National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) Practice Exam

"Spitting in the client's soup" is a technique used in which therapy framework?

1. Behavioral therapy

2. Adlerian therapy

3. Emotion-focused therapy

4. Gestalt therapy

The correct answer is: Adlerian therapy

The technique referred to as "spitting in the client's soup" originates from Adlerian therapy, which is founded on the work of Alfred Adler. This metaphorical expression describes a method wherein the therapist highlights a client’s maladaptive behaviors or circular patterns in a way that disrupts their tendency to engage in them. The idea is to help clients become aware of how their choices may be self-defeating or harmful, effectively making the "soup" (representing their situation or strategy) unpalatable. In Adlerian therapy, the emphasis is on understanding individuals within their social context and recognizing the patterns of behavior that prevent them from achieving their goals or contributing positively to their community. By using such techniques, the therapist encourages clients to reflect critically on their behaviors and beliefs, fostering insight and prompting behavioral change. This approach aligns closely with Adler's views on personal responsibility and social connectedness, making it a key component of his therapeutic framework. The other therapies listed—behavioral therapy, emotion-focused therapy, and Gestalt therapy—do not encompass this specific technique in their practice. Each of those frameworks has distinct methodologies and focuses that differ from the relational and interpretative style of Adlerian therapy.