IMPORTANT NOTICE:
SECURE TEST BANK
Mastering Competencies in Family Therapy
Chapter 9: Solution-Based Therapies
1. Solution-based therapies are arguably the first and leading __________ therapies.
a. short-term
b. strength-based
c. solution-oriented
d. straight-laced
2. As the name suggests, solution-based therapists spend a minimal amount of time talking
about __________ and instead focus on moving the client toward enacting solutions.
a. family
b. problems
c. sadness
d. dreams
3. Contrary to common myths, talking about the __________ is one of the most important
means of identifying solutions: what has worked and what has not?
a. past
b. present
c. future
d. unknown
4. Solution-based therapists believe __________ cannot be avoided in therapy; however,
they are not considered curative.
a. solutions
b. strengths
c. emotions
d. problems
5. According to solution-based therapists, strengths include the resources in a person’s life.
Which of the following would NOT be considered a strength?
a. Family support
b. Positive relationships
c. Religious faith
d. Pathology
6. Solution-based therapists have been in the vanguard of a larger movement within mental
health that emphasizes identifying and utilizing client __________ to promote better
clinical outcomes.
a. saviors
b. solutions
c. sorrow
d. strengths
7. What is the key to successfully assessing strengths, no matter how dire and severe a
client’s situation appears?
a. Having an unshakable belief that all clients have significant and meaningful
strengths
b. Liking all clients in spite of their shortcomings
c. Forgiving clients of their transgressions in order to see their good side
d. Finding a clients religious or spiritual beliefs and drawing on those
8. At a time when most therapies focused on the past, Milton Erickson (an inspiration in
solution-oriented therapy) directed his clients to focus on which time periods, often
envisioning times without the problem?
a. Past and present
b. Present and future
c. Past and future
d. None of the above
9. In solution-based therapies, what does it mean for the therapist to assume a position of a
beginner’s mind?
a. To meditate before bringing each client into session
b. To start at the very beginning of a client’s story
c. To make no assumptions about a client’s experiences
d. To reflect a blank slate to the client
10. A solution-oriented therapist uses a client’s description of “feeling blue” and having “a
case of the crazies.” This is an example of which of the following?
a. Carefully attending to the client’s word choice
b. Allowing the client to diagnose him or her self
c. Dismissing the clinical significance of symptoms
d. Colluding with the client against the problem
11. Which of the following is an example of how a solution-oriented therapist uses reflection
to delimit?
a. “You were feeling down.”
b. “Your partner always does things that annoy you.”
c. “There is not anyone you are interested in right now.”
d. “You did not feel understood by your mom yesterday. “
12. In solution-based therapy, __________ is cultivated early in therapy to develop
motivation and momentum.
a. happiness
b. helpfulness
c. hope
d. hallucinations
13. A solution-oriented therapist asks a client, “Are there any times when the problem is less
likely to occur or less severe? Are there places or times when the problem is not as bad?”
What is the therapist looking for?
a. Exceptions
b. Example
c. Intensity
d. Initiation
14. Steve de Shazer assessed client motivation for change using which three categories?
a. Visitors, rejecters, and customers
b. Travelers, complainants, and customers
c. Visitors, complainants, and regulars
d. Visitors, complainants, and customers
15. Which of the following statements about a visitor in therapy is NOT true?
a. Most mandated clients are visitors in therapy.
b. Therapists need to find ways to connect to a visitor’s agenda in order to be
successful in therapy.
c. Visitors do not have a complaint, but others generally have a complaint against
them.
d. Visitors are in therapy to have their problems fixed by an expert.
16. Sara is a solution-oriented therapist working with Bill and Gina (parents) and their two
children, Jake (15) and Madison (9). The parents say Jake is increasingly hostile and
won’t listen to them. They feel like their family is falling apart. Jake refuses to participate
in therapy. He says his parents are the ones with the problem and he doesn’t think
anything is wrong. Bill and Gina want Sara to have some individual sessions with Jake,
saying they can’t make a difference and that she needs to “fix him.” What category
describes Bill and Gina’s motivation for change?
a. Customers
b. Visionaries
c. Complainants
d. Visitors
17. What are solution-oriented goal descriptions?
a. Problem-focused
b. Focus on symptom reduction
c. Describe what the client will be doing
d. All of the above
18. In solution-oriented therapy, goals are stated in positive, observable, solution-based
terms. Which of the following is NOT a good example of a solution-based goal?
a. Increase periods of enjoyable activity, social interaction, and hope for future.
b. Increase frequency of couple’s emotionally intimate conversations.
c. Increase cooperation and pro-social activities.
d. All of the above are good examples of solution-oriented goals.
19. When successfully delivered, what does the miracle question allow clients?
a. To see how their life could have been if there really were miracles
b. To envision the future without the problem
c. To generate resolutions for their problem
d. All of the above
20. Which technique can best be used when asking a client to define their goals and rate their
progress toward goals?
a. The miracle question
b. Scaling questions
c. Coping questions
d. Pre-suppositional questions
21. “If 0 is where you were when you decided to seek help, and 10 is where you would be if
the problem you came here for was resolved, where are you today?” This is an example
of what type of intervention?
a. Pre-suppositional questions
b. Coping questions
c. The miracle question
d. Scaling questions
22. When using scaling questions, it is up to __________ to identify realistic expectations
and to develop specific homework tasks to move the client toward goals.
a. The client
b. The therapist
c. The client and therapist
d. None of the above
23. In the beginning of therapy, what is the key to change for clients?
a. Doing one small thing different
b. Doing something different every day
c. Planning for long term change
d. Setting goals that instill faith
24. Which of the following is NOT included in the basic tenets of solution-focused
intervention according to de Shazer?
a. If it works, do more of it.
b. Small steps can lead to big changes.
c. The solution is usually related to the problem.
d. No problem happens all of the time; there are always exceptions.
25. A couple attends therapy with Julia, a solution-oriented therapist. The couple reports a
very difficult relationship. They are always arguing, disagreeing, and separating. After a
very intense first session, Julia says to the couple, “Between now and the next time we
meet, I would like you to observe so you can describe to me what happens in your
relationship you do not want to have changed by therapy.” What kind of intervention is
Julia using?
a. The miracle question
b. A formula first session task
c. Scaling questions
d. Compliments and encouragement
25. Which of the following is an example of a presuppositional question?
a. What are you going to do to resolve this issue?
b. What do you do to contribute to the problem?
c. What will you be doing differently once we resolve these issues?
d. What will your life look like when you change problem?
26. If a client has difficulty making friends and close relationships but has numerous pets, the
therapist will __________ the client’s interest in animals to develop more human
connections, perhaps by having the client take a dog for a walk in public places, join a
dog agility class, or volunteer at a pet shelter.
a. minimize
b. maximize
c. energize
d. utilize
27. In solution-oriented therapy, when is it best for a therapist to compliment the client?
a. To acknowledge a client’s progress toward their goals
b. To get closer to the client
c. To help the client feel good about themselves
d. To acknowledge the client’s personhood
28. Solution-oriented therapists encourage clients to ask for what they want rather than what
they don’t want. In other words, they encourage a move from making complaints to
making requests. Which of the following is an example of a request?
a. “You don’t do anything romantic anymore.”
b. “It would be nice if we went back to giving each other a kiss before we left the
house.”
c. “I would really enjoy adding some romance back into our relationship.”
d. “It would be nice if you would show me that you love me.”
29. When working with survivors of sexual abuse and/or trauma, solution-based therapists
honor the agency of the survivors. What does this mean?
a. Solution-based therapists insist the survivor share the details of their abuse.
b. Solution-based therapists take a more directive role in working with the survivor.
c. Solution-based therapists allow the client to decide whether or when to tell their
abuse story.
d. Solution-based therapists determine the pacing of the therapy.
30. In order to help survivors of sexual abuse, solution–based counselors identify client’s
unique solutions using which type of questions?
a. Miracle questions
b. Constructive questions
c. Scaling questions
d. Coping questions
31. In what way is solution-oriented hypnosis different than traditional hypnosis?
a. Solution-oriented hypnosis is hierarchical.
b. Solution-oriented hypnosis is permissive.
c. Solution-oriented hypnosis reprograms the client once they are in a trance.
d. None of the above.
32. Ericksonian therapists identify client strengths that are in the same class of solutions that
relate to the presenting problem. This means the therapist is doing what?
a. Carefully listening for other situations where the client is able to follow directions
b. Carefully listening for other situations where the client is hopeful
c. Carefully listening for other situations where the client has a sense of success
d. Any of the above, depending on the client’s presenting problem
33. Why is using solution-oriented therapy appropriate when working with diverse
populations?
a. The goal-setting process of solution-based therapies is a good fit for many ethnic
groups because the goals are predefined by the theory.
b. Focusing on emotions rather than behavior is more comfortable to many ethnic
minority groups.
c. The focus on solving problems from the past rather than the future makes sense to
many ethnic minorities.
d. The solution-based viewing of behaviors in context allows for a more fair
understanding of problem behaviors of marginalized populations.
34. Which of the following statements most accurately reflects solution-focused therapies
empirical support as an evidenced-based practice?
a. Solution-based therapies have a steadily growing foundation of empirical support.
b. Solution-based therapies cannot be measured because there are no predetermined
goals.
c. Solution-based therapies focus on the solutions, which makes it difficult for
clients to remember their problems.
d. Solution-based therapies have a steadily decreasing foundation of empirical
support.