American University of Peace Studies Inc. ®
Higher International Educational Division
National Accreditation Council Guyana Registration Status
PSY 121: Counseling Theories
Instructor: Ms. Nalicia Gonsalves
FINAL EXAM – August 28, 2023
Duration: 7:30pm to 10:30pm (3hours)
Please read the questions below carefully and answer all 5 questions.
Question 1.
Emily, a 35-year-old woman trapped in a distressing domestic violence situation. Married for six
years to a controlling and abusive partner, Emily's self-esteem has been steadily worn as a result
of relentless verbal and physical abuse. She has been struggling to break free but due to financial
dependency and fear for her safety, Emily feels trapped. Her physical and emotional well-being
are deteriorating rapidly, prompting concern from friends and family. Emily is desperately
looking for ways to become independent so that she can leave this abusive situation.
Question: Create a dialogue using the Person centered/Client centered therapy to help Emily
discover her main issues and guide her to come up with solutions to her issues. (10 Marks)
Question 2.
Alex, a 24-year-old male from a city background, struggles with a debilitating combination of
low self-esteem, chronic anxiety, and legal troubles stemming from frequent fights. His
pervasive self-doubt and fear of judgment contribute to his anxiety, leading to social isolation
and avoidance behaviors. This anxiety also fuels sudden and uncontrollable bursts of anger,
resulting in multiple legal issues due to physical altercations. Alex would like to rebuild his selfconfidence, manage his anxiety, regulate his emotions, and break the cycle of legal trouble,
ultimately paving the way for a more stable and fulfilling life.
Question: Using an eclectic approach, explain how you as a counsellor would help Alex Achieve
his goals. (10 Marks)
Question 3.
Schedules of reinforcement refer to the timing and pattern of delivering reinforcement or
consequences for behavior. There are several types of schedules of reinforcement.
Questions:
(a) List and explain in your own words 2 schedules of reinforcement. (10 Marks)
(b) Give 2 clear examples of the 2 schedules of reinforcement chosen. (5 Marks)
Question 4.
Create a case study that calls for the use of Existential Therapy. Be sure to clearly state issues
that correlates with this therapeutic approach. (10 Marks)
Question 5.
Raj, a 32-year-old adult struggles with an intense fear of dogs. Raj's fear stems from a childhood
incident where he was chased and bitten by an unleashed dog. This fear has significantly
impacted his daily life, causing him to avoid parks, streets, and even social gatherings out of fear
of encountering dogs. This fear has also hindered potential job opportunities, as Raj once turned
down an otherwise promising role due to the company's dog-friendly policy. His fear would also
cause him to have a racing heart, sweaty palms and a tightness in his chest whenever he sees a
dog. Raj decides to confront his fear and seeks the help of a professional mental health expert.
Assume that Raj came to see you for help answer the following questions:
Questions
(a) Explain what is happening to Raj. (2 Marks)
(b) Using Exposure Therapy/Systemic Desensitization Therapy, explain how you would help
Raj with this technique. (13 Marks)
Total Marks 60
End of exam