ASWB LCSW Social Work Clinical Practice Exam

Which type of therapy is beneficial for helping clients articulate feelings and confront their issues?

1. Cognitive-behavioral therapy

2. Group therapy

3. Involuntary therapy

4. Confrontation techniques

The correct answer is: Confrontation techniques

Confrontation techniques are particularly effective for helping clients articulate their feelings and confront their issues because they involve directly addressing discrepancies in a client's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This form of communication can help evoke stronger emotional responses and lead to greater self-awareness. By guiding clients to examine their inconsistencies or avoidance, confrontation techniques encourage them to acknowledge difficult truths that may be impacting their mental health and decision-making. In the therapeutic context, the effectiveness of confrontation lies in the therapist's ability to create a safe and supportive environment where clients feel comfortable exploring these difficult feelings. This technique helps facilitate deeper discussions, allowing clients to navigate their emotions and ultimately gain insight into their challenges, which is crucial for the therapeutic process. While other types of therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy and group therapy also support emotional expression, they often do so in a more indirect or supportive manner. Cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses primarily on challenging and changing unhelpful cognitive distortions and behaviors, while group therapy harnesses the power of shared experiences among peers to promote insight and support. Involuntary therapy refers to treatment that occurs without a person's consent, which may not be appropriate for fostering the kind of open dialogue needed for articulating personal feelings and confronting issues effectively.