National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) Practice Exam

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Which of the following is NOT considered a technique in behavioral therapy?

Systematic desensitization
Assertiveness training
Free association
Behavior modification

The correct answer is: Free association

In behavioral therapy, techniques are grounded in understanding and modifying behavior through various structured methods. Systematic desensitization, assertiveness training, and behavior modification are all techniques utilized within this therapeutic approach to help clients manage and overcome fears, develop communication skills, and alter undesirable behaviors. Free association, on the other hand, is a technique rooted in psychodynamic therapy, primarily associated with Freudian approaches. It involves patients speaking freely about their thoughts, feelings, and dreams without censorship, with the aim of uncovering unconscious thoughts and conflicts. Since free association seeks to explore the inner workings of the mind rather than focus specifically on behavior, it does not align with the primary objectives and methods of behavioral therapy. Therefore, it is correct to identify free association as not being a technique of behavioral therapy.