National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) Practice Exam

What therapy helps find basic mistakes in a client's private logic?

1. Behavioral therapy

2. Adlerian therapy

3. Cognitive-behavioral therapy

4. Psychodynamic therapy

The correct answer is: Adlerian therapy

Adlerian therapy is designed to help clients explore their individual psychology, particularly focusing on the concept of private logic, which refers to the unique beliefs and thought processes that shape an individual’s worldview and influence their behavior. This therapeutic approach encourages clients to recognize and address their basic mistakes in thinking, such as irrational beliefs and misinterpretations that may stem from early life experiences and feelings of inferiority. Adlerian therapy fosters a collaborative relationship between the therapist and client, aiming to uncover these discrepancies and help clients develop more adaptive, socially constructive patterns of thinking. By identifying and correcting these mistakes, clients can gain insight into their interpersonal relations and personal goals, leading to healthier behaviors and improved mental health. The other therapeutic approaches listed, while beneficial in their own right, do not specifically target private logic in the same way. Behavioral therapy primarily focuses on changing observable behaviors through conditioning techniques, cognitive-behavioral therapy leverages structured interventions to address cognitive distortions, and psychodynamic therapy examines unconscious processes without a direct emphasis on the client's private logic as a central theme.