Chapter 2 of 1211.3% of exam

Counseling Theories, Techniques, and Evidence-Based Practice

This domain covers the individual counseling theories named in the CRCC blueprint, core techniques, motivational interviewing, substance use and co-occurring disorders, human development, and clinical supervision. Most items describe a counselor's words or technique and ask which approach it comes from.

Recognizing the major theories

Each theory has a signature idea and a signature technique, and items usually hinge on telling them apart. Person-centered work relies on relationship conditions; REBT disputes beliefs; reality therapy evaluates current behavior; Adlerian therapy looks at lifestyle and social interest. Gestalt, narrative, existential, and solution-focused approaches each have their own recognizable moves.

Person-centered
Congruence, unconditional positive regard, and empathic understanding are the conditions for change.
Rogers (1957), Journal of Consulting Psychology
REBT
The A-B-C model holds that beliefs about events drive emotional consequences; the counselor disputes irrational 'musts'.
Ellis, Reason and Emotion in Psychotherapy (1962)
Reality therapy
WDEP asks about wants, current doing, self-evaluation, and planning, grounded in choice theory.
Glasser (1965, 1998); Wubbolding (1988)
Solution-focused and narrative
The miracle, scaling, and exception questions mark solution-focused therapy; externalizing the problem marks narrative therapy.
de Shazer (1988); White & Epston (1990)

Behavioral techniques and motivational interviewing

Behavioral techniques are defined by their procedures, so read the steps in the stem. Motivational interviewing is a collaborative style rather than a set of tricks, and it avoids warning, confronting, and unsolicited advice. The transtheoretical stages describe readiness and are often paired with MI items.

Systematic desensitization
Relaxation is paired with a graduated hierarchy of feared situations, from least to most anxiety-provoking.
Wolpe, Psychotherapy by Reciprocal Inhibition (1958)
MI spirit and skills
Partnership, evocation, acceptance, and compassion; skills are open questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries (OARS).
MINT, Understanding Motivational Interviewing
Change talk
Statements favoring change are change talk and are reinforced; statements favoring the status quo are sustain talk.
MINT, Understanding Motivational Interviewing
Stages of change
Precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance describe readiness to change.
Prochaska, DiClemente & Norcross (1992)

Co-occurring disorders, development, and supervision

Rehabilitation counselors often serve clients with both a substance use disorder and a mental disorder. The blueprint also asks for human development and clinical supervision knowledge. Expect application items that ask which stage or model fits a situation.

Integrated treatment
Co-occurring substance use and mental disorders are best addressed together rather than one after the other.
SAMHSA TIP 42 (2020); NIDA
Erikson in adolescence
Adolescence is the stage of identity versus role confusion.
Erikson, Childhood and Society (1950)
Discrimination model
Supervisors act as teacher, counselor, or consultant while focusing on intervention, conceptualization, or personalization skills.
Bernard (1979), Counselor Education and Supervision

Keep going: the full CRC — Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Examination guide covers every section of the exam. CRC Study Guide — 2026 Edition — PDF + EPUB, $24.99 · 14-day refund →

Practice this topic →← All chapters
Studying in order?

Practice stays free. The full CRC — Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Examination study guide is the material itself, taught start to finish — a downloadable PDF + EPUB you keep.

Get the book — $24.99
Report