Counselor Education Comprehensive Exam (CECE) Practice Exam

Which theory emphasizes personal responsibility and choice in shaping one's behaviors?

1. Gestalt Therapy

2. Reality Therapy

3. Cognitive Therapy

4. Existential Therapy

The correct answer is: Reality Therapy

Reality Therapy is centered on the concepts of personal responsibility and choice, making it the correct choice for this question. Developed by William Glasser, this approach emphasizes that individuals have the power to make choices that influence their lives and behaviors. Reality Therapy focuses on helping clients understand their needs and how their current behaviors affect their ability to fulfill those needs. It encourages clients to take responsibility for their actions and to choose more effective ways of meeting their needs. In this therapeutic approach, counselors assist clients in evaluating their current behaviors, making plans to attain their goals, and taking necessary steps to implement those plans. The emphasis on behavior modification and personal accountability underscores the key tenet that individuals can control their responses and choices, which shapes their overall outcomes in life. While Gestalt Therapy and Existential Therapy also engage with personal responsibility and self-awareness, they do so within different frameworks. Gestalt Therapy focuses on awareness and present-moment experiences, while Existential Therapy explores themes of meaning and the human condition. Cognitive Therapy involves identifying and altering maladaptive thinking patterns but does not emphasize choice and responsibility in the same way as Reality Therapy. Thus, Reality Therapy is the most direct in prioritizing personal responsibility and choice as fundamental to shaping behaviors.