General Information

In cooperation with Norton Books, the JournaLearning International Home Study Program is now available for use by psychologists and other interested professionals who wish to obtain 8 hours of continuing education credit. The test consists of multiple choice questions covering all the chapters. Each question has one correct answer. Participants must correctly answer 75% of the questions in this test to receive credit. Partial credit (less than 8) hours will not be given. Documentation of CE credit will be provided to all participants who successfully complete the test. An individual who fails the test on the first attempt may take it one additional time after careful review of the material. Licensed mental health professionals who are completing the Program as part of their respective state licensure requirements are urged to send in the completed test well in advance of their deadlines. We recommend that you allow three to six weeks for mailing and processing. Please fill out all of the personal information on the form, (i.e. name, address, etc.) and sign on the line certifying your completion of the test.

Information on Continuing Education Credit

Please allow 3 to 6 weeks for notification of your results, and if you pass, your letter of completion for 8 credits. You may want to keep a copy of this test as a record for your certifying agency. JournaLearning International is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. JournaLearning International maintains responsibility for the program. JournaLearning International is an approved provider of Continuing Education by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling. Florida Provider Number CM-671 Exp. 1/2001. JournaLearning International is approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors to offer continuing education for National Certified Counselors. This home-study program has been approved by the NBCC for 8 hours of continuing education credit for NCCs, subject to continued approval by NBCC. NBCC provider #5635. This course meets the qualifications for 8 hours of continuing education credit for MFCC's and LCSW's as required by the California board of Behavioral Sciences - Provider #PCE 127. Although we collaborate with Norton Books, JournaLearning International is a separate entity and retains sole responsibility for this home-study program.

*Many states will accept programs approved by the APA, NBCC and California and Florida Boards. Check your local rules.

Requested Survey Information

1. I chose a home study instead of a workshop because it (check all that apply):
___takes less time from my work.
___helps me learn better.
___circumvents the problem of living in an area where workshops are not frequently offered.
___other_________________________________________

2. How did you find out about this home study program?
___received a mailing
___saw an ad in__________________________________
___saw it in the book after purchasing it
___a friend/colleague told me
___other _________________________________________

3. Please send us any additional comments you might have about this program, its usefulness to you, the format, etc.

Narrative Therapy: Home Study Course Objectives

Participants will learn:
1. The history of and theoretical framework for narrative therapy.
2. Why the telling of stories can create new realities for people, which
in turn can transform their lives.
3. Specific steps for opening and developing new stories.
4. How to use language, via skillfully developed questions, to help people develop their new stories.
5. How to use various strategies including summaries, note taking, letters, documents, and the creation of an audience to keep new stories (and therefore therapy) active between sessions.
6. How narrative therapists' view of ethics differs from those of more traditional therapists.

Instructions for Test Takers

Following these instructions, you will find the Home/Independent Study test questions.
1. Please use dark ink.
2. For each test question, fill in the circle next to the letter which corresponds to the correct answer. Do NOT underline or circle the correct answer.
3. Make a copy of the questions and answers for your own records, as the copy you send to us will not be returned.
4. When you have completed the entire test, please be sure to sign the certification statement at the top of the page labeled "Certification Page." Please also make sure all information requested on this Certification Page is filled out and legible. If this is not done, the questions and answers will be returned to you unscored.
5. In order for us to properly complete the processing of your test, and for you to receive credit, please make sure all information accompanying the test is filled out and legible.
6. Return this entire form with $65 to: JournaLearning International, P.O. Box 1310, Clackamas, OR 97015

Please send any questions or correspondence about this home study program directly to JournaLearning International at the address on the back of this form or send an email to: books@journalearning.com. We will be happy to respond promptly. Copyright © 1999 JournaLearning International. All rights reserved.

Answer all of these questions from the point of view of this book.

Chapter 1: Shifting Paradigms: from systems to stories.

1. The concept of a first order cybernetic theory, as applied to family therapy, includes all of the following ideas EXCEPT:
__ a. the therapist is seen as outside the system.
__ b. the focus is on how families get stuck in repetitive loops of behavior.
__ c. the family is invited to design and take control over their own problem solving.
__ d. therapy helps exert control over the system so that a specific goal is reached.

2. The authors did not find this/these theorists' ideas particularly enlightening:
__ a. Luigi Boscolo and Gianfranco Cecclim
__ b. Humberto Maturana
__ c. Gregory Bateson
__ d. Milton Erickson

3. The concepts of "narrative" and "social construction" work well with the authors' idea of "resources".
__ True __ False

4. The modernist world view encourages therapists to:
__ a. identify people via pathological labels.
__ b. think in terms of stories, culture, and society.
__ c. be flexible in their interpretation of new theories.
__ d. help people recognize the influence of restrictive
cultural stories in their lives.

Chapter 2: The Narrative Metaphor and Social Constructionism: a post modern world view.

5. Which statement is NOT part of the postmodernist view?
__ a. Realities are socially constructed.
__ b. Realities are constituted through language.
__ c. Realities are organized and maintained through narrative.
__ d. Realities are revealed by ideas which represent general truths shared by all.

6. Dominant narratives in our society:
__ a. empower people to write their own stories.
__ b. tend to disempower, objectify and marginalize people who don't subscribe to them.
__ c. encourage equal and fair treatment to all social, economic and cultural groups.
__ d. provide stability because they are always essentially true.

Chapter 3: Opening Space for New Stories.

7. Traditional therapist training does NOT emphasize:
__ a. listening for chief complaints.
__ b. gathering pertinent diagnostic information.
__ c. listening for surface hints about core problems or pathology.
__ d. listening for what we don't know.
__ e. comparing the client's sense of self to narrative standards.

8. Deconstructive listening invites the retelling and exploration of painful or oppressive stories so that they become more real and vivid, which allows them to be worked through.
__ True __ False

9. Externalizing is not particularly helpful and can seem shallow when thought of as:
__ a. an attitude.
__ b. a technique.
__ c. a means of deconstructing stories.
__ d. a belief about the world.

10. In order to avoid repeating Nan's past experiences of abuse, Gene Combs chose NOT to:
__ a. consult with a female therapist.
__ b. discuss his dilemma of being a male therapist working with a female survivor of abuse.
__ c. leave Nan responsible for the direction of her own therapy.
__ d. transfer her to a female therapist.

11. It is an important function of "deconstructive questioning" to explore stories from our culture which are oppressive to the client.
__ True __ False

Chapter 4: Story Development

12. A person's narratives are:
__ a. their life.
__ b. about their life.
__ c. a small part of their life
__ d. not connected to their life.

13. In the story of Jessica, which of the statements is TRUE?
__ a. After one session Jessica felt she was ready to get married and have children.
__ b. In her second session Jessica could finally describe herself as smart and tough.
__ c. Jessica's therapy took only 6 sessions.
__ d. Jessica's therapy took 4 years.
__ e. all of the above
__ f. none of the above

14. An important thing to remember in story development is that:
__ a. the "performance" of a story happens automatically every time it is told.
__ b. the intent is to "co-construct" stories that describe experience.
__ c. stories should be found to support therapeutic goals.
__ d. stories are "co-constructed" so that people can live in "preferred ways."

15. You must listen carefully for openings in the "problem saturated" "dominant story" because they are always there, and do not need to be asked for directly.
__ True __ False

16. In order for new stories to constitute the "performance of meaning" they must:
__ a. contain lots of details.
__ b. be spontaneously developed.
__ c. be seen totally from the client's perspective.
__ d. elicit strong emotion in the client.

Chapter 5: Questions

17. Experience is:
__ a. stored inside of people.
__ b. separate from the meaning applied to it.
__ c. co-authored by the therapist's questions about past happenings.
__ d. managed by perception.

18. Categories of questions include all of the following EXCEPT:
__ a. deconstructive questions.
__ b. opening space questions.
__ c. preference questions.
__ d. closing structure questions.

19. Meaning questions are asked in response to:
__ a. deconstruction, opening space, and story construction questions.
__ b. preference, story development and story construction questions.
__ c. opening space, closing structure, and story development questions.
__ d. opening space, preference, and story development questions.

20. There is no requirement for asking types of questions in a specific sequence.
__ True __ False

Chapter 6: Questions in Action: Three Transcripts

21. In the interview with Rick, "laziness" was identified as:
__ a. controlling Rick's life.
__ b. affecting several areas of Rick's life.
__ c. influencing one area of Rick's life.
__ d. having little effect on Rick's life.

22. Which statement is NOT true about the effects of "patriarchal patterns of the culture" on Maggie and Richard's situation:
__ a. These patterns had a powerful role in shaping their relationship.
__ b. These patterns and roles were acceptable to both of them.
__ c. These patterns robbed them of things that were otherwise unique in their relationship.
__ d. These patterns created feelings of anger and fear.

23. Hollie learned that she could be trustworthy to:
__ a. herself
__ b. her parents
__ c. her friends
__ d. her husband

Chapter 7: Reflecting

24. In narrative therapy, reflection:
__ a. allows the therapist to develop an intervention presentable to the client at the end of the session.
__ b. helps the therapist to formulate homework for the client.
__ c. is only done by the team behind the mirror.
__ d. can be done by the team or the individual therapist.

25. By coming in front of the mirror, the reflecting team puts all of the following ideas into action EXCEPT:
__ a. multiple perspectives
__ b. modular relationships
__ c. horizontal relationships
__ d. transparency

26. The three primary tasks for reflecting team members do NOT include:
__ a. joining with the family
__ b. supporting the development of new narrative
__ c. facilitating deconstruction of problem saturated descriptions
__ d. providing direction to the therapist's questions

Chapter 8: The Plot Thickens

27. In chapter 8 the authors offer ideas for helping to make stories:
__ a. richer.
__ b. simpler
__ c. clearer.
__ d. longer.

28. Identifying the plot and counterplot allows the use of questions to help:
__ a. illuminate the enemy.
__ b. reverse unproductive story lines.
__ c. eliminate resistance.
__ d. create choice between aligning with problems or projects.

29. As a therapist you can increase the power of your notes, taken when a client tells of a "sparkling moment", by letting the client read what you have written.
__ True __ False

30. David Epston did an informal survey in which he found that, on the average, a letter to a client was worth:
__ a. 2.6 sessions
__ b. 3.2 sessions
__ c. 4.5 sessions
__ d. 5.3 sessions

31. Effective letters:
__ a. follow the sequence of the session.
__ b. are written from careful notes taken during sessions.
__ c. should refer to a single therapy conversation.
__ d. should be fairly lengthy and detailed.

32. Documents do NOT:
__ a. have more than one creator
__ b. validate important commitments
__ c. celebrate achievements
__ d. need to be fairly elaborate and attractive

Chapter 9: Spreading the News

33. The term "communities of concern" refers to:
__ a. the population of people who live in problem-saturated stories.
__ b. the population of family therapists who are becoming interested in learning narrative therapy.
__ c. the group of people who are concerned about the client.
__ d. the group of people who become the audience for the client's new stories.

34. Other people should be invited to be a part of a client's therapy:
__ a. never
__ b. occasionally
__ c. always
__ d. only if they are family members

35. Clients are encouraged to communicate with their support systems through letters, tapes, journal entries, and notes.
__ True __ False

36. Clients are encouraged to develop a support system or "audience" made up of:
__ a. family and friends
__ b. other clients and professionals
__ c. both a and b
__ d. none of the above

Chapter 10: Relationships and Ethics

37. From a "constitutionalist and social constructionist" perspective, White and Epston's success with clients is explained by:
__ a. their charisma and personal power.
__ b. specific individual personality traits.
__ c. their techniques for questioning clients.
__ d. how their identities contribute to a special relationship with clients.

38. For the therapist, "situating oneself":
__ a. refers to personal disclosure
__ b. must be done before therapy begins
__ c. is done once
__ d. is an ongoing process

Satisfaction Evaluation

Please rate the following 13 statements on a scale of 1 to 5 (1-strongly disagree, 5-strongly agree):
___The information was well presented.
___I learned something useful to my profession.
___I read/bought this book because I could get CE credit.
___I would recommend this home study to others.
___I would recommend this book to others.
___The material was consistent with the stated objectives.
___The information could contribute to achieving personal and/or professional goals.

The program met the stated learning objectives:
___The history of and theoretical framework for narrative therapy.
___Why the telling of stories can create new realities for people, which in turn can transform their lives.
___Specific steps for opening and developing new stories.
___How to use language, via skillfully developed questions, to help people develop their new stories.
___How to use various strategies - including summaries, note taking, letters, documents, and the creation of an audience - to keep new stories (and therefore therapy) active between sessions.
___How narrative therapists' view of ethics differ from those of more traditional therapists.

Needs Assessment for Home-Study Continuing Education Program.

The JournaLearning International CE Committee would very much appreciate your taking a few moments to fill this out. We need information about the topic(s) you would be interested in studying and books or periodicals you would be interested in reading for CE credit- whether you are a practitioner, scientist, academician or some combination of these. If you are taking the test, please include this form with your materials, and mail the completed survey to:

JournaLearning International
P.O. Box 1310,
Clackamas, Oregon 97015

1. Have you ever taken a JournaLearning International CE course or workshop before?
___ Yes ___ No ___ Don't Know

2. Please check if you would be interested in a home study that addresses any of the following:
___ Issues in Child Psychology
___ Research/Statistics/Measurement
___ Domestic Violence-Women/Children
___ Domestic Violence- Men
___ Legal Issues/Ethics
___ Cultural/Minority Issues
___ Organizational/Administration
___ Technology and Psychology
___ Substance Abuse
___ Teaching/Supervision
___ Counseling/Therapy Skills
___ Other______________________________________

3. Please list any professional publications or books for which you would like to be able to receive CE credits, and which you believe contain articles relevant to the Continuing Education of counselors and psychotherapists:

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

4. Please indicate below, any subjects that you would find interesting/relevant enough to attend a conference on, where travel may be required:

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

Certification Page

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__ The state(s) and/or organization(s) with which you have them.
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