.
Practitioner: It sounds like you're really scared and sad about your mom.
C) Client: I don't know what to do anymore. We've had one crisis after another.
Practitioner: It sounds like you've experienced many hardships lately.
D) Client: He cheated on me, and I just don't know if I want to be with him any longer.
Practitioner: It sounds like you're considering ending the relationship.

Question 13

Summarizing is the same as _____ but generally covers more information.

A) hypothesizing
B) motivating
C) listening
D) reflecting

Question 14

Many practitioners attempt to express what is _______ discussed by the client.

A) not explicitly
B) explicitly
C) consistently
D) seldom

Question 15

Why is it important for practitioners to express empathic understanding by summarizing the client's story?

A) It gives the client an opportunity to correct any misunderstandings and elaborate or explain further.
B) It fills up time.
C) It allows the practitioner to create his/her own interpretation of the story.
D) Practitioners should not summarize the client's story.

Question 16

The client has been talking about his current stress regarding his job situation. The practitioner then states "Let me see if I understand what you are telling me. It sounds like you are quite scared about potentially losing your job, since your friend recently lost his position at the company. You worry about the impact this will have on your marriage and your family's finances. Does that sound correct?" This is an example of:

A) reflecting feelings
B) reflecting content
C) making a hypothesis
D) summarizing

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a skill used in expressing empathic understanding?

A) reflecting feelings and content
B) providing feedback
C) summarizing
D) exploring meanings

Question 18

Expressing empathy means:

A) communicating an understanding of another person's experience, behavior, viewpoint, meanings, and/or feelings.
B) stating something in a strong and opinionated manner.
C) communicating in a particularly creative way.
D) communicating an agreement and positive opinion of another person's behavior and feelings.

Question 19

Which of the following is an example of expressing empathy?

A) "I know how you feel."
B) "If I were you, I'd feel so angry."
C) "That's kind of like what happened to me!"
D) "It sounds like you were really hurt by what she said."

Question 20

The most important reason for offering a reflecting comment is

A) to let the client know that s/he is understood.
B) to show the client how competent the practitioner is.
C) to avoid reflecting feelings.
D) to diagnose the client.

Question 21

Your new client is an international student from a different culture than your own. During the first meeting, he states, "I not sure you be understand me because we different." How might you address the cultural and language differences with this client?

Question 22

Your client is a 7-year-old girl who is seeing you because her mother has recently died from cancer, and she has been experiencing nightmares as well as fears of going to school and leaving her father during the day. Write five statements that indicate a demonstration of 1) reflecting feeling, 2) reflecting content, 3) reflecting feelings and content, 4) summarizing, and 5) reflecting meanings.

Question 23

It is up to _______ to understand what meanings) are being presented by the client.

A) the practitioner
B) the client
C) the practitioner and client
D) the eldest one in the relationship

Question 24

When language differences exist between practitioner and client, it is especially important to frequently:

A) ask leading questions.
B) reflect or summarize.
C) find commonalities.
D) ignore mistakes in understanding.

Question 25

Your client, with tears in her eyes, has just told you that she is thinking of leaving her husband because he beats her and the kids, and she "just can't take it any longer". List three appropriate ways that you could respond.

Question 26

All of the following are examples of reflecting meaning tentatively EXCEPT:

A) You sound frustrated by your boss's irresponsibility. Is that right?
B) It sounds like you value your marriage but wonder if it's worth it to continue. Did I get that right?
C) You're excited by the possibility of moving to a new city but nervous at the same time. Have you told anyone besides me about your feelings?
D) So is it like you're stressed by the new business but at the same time you really enjoy the challenges?

Question 27

List three ways practitioners could recognize and communicate their understanding of the importance of difference in shaping life experiences?

Question 28

Your new client is an international student from a different culture than your own who speaks English as her third language. What would you do to ensure that you understand your client and your client understands you?

Question 29

Which of the following statements is an example of reflecting meaning?

A) I noticed you wringing your hands and sighing several times.
B) Have you tried talking to your sister about how you've been feeling hurt because she's ignoring you?
C) You look quite angry. What are your thoughts right now?
D) It sounds like the stress related to your husband being unemployed is affecting everyone in the family.

Question 30

When summarizing with a family or group, practitioners may choose to:

A) identify every point made by every member.
B) identify particular points or note what key members have said.
C) create an interpretation of the situation based on the information contributed by the members.
D) forego the summarizing since the information presented is too complex to boil down into a summary.