Chapter 8—How to Conduct a Five-Stage Counseling Session Using Only Listening
Skills
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The basic listening sequence can be used ____.
a.
widely in many fields of endeavor
b.
only in interviewing, counseling, and psychotherapy
c.
to help counselors become more effective
d.
to help clients become more effective
2. The basic listening sequence can operate in which of the following settings?
a.
Management
b.
Sales
c.
Medicine
d.
All of these
3. The basic listening sequence can help ensure that ____.
a.
the client is encouraged to bring out the facts, feelings, and thoughts around their issues
b.
clients tell their stories more fully
c.
interviewers reduce their talk time
d.
all of these
4. The basic listening sequence consists of which skills?
a.
attending behavior, listening skills, and self-disclosure
b.
questions, encouragers, paraphrases, reflection of feeling, and summarizations
c.
verbal underlining, attending behavior, and influencing skills
d.
open questions, closed questions, attending behavior, check-out
5. ________ was the first person to demystify the counseling process.
a.
Freud
b.
Rogers
c.
Skinner
d.
Ivey
6. “Virtually all consoling theories can be viewed as aiming at the ____.”
a.
solving of a problem
b.
organizing of a plan
c.
expression of underlying emotions
d.
movement toward implicit goals
7. Which one of the following statements regarding the Microskills Hierarchy is NOT true?
a.
The Ivey Taxonomy and the Microskills hierarchy represent a systematic breakdown of
the key skills required for intentional interviewing.
b.
The Ivey Taxonomy and the Microskills hierarchy provide fairly consistent predictions of
client responses to accurate interviewer execution of a specific skill.
c.
The Ivey Taxonomy and the Microskills hierarchy provide flexibility for the interviewer
when the unexpected occurs.
d.
The Ivey Taxonomy and the Microskills hierarchy, with experience, become automatic
and allow you to always predict client responses to accurate interviewer use of the skills.
8. Which of the following statements is TRUE of the microskills?
a.
The microskills offer interviewers some predictability during a client session.
b.
The interviewer can always depend on the expected consequences detailed in the
overview.
c.
The microskills must be used in the specific order as described to increase effectiveness.
d.
All of these.
9. Which of the following is NOT one of the steps in Benjamin Franklin’s problem-solving model?
a.
Establish a relationship
b.
Identify the problem
c.
Generate alternatives
d.
Decide what action to take
10. Define the problem, define goals, and generate alternative solutions and select an approach comprise
the classic three-step decisional or problem-solving model credited to Benjamin Franklin. What two
steps were added to create the current five-stage interview model?
a.
Empathic relationship, closing
b.
Structuring the session, developing a checklist
c.
Empathic relationship, action
d.
Goals, story and strengths
11. During the ____ stage of the interview clients may feel at ease and know what to expect.
a.
Empathic relationship
b.
Story and strengths
c.
Goals
d.
Restory
e.
Action
12. “Hello Carl, could you tell me how I might be of help?” Identify the stage from the five-stage
counseling model where an interviewer would most likely use this question.
a.
Stage 1: Empathic relationship − Initiating the session
b.
Stage 2: Story and Strengths − Gathering data
c.
Stage 3: Goals − Mutual goal setting
d.
Stage 4: Restory − Working
e.
Stage 5: Action − Terminating
13. In the five-stage interview model, Stage 2, story and strengths, does NOT include ____.
a.
defining the problem
b.
identifying the interviewer role
c.
drawing out stories, concerns and issues
d.
identifying client strengths
14. “Robert, I’d like to know some things that have gone well for you at work.” Identify the stage from the
five-stage dimensions of the interview where an interviewer would most likely use this statement.
a.
Stage 1: Empathic relationship − Initiate the Session
b.
Stage 2: Story and Strengths − Gather Data
c.
Stage 3: Goals − Mutual goal setting
d.
Stage 4: Restory − Working
e.
Stage 5: Action − Terminating
15. “Patricia, what is your concern?” Identify the stage from the five-stage dimensions of the interview
where an interviewer would most likely use this statement.
a.
Stage 1: Empathic relationship − Initiate the Session
b.
Stage 2: Story and Strengths − Gather Data
c.
Stage 3: Goals − Mutual goal setting
d.
Stage 4: Restory − Working
e.
Stage 5: Action − Terminating
16. “So far we’ve heard that you really aren’t comfortable in class and that you have difficulty in speaking
up. Could we shift emphasis for awhile and would you tell me about one of your success stories in the
Cambodian community?” This is most likely what stage of the interview?
a.
Empathic relationship − Initiating the session
b.
Story and strengths − Gathering data
c.
Goals − Mutual goal setting
d.
Restory − Working
17. During the ____ stage of the interview clients will discuss directions that he or she might want to go,
new ways of thinking, desired feeling states, and behaviors that might be changed.
a.
empathic relationship
b.
story and strengths
c.
goals
d.
restory
e.
action
18. During the ____ stage of the interview clients might seek to learn how to live more effectively with
situations or events that cannot be changed at this point (e.g., rape, death, an accident, an illness).
a.
empathic relationship
b.
story and strengths
c.
goals
d.
restory
e.
action
19. During the ____ stage of the interview a more ideal story ending might be defined.
a.
empathic relationship
b.
story and strengths
c.
goals
d.
restory
e.
action
20. “Robert, describe an ideal solution.” Identify the stage from the five-stage counseling model where an
interviewer would most likely use this statement.
a.
Stage 1: Empathic relationship − Initiating the session
b.
Stage 2: Story and Strengths − Gathering data
c.
Stage 3: Goals − Mutual goal setting
d.
Stage 4: Restory − Working
e.
Stage 5: Action − Terminating
21. “Given all the things we’ve talked about so far, what would you like to have happen in class with
Professor Doe?” This is most likely what stage of the interview?
a.
Empathic relationship − Initiating the session
b.
Story and strengths − Gathering data
c.
Goals − Mutual goal setting
d.
Restory − Working
22. In the five-stage counseling model, Stage 4, restory, does NOT include ____.
a.
generate alternatives
b.
confront client incongruities and conflict
c.
identifying the interviewer role
d.
help clients create new stories, thinking, and behavior
23. “What has worked for you before?” Identify the stage from the five-stage counseling model where an
interviewer would most likely use this question.
a.
Stage 1: Empathic relationship − Initiating the session
b.
Stage 2: Story and Strengths − Gathering data
c.
Stage 3: Goals − Mutual goal setting
d.
Stage 4: Restory − Working
e.
Stage 5: Action − Terminating
24. “Will you do it?” Identify the stage from the 5-stage decisional model where an interviewer would
most likely use this question.
a.
Stage 1: Empathic relationship − Initiating the session
b.
Stage 2: Story and Strengths − Gathering data
c.
Stage 3: Goals − Mutual goal setting
d.
Stage 4: Restory − Working
e.
Stage 5: Action − Terminating
25. “You’ve decided that you want to be more assertive with your friends. That’s great, but now let us
make a specific plan to take that idea home.” This is most likely what stage of the interview?
a.
Story and strengths − Gathering data
b.
Goals − Mutual goal setting
c.
Restory − Working
d.
Action − Terminating
26. During the ____ stage of the interview clients will demonstrate change in behavior, thoughts, and
feelings in daily life outside of the interview. If this stage is ignored, the chances for change may be
reduced.
a.
empathic relationship
b.
story and strengths
c.
goals
d.
restory
e.
action
27. According to Ivey, Ivey, and Zalaquett, if this stage of the well-formed interview is ignored, the
chances for change may be reduced.
a.
Empathic relationship
b.
Story and strengths
c.
Goals
d.
Restory
e.
Action
28. Without a follow-up plan, clients often:
a.
feel anxious.
b.
fail to do what was decided.
c.
take responsibility of their actions.
d.
become creative and resourceful.
29. In regards to taking notes during the session, which of the following is NOT true?
a.
If you are relaxed about note taking, it will seldom become an issue.
b.
When writing takes precedence over listening it should be avoided.
c.
Detailed note taking is critical to maintaining a useful treatment plan.
d.
If you are worried about taking notes, it will likely be a problem.
30. The theory and philosophy of the five-stage decisional style is similar to:
a.
Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalytic Therapy.
b.
Alfred Adler’s Individual Therapy.
c.
Carl Rogers’s Person Centered Therapy.
d.
Aaron Beck’s Cognitive Therapy.
31. Cognitive Behavior Therapy is strong in the:
a.
empathic relationship stage.
b.
reflection of feelings step.
c.
action and relapse prevention phase.
d.
all of the above.
COMPLETION
Instructions: The five stages of a simple structure for the interview are listed below. Following are
counselor comments. Identify the skill used by the counselor in terms of the five skills listed and also
list the Stage / Dimension of the interview most likely represented.
Skill
Stage / Dimension
a.
Open question
1.
Empathic relationship
b.
Encourager
2.
Story and strengths
c.
Paraphrase
3.
Goals
d.
Reflection of feeling
4.
Restory
5.
Action
1. “Sounds as if you feel very optimistic and enthused about what you’re going to do next week.”
Skill:
Stage:
2. “Could you tell me what you’d like to talk about today?”
Skill:
Stage:
3. “Sounds as if you’re confused and puzzled about your difficulty with your parents.”
Skill:
Stage:
4. “Really nice to see you. How‘s it going today?”
Skill:
Stage:
5. “Looks like you’re saying you want to set up a situation where you can anticipate what your parents
will do when you tell them you plan to quit school.”
Skill:
Stage:
6. “Puzzled about your parents?”
Skill:
Stage:
7. “What, specifically, do you plan to do next week?”
Skill:
Stage:
8. “Sounds as if one of your major strengths is being direct and honest with your parents.”
Skill:
Stage:
9. “So, let’s see if I have it straight. On one hand, you feel anxious and worried about telling your parents
you are quitting school. You know you’d like to anticipate their reaction and you’d like that reaction to
be positive. Your strength has been dealing directly and honestly with them. Have I heard you
correctly?”
Skill:
Stage:
10. “So next week you are going to talk to your sister and rehearse your comments and also get her
opinion. Beyond that you want to sit on it for a week. Correct?”
Skill:
Stage:
11. “That means you’ve got two options so far… telling them directly that you are leaving and simply
doing nothing about it at all.”
Skill:
Stage:
12. “It all leaves you anxious and scared, but at the same time very determined.”
Skill:
Stage:
13. “Given it all, the problem and your assets, what would be an ideal solution?”
Skill:
Stage:
Instructions: Listed below are several qualities related to empathy. Mark the letter that corresponds to
the qualities in the descriptions below.
a.
Basic empathy
f.
Concreteness
b.
Subtractive empathy
g.
Immediacy
c.
Additive empathy
h.
Nonjudgmental attitude
d.
Positive regard
i.
Authenticity and congruence
e.
Respect and warmth
14. ____ Being very specific with examples.
15. ____ Trying to feed back to a client what he has been saying, but missing the essence of what has been
said.
16. ____ Searching through the negative talk of a client and finding something that can be reframed in a
more optimistic fashion.
17. ____ Being open to many points of view and demonstrating this with open nonverbal and verbal
communication.
18. ____ An absence of discrepancies and incongruity.
Instructions: The structure of the interview has been suggested as a valuable way to view many types
of interviews. Further, within each structure there are certain goals and methods. In the following
question(s), identify the structure of the interview as:
a.
Initiating the session
b.
Gathering data
c.
Mutual goal setting
d.
Working
e.
Terminating and generalizing
19. ____ “How are you feeling today?”
20. ____ “On one hand you want career advice, but on the other you now sound like you want to go into
long-term therapy. Let’s talk for awhile. How do you put that together?“
21. ____ “Could you give me a specific example of your conflict with your wife?”
22. ____ Clients from other cultures or less verbal clients may prefer the interviewer to place this section
earlier in the session.
23. ____ Easy to omit after working so hard in the session.
24. ____ Almost ignored in psychoanalytic theory, according to authors.
25. ____ Role-playing, follow-up and support, and homework.
26. ____ Creating solutions through the basic problem-solving model of: (a) defining the problem, (b)
generating alternatives, (c) deciding on action.
27. ____ “Today, we’d like to look at the reasons your child ran away. I’d like to hear your point of view
first, then your son’s.“
28. ____ “So, let me put it together. You want to work on your relationship with your daughter… and your
ideal way of doing it is…. What comes to your mind as possible alternatives for action?”
29. ____ While it may be used, the least likely place to find the Ivey Taxonomy.
TRUE/FALSE
1. The skills of the Basic Listening Sequence (BLS) must be used in a specified sequence in order to be
useful to the interviewer and make sense of the client conversation.
2. According to Ivey, Ivey, and Zalaquett, if you combine the five interview stages with the basic
listening sequence you will be able to complete a full interview using only listening skills.
3. Benjamin Franklin’s problem-solving model emphasizes the importance of the empathic relationship.
4. By acting as a mirror and asking questions, counselors can encourage many of their clients to find their
own direction.
5. Client records are very important, but it is OK if an interviewer does not take any notes.
6. Intentionality in counseling and psychotherapy requires accurate information.
ESSAY
1. A client has come to you asking how to handle a troublesome situation with their boss. The boss finds
your client sexually attractive and there is the possibility of harassment. List interviewing leads of the
basic listening sequence to draw out the client’s problem. (Specifically, develop an open question,
which might draw out data, etc.)
2. Conduct a positive asset search with the same client using the basic listening sequence.
3. Given the fact that you don’t want to advise your client, but want to let the client decide what to do,
outline a simple structure for the interview and your objectives for each section.
4. Outline the five stages/dimensions of the interview and the importance of each. Give special attention
to cultural issues.
5. How does the basic listening sequence play itself out in the five stages of the interview?
6. List at least five alternatives you have in mind to increase the possibility for generalizing behavior
outside of the interview.
7. What are the similarities and differences between the five-stage counseling model the person centered
and cognitive behavioral therapies?
8. Discuss note taking and related HIPAA regulation issues.
9. Discuss the why and how of demystifying counseling and therapy.