PSYCH 111: Introduction to Psychology: Week 4 Quiz: Therapy and Treatments

The Correct Answer is:

A. Stigma associated with mental illness

Stigma surrounding mental illness remains one of the biggest barriers preventing people from seeking therapy. Many individuals avoid treatment due to fear of judgment, discrimination, or negative labeling by family, peers, or society. This stigma can lead to shame, denial, and delayed intervention, worsening mental health conditions over time. Efforts to increase awareness, normalize therapy, and promote open discussions are critical to overcoming this barrier.

Why the other options are incorrect:

Flexible scheduling options

This is incorrect because flexible therapy schedules increase accessibility and make it easier for individuals to attend sessions. It is a facilitator, not a barrier.

Affordable care

This is incorrect because affordability helps remove financial obstacles, making therapy more attainable. A lack of affordable care can be a barrier, but when care is affordable, it supports therapy utilization.

Increased access to teletherapy

This is incorrect because teletherapy expands mental health service availability, especially for individuals in rural or underserved areas. Greater access to online sessions helps reduce barriers rather than create them.

The Correct Answer is:

B. The therapist cannot disclose client information unless legally required or permitted

In therapy, confidentiality means that a therapist must protect the privacy of all client communications and cannot share personal information with third parties without the client’s consent. However, there are exceptions where disclosure is mandated or permitted by law, such as when there is a risk of harm to self or others, cases of child or elder abuse, or court orders requiring release of records.

Why the other options are incorrect:

The therapist can share client information freely with family members

This is incorrect because therapists cannot disclose information without the client’s written consent, unless legally required to protect safety.

Confidentiality applies only when the client requests it

This is incorrect because confidentiality is automatic and ethical, not dependent on a request. It is a fundamental part of the therapeutic relationship from the start.

Confidentiality prevents the therapist from keeping any written records

This is incorrect because therapists are allowed—and often required—to keep records for treatment and legal purposes. Confidentiality governs who can access the information, not whether records exist.

The Correct Answer is:

A. A one-on-one meeting between the client and therapist, typically lasting 45 minutes to 1 hour

Individual therapy, also called individual psychotherapy or individual counseling, involves a private, one-on-one session between a client and a licensed mental health professional. The goal is to explore thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in a safe, confidential setting while developing coping strategies and improving overall mental well-being. Sessions usually last 45 minutes to 1 hour and are tailored to the client’s unique needs.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A therapy session involving multiple clients and one therapist

This is incorrect because this describes group therapy, not individual therapy. In individual therapy, the focus is solely on one client.

A family-focused session where all members participate

This is incorrect because this refers to family therapy, where the therapist works with multiple family members together to address relationship dynamics.

A short crisis intervention lasting less than 10 minutes

This is incorrect because individual therapy is structured and ongoing, not a brief, single-time crisis response. While crisis intervention may occur in therapy, it is not the defining characteristic of individual psychotherapy.

The Correct Answer is:

B. To address specific family problems in a short amount of time

Strategic family therapy focuses on solving targeted issues within the family system efficiently and effectively. The therapist observes family dynamics, identifies problematic interaction patterns, and implements structured interventions designed to create positive change. Unlike traditional therapy approaches, it is brief, solution-oriented, and highly focused on immediate concerns, such as conflicts, communication breakdowns, or parenting challenges.

Why the other options are incorrect:

To explore unconscious conflicts from childhood

This is incorrect because exploring hidden motives and early childhood experiences is a hallmark of psychoanalysis, not strategic family therapy, which focuses on practical solutions.

To provide long-term individual counseling for each family member

This is incorrect because strategic family therapy addresses family interactions collectively, not individual therapy over extended periods. It seeks efficient resolutions, not prolonged treatment for each member separately.

To focus only on improving one person’s mental health

This is incorrect because strategic family therapy views the entire family system as interconnected. The goal is to improve overall functioning by changing patterns that involve everyone, not just treating a single individual.

The Correct Answer is:

A. Deinstitutionalization

Deinstitutionalization refers to the process of closing large psychiatric hospitals and shifting mental health care into community-based settings. The goal is to allow individuals with mental illnesses to live in their communities while receiving local treatment and support rather than long-term confinement. This approach gained momentum in the 1960s, following federal legislation and advancements in psychiatric medications.

Why the other options are incorrect:

Exorcism

This is incorrect because exorcism is a spiritual or religious ritual believed to remove evil spirits, not a mental health treatment method.

Deactivation

This is incorrect because deactivation refers to turning off or disabling a system or device and has no relation to psychiatric care or treatment models.

Decentralization

This is incorrect because decentralization refers to shifting power or decision-making from a central authority to local levels, but it is not the term used to describe the process of moving patients from institutions to community-based care.

The Correct Answer is:

B. Psychiatrist

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (M.D. or D.O.) who specializes in diagnosing, treating, and managing psychological disorders. Because of their medical training, psychiatrists can prescribe medications such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers. They often work alongside psychologists, counselors, and social workers to provide comprehensive mental health care, combining medication management with psychotherapy when needed.

Why the other options are incorrect:

Clinical psychologist

This is incorrect because clinical psychologists hold a Ph.D. or Psy.D. and primarily provide therapy, psychological assessments, and behavioral interventions. In most regions, they cannot prescribe medications, although a few U.S. states allow limited prescribing rights with special training.

Counselor

This is incorrect because counselors focus on guidance, emotional support, and coping strategies through talk therapy. They are not medical doctors and generally do not have prescribing authority for psychiatric medications.

Social worker

This is incorrect because social workers provide supportive counseling, case management, and resource coordination for individuals and families. While clinical social workers may conduct therapy, they cannot prescribe medications unless they have additional medical qualifications.

The Correct Answer is:

B. To gain insight into unconscious conflicts causing current problems

Psychodynamic therapies emphasize exploring the unconscious mind, early childhood experiences, and unresolved conflicts that influence current thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. By bringing hidden issues to awareness, individuals can better understand the root causes of their struggles and work toward emotional healing. While these therapies originated from Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, modern psychodynamic approaches often adapt and simplify traditional Freudian techniques.

Why the other options are incorrect:

To modify learned behaviors through conditioning

This is incorrect because modifying learned behaviors through reinforcement and conditioning is the focus of behavioral therapy, not psychodynamic therapy. Psychodynamic approaches deal more with unconscious conflicts than observable behaviors.

To focus exclusively on present-day thought patterns

This is incorrect because focusing mainly on present thoughts and restructuring them is central to cognitive therapy, particularly in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Psychodynamic therapy, in contrast, places significant emphasis on past experiences and their impact on current functioning.

To eliminate the need for therapist involvement

This is incorrect because psychodynamic therapy heavily depends on the therapist-client relationship. Therapists provide interpretations, explore unconscious material, and guide clients toward insight, making therapist involvement essential for treatment success.

The Correct Answer is:

A. Cognitive therapy

Cognitive therapy, developed by Aaron Beck, focuses on identifying, challenging, and restructuring irrational or distorted thought patterns that contribute to emotional distress and unhealthy behaviors. By replacing negative, unrealistic thoughts with more balanced and rational beliefs, individuals can improve their emotional well-being and coping skills. This approach is widely used to treat depression, anxiety, phobias, and other mental health conditions.

Why the other options are incorrect:

Humanistic therapy

This is incorrect because humanistic therapy, pioneered by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow, emphasizes personal growth, self-awareness, and unconditional positive regard. While it fosters self-acceptance, it does not specifically focus on challenging irrational thoughts.

Psychoanalysis

This is incorrect because psychoanalysis, founded by Sigmund Freud, focuses on uncovering unconscious conflicts, repressed memories, and early childhood experiences rather than directly restructuring thought patterns.

Family therapy

This is incorrect because family therapy addresses communication problems, relationship conflicts, and dynamics within families. While it can improve overall functioning, it does not primarily focus on challenging irrational beliefs at the individual cognitive level.

The Correct Answer is:

A. Involuntary

Involuntary treatment occurs when an individual is legally required to participate in therapy or other mental health services, often by a court order or legal mandate. In Joey’s case, attending anger management therapy is not his choice but a condition of his sentence, making it involuntary.

Why the other options are incorrect:

Voluntary

This is incorrect because voluntary treatment occurs when an individual chooses to seek therapy on their own, which does not apply here since the court ordered Joey to attend.

Forced

This is incorrect because while “forced” might sound similar, it is not the appropriate clinical or legal term. The correct terminology used in psychology and law is involuntary treatment.

Mandatory

This is incorrect because although the treatment is court-ordered, “mandatory” is not the precise psychological term. Involuntary is the recognized term used to describe therapy required by law or authority rather than personal choice.