NURS 661 Exam 2 Questions with 100% Correct Answers | Verified | Updated 2023-2024, Exams of Advanced Education

Download NURS 661 Exam 2 Questions with 100% Correct Answers | Verified | Updated 2023-2024 and more Exams Advanced Education in PDF only on Docsity! NURS 661 Exam 2 Questions with 100% Correct Answers | Verified | Updated 2023-2024 A major difference between group therapy and group counseling lies in.. - Correct Answer-the group's goals Jonna is attending a group for survivors of traumatic events who have been diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder. The goal of the group is to help participants process the trauma, deal effectively with the symptoms they experience, and adjust to the life changes it produced. What type of group is this? - Correct Answer-therapy group Psychoeducational groups are structured in such a way as to help people with which of the following? - Correct Answer-develop specific skills Mr. Lazarus is a school counselor who is meeting with a group of teachers and school staff to develop a program to help students deal with the pressures created by the upcoming closing of a local plant that employed many of the children's parents. What type of group is this? - Correct Answer-task-facilitation group Counseling groups can be described in which of the following ways? - Correct Answer-a powerful intervention tool across the lifespan Counseling groups typically recreate the participants' everyday world and thus function as which of the following? - Correct Answer-a microcosm of society Most traditional therapy models are grounded in which type of framework? - Correct Answer-monocultural Which of the following is likely a goal for members of counseling groups? - Correct Answer-to help members learn how to establish meaningful intimate relationships According to the text, in the era of which of these issues have brief interventions and short-term groups become a necessity? - Correct Answer-managed care Integrating group counseling with which of the following has been successful in both personal-social and academic development groups in school settings? - Correct Answer-psychoeducational interventions Group work can be characterized as which of the following? - Correct Answer-beneficial and cost-effective for many disorders How does group therapy compare to individual therapy? - Correct Answer-Group therapy is generally as effective as individual therapy. Dr. Lee conducts groups at the local community center that are intended to help young people learn to resist peer pressure regarding use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. These groups are best described as which type of group? - Correct Answer-counseling Marta is attending a counseling group that is discussing what their goals ought to be. Which goal might the group be most likely to pick? - Correct Answer-to develop concern and compassion for the needs and feelings of others Group counseling can be designed to meet the needs of a wide range of populations, including which of the following? - Correct Answer-adolescents In which type of group are conscious and unconscious issues likely to be addressed? - Correct Answer-group psychotherapy Which type of group features the presentation and discussion of factual information? - Correct Answer-psychoeducational groups According to your text, which type of group is particularly useful in meeting the needs of clients with and the requirements of managed care organizations? - Correct Answer-brief group therapy According to your text, brief group work is particularly popular in which of these settings? - Correct Answer-community agencies and school settings Which of the following does the text recommend in developing your own multicultural orientation? - Correct Answer-learn more about how your own cultural background influences you Providing multicultural counseling includes which of the following considerations? - Correct Answer-race, ethnicity, disability status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and many other categories Your text discusses several reasons that groups have become more popular. Identify and discuss three such reasons. - Correct Answer--They are flexible and can address therapeutic issues, educational issues, or both. Which of the following skills is defined as offering possible reasons for individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behavior? - Correct Answer-interpreting Which of the following skills is defined as expressing concrete and honest reactions to members' behaviors? - Correct Answer-giving feedback Effective group leaders bring which of the following to every group? - Correct Answer- personal qualities Which of the following lets members know that they are heard and understood beyond the level of their words? - Correct Answer-reflecting feelings Which of the following is intended to encourage deeper self-exploration, promote full use of potentials, and bring about awareness of self-contradictions? - Correct Answer-interpreting What is the main rationale in support of personal disclosure from the group leader? - Correct Answer-Such sharing will facilitate the work of the group. Highly effective therapists can be described as having which of the following skills? - Correct Answer-providing an emotionally safe environment Which of the following is true of diversity-competent group leaders? - Correct Answer- They recognize their own assumptions about human behavior. A key reason experimental research findings are often not integrated into clinical practice is that: - Correct Answer-the constraints of experimental research limit the applicability of findings to a real-world context. Which of the following describes being moved by the joy and pain that others experience? - Correct Answer-being emotionally present The willingness to appropriately disclose and share feelings and reactions to what is going on in the group is referred to as which of the following? - Correct Answer-authenticity Beginning group leaders should recognize that their doubts and concerns are which of the following? - Correct Answer-normal Which of the following skills involves providing group members with encouragement and reinforcement? - Correct Answer-supporting Which of the following skills involves intervening to stop counterproductive behaviors within the group? - Correct Answer-blocking What is the main problem many group leaders experience with self-disclosure? - Correct Answer-deciding how much to reveal When opening an open group, it may be particularly useful for the group leader to ask new members which of the following? - Correct Answer-What do you hope to get from the group? According to the text, following a person-centered approach both group leaders and members are likely to do which of the following to open a group session to facilitate the group process? - Correct Answer-Express thoughts or feelings about the previous session. According to the text, which group leadership skill plays an especially important role in closing a session? - Correct Answer-summarizing At what point should group leaders assess the progress of the group to determine if there are any issues group members want to address? - Correct Answer-at the midpoint What should a counselor keep in mind when working with a culturally diverse group? - Correct Answer-Special knowledge and skills are required. Because of the demands of both clients and insurance companies and others who fund group work, research emphasis has moved to which of the following? - Correct Answer-outcome studies Which of the following skills involves opening up clear and direct communication among the participants and helping them assume increasing responsibility for the group's direction? - Correct Answer-facilitating Which of the following skills is defined as saying in slightly different words what a member has said to clarify its meaning? - Correct Answer-restating Which of the following skills is defined as grasping the essence of a message at both the feeling and the thinking levels and simplifying client statements by focusing on the core of the message? - Correct Answer-clarifying Successful leadership requires specific group leadership skills and the appropriate performance of certain functions. Identify and explain three of these skills. - Correct Answer--Active listening -Restating - Clarifying -Summarizing -Questioning - Interpreting -Confronting -Reflecting feelings -Supporting -Empathizing -Facilitating -Initiating -Setting goals -Evaluating -Giving feedback -Suggesting -Protecting -Disclosing oneself -Modeling -Linking -Blocking -Terminating With groups that meet on a weekly or regular basis, group leaders have a variety of options for opening the session. List and explain at least two. - Correct Answer--Participants can be asked to briefly state what they want to get from the session. -Members can be given a chance to express any thoughts they may have had about the previous session or to bring up for consideration any unresolved issues from an earlier meeting. -Participants can be asked to report on the progress or difficulties they experienced during the week. -In an open group, it is a good idea to encourage those members who have been part of the group for a while to share with newcomers what the group has meant to them. Those who are just joining the group can say something about what they hope to get from the experience and perhaps share any of their anxieties pertaining to coming to the group. -In addition to facilitating member involvement in opening a session, group leaders may want to make some observations about the previous meeting or relate some thoughts that have occurred to them since the group last met. Describe and discuss the conceptual model of cultural competence developed by Sue and colleagues and by Arredondo and colleagues. - Correct Answer-Answers will vary but should include (1) awareness of beliefs and attitudes, (2) knowledge, and (3) skills. A member has a right to expect which of the following before making the decision of whether or not to join a particular - Intrusive interventions, overly confrontive leader tactics, and pushing members beyond their limits often produce negative outcomes. -If safety is lacking in a group, members who have been subjected to social injustices may be revictimized when they explore their experiences in the group. Describe three issues that should be addressed prior to group participation. - Correct Answer--A clear statement regarding the purpose of the group • A description of the group format, procedures, and ground rules • An initial interview to determine whether this particular group with this particular leader is at this time appropriate to their needs • An opportunity to seek information about the group, to pose questions, and to explore concerns • A discussion of ways the group process may or may not be congruent with the cultural beliefs and values of group members • A statement describing the education, training, and qualifications of the group leader • Information concerning fees and expenses including fees for a follow-up session if that is offered and information about length of the group, frequency and duration of meetings, group goals, and techniques being employed • Information about the psychological risks involved in participating in a group • Knowledge of the circumstances in which confidentiality must be broken for legal, ethical, or professional reasons • Clarification of what services can and cannot be provided within the group • A clear understanding of the division of responsibility between leader and participants • A discussion of the rights and responsibilities of group members Provide two examples of ways in which leaders can misuse group techniques. - Correct Answer-Using techniques with which the leader is unfamiliar Using techniques in a mechanical way Using techniques to serve their own hidden agenda or to enhance their power Using specific techniques to pressure members Shawna is a member of a group in which the members are all around the same age (late 50s and 60s) and are facing similar problems associated with their recent retirement. What type of group is Shawna a part of? - Correct Answer-a homogeneous group It seems to Dov that the group they are in is similar to society as a whole in terms of membership—all ages, races, occupations, and so on. What type of group is Dov part of? - Correct Answer-a heterogeneous group Which of the following most accurately describes the basic criterion for the selection of group members? - Correct Answer-whether they will benefit from the group or be a detriment According to your text, establishment of which of the following is vital to the continued development of the group? - Correct Answer-trust Dr. Dorcas is planning a group at the community mental health center. This group will be specifically for people who have been court-ordered to treatment because of domestic violence convictions. Which of the following should Dr. Dorcas keep in mind? - Correct Answer-Screening may be impractical but an initial private meeting with each person may be helpful. Marta is participating in group counseling. The makeup of the group was set by the initial meeting, and no new members will be added. What type of group is Marta in? - Correct Answer-a closed group According to your text, writing a group proposal is which of the following? - Correct Answer-important to group success In the initial sessions, group members tend to do which of the following? - Correct Answer-present the parts of themselves they consider socially acceptable Which of the statements below about trust is most accurate? - Correct Answer-The level of trust in a group depends in large part on the members—individually and collectively. According to your text, staying in the "here-and-now" is an example of which of the following? - Correct Answer-a process goal Group leader Dr. Hsu is screening potential group members. What stage is Dr. Hsu's group in? - Correct Answer-formation stage In counseling groups, goals are often rooted in which type of culture? - Correct Answer- individualistic When leading a group, Dr. Suliman is very conscious of their behavior because Dr. Suliman is aware that group participants may, consciously or unconsciously, follow their example. Dr. Suliman is concerned about which of the following? - Correct Answer-modeling Lex is part of a counseling group and notices that sometimes group members leave and sometimes new members join the group. Lex is most likely in which type of group? - Correct Answer-an open group The major tasks for participants in the initial stages of groups include which of the following? - Correct Answer-deciding how active to be in the group Who, among the following, is most likely to exhibit defensive behaviors? - Correct Answer-Silva, who didn't really want to join the group in the first place The initial stage is best described as a time of which of these? - Correct Answer- orientation and exploration When dealing with resistance, the group leader should consider which of the following? - Correct Answer-Whether the behavior might reflect culturally expected reluctance to participate. According to the text, intermember conflict is often the result of which of these? - Correct Answer-transference Which stage is generally characterized by increased anxiety and defensiveness? - Correct Answer-transition stage When conflict occurs in a group, what is the most productive response? - Correct Answer-recognize the conflict and address it directly Which of the following is a characteristic of the transition stage? - Correct Answer- Members learn how to express themselves in a healthy way. One of the major challenges group leaders face during the transition stage is which of the following? - Correct Answer-determining when and how to intervene When dealing with members who are reluctant to deal with fear and anxiety, group leaders should adopt which of the following strategies? - Correct Answer-invite and encourage participation When dealing with problematic behaviors, the group leader should do which of the following? - Correct Answer-examine their initial reaction before responding List and discuss three reasons why group leaders should screen potential group members. - Correct Answer-Doing so is an ethical obligation. It enables leaders to identify who will benefit from group participation and who may be a detriment. It helps protect group members from potential harm. When groups are open, it helps the leader determine if the potential member will fit in with current group members. It enables the group leader to identify people who are unsuited to group work, like those who are actively psychotic or lack the cognitive skills to participate. It helps the leader understand the potential participants and what they want from the group experience. This process is best described by which of the following terms? - Correct Answer-cognitive restructuring According to your text, members of cohesive and productive groups generally focus on which of the following? - Correct Answer-the here-and-now According to Yalom and Leszcz (2020), which of the following is essential to the group process? - Correct Answer-hope Considerable overlapping stages is common in all groups, especially during which of the following transitions? - Correct Answer-from the transition stage to the working stage According to your text, research indicates that cohesiveness is best described by which of the following? - Correct Answer-vital to group success According to your text, trust in the context of a counseling group is best characterized as which of the following? - Correct Answer-varying across the life of the group After a cathartic experience, group members often benefit from which of the following? - Correct Answer-cognitive work Which of the following stages is best characterized by the commitment of members to explore significant problems? - Correct Answer-working Although members apply what they have learned in the group to everyday life throughout all stages of a group, this becomes particularly important during which phase? - Correct Answer-consolidation Self-disclosure by group leaders should be predicated on which of the following? - Correct Answer-the group's needs When encouraging self-disclosure, group leaders should remember which of the following? - Correct Answer-Self-disclosure is less acceptable in some cultures than in others. According to Burlingame et al. (2004), meta-analyses of cohesion in group therapy, which of the following has been shown to increase group cohesion? - Correct Answer-discussing roles of both leaders and group members In an effective group, when do members typically assess their own satisfaction? - Correct Answer-continually Which of the following enables group members to discuss personally meaningful material? - Correct Answer-trust Understanding another person's intensely emotional experiences by tapping into one's own emotions is a reflection of which of the following? - Correct Answer-empathy Which of the following increases as people disclose more and more about themselves and their concerns in a group? - Correct Answer-intimacy The belief that our lives can change for the better is the basis of which of the following? - Correct Answer-hope The expression of previously suppressed feelings is referred to as which of the following? - Correct Answer-catharsis Self-disclosure is best described as which of the following? - Correct Answer-the means to an end Which of the following helps members become aware of discrepancies between what they say and what they do? - Correct Answer-constructive confrontation Follow-up sessions are best described as which of the following? - Correct Answer-a way for group members to gain an understanding of the group's impact During the final stage, members may be more likely to do which of the following? - Correct Answer-isolate themselves Giving and receiving which of these is particularly important during the consolidation stage? - Correct Answer-feedback Which of the following is particularly important during the final stage? - Correct Answer- relapse prevention Which of the following is provided by a follow-up group session and helps encourage commitment to change? - Correct Answer-accountability Define cohesion and describe its development and importance. - Correct Answer-Group cohesion is characterized by a sense of belonging, inclusion, solidarity, and an attractiveness of a group for its members. Cohesiveness is the result of all the forces acting on the members that make them want to remain in the group. Members experience a sense of belonging and of having a connection with one another. In a group, the therapeutic alliance that develops from this feeling of being accepted involves multiple relationships: member-to- group, member-to-member, member-to-leader, and leader-to-members. Cohesion may begin to develop in the early stages of a group, and it is a key facilitative element of the group process at the working stage. Groups do not have to experience conflict to become cohesive, but conflict that is smoothed over or somehow ignored in the group will obstruct the establishment of cohesion. If the group has successfully navigated a testing period, members will conclude, "If it's OK to express negative reactions and conflict, then maybe it's OK to get close." Groups do not become cohesive automatically, however; and cohesion may fluctuate throughout the life of the group in response to the interactions of group members. In a cohesive group, members open up on a deeper level and are willing to reveal painful experiences and to take other risks. The route to this increased level of interaction within the group is often due to a willingness of members to stay in the here-and-now, especially their willingness to express persistent reactions they are having to one another. The honest sharing of deeply significant personal experiences and struggles binds the group together because the process of sharing allows members to identify with others by seeing themselves in others. Cohesion is the result of a commitment by the participants and the leader to take the steps that lead to a group-as-a- Describe two characteristics of an effective working group. - Correct Answer-• There is a here-and-now focus. Members have learned to talk directly to one another about what they are feeling and doing in the group sessions, and they are generally willing to have meaningful interactions. They pay more attention to what is going on in the group than on stories about people outside of the group. When outside issues are brought up, they are often related to what is going on within the group. • Members more readily identify their goals and concerns, and they take responsibility for them. They understand what the group and the leader expect of them. • Members are willing to work and practice outside the group to achieve behavioral changes. They carry out "homework assignments," and they bring into the sessions any difficulties they have had in practicing new ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. They are willing to try to integrate thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in their everyday situations. They are better able to catch themselves when they are thinking and acting in old patterns. According to Moreno, spontaneity training is useful for which of the following purposes? - Correct Answer-freeing an individual from limiting scripts In psychodrama, the past is dealt with in which way? - Correct Answer-by bringing it into the present to be relived How is catharsis a part of psychodrama? - Correct Answer-Catharsis occurs naturally as a part of the experience. According to Moreno, a psychodrama leader functions as which of the following? - Correct Answer-producer How should the protagonist be picked in a psychodrama? - Correct Answer-The director should help pick the protagonist Which of the following best describes the protagonist in a psychodrama? - Correct Answer-the person whose issue is being explored The auxiliary ego is best described by which of the following? - Correct Answer-a group member who plays symbolic roles. According to Moreno, psychodrama benefits which of the following group members? - Correct Answer-the whole group Which of the following is considered a key aspect of gaining closure in psychodrama? - Correct Answer-shedding the roles through debriefing Psychodrama is based on the premise that the best way to promote creativity is through which of the following? - Correct Answer-spontaneous exploratory activities According to the text, which of the following techniques is the most useful for helping members clarify and prioritize their values? - Correct Answer-the magic shop Which term is used in psychodrama for the two-way flow of feeling between people? - Correct Answer-tele The technique in which a protagonist speaks directly to the audience is called which of the following? - Correct Answer-soliloquy The third phase of a psychodrama consists of which of the following? - Correct Answer- sharing what was observed during the action period and discussion. When the protagonist slips into narrating, or begins to talk about a problem, the director should do which of the following? - Correct Answer-steers the protagonist into action by asking they to show what happened rather than telling it Which term is used in psychodrama to refer to connecting to another person in a meaningful way? - Correct Answer-encounter Psychodrama is rooted in which theory? - Correct Answer-role theory A psychodrama encounter is best described by which of the following? - Correct Answer-not a full encounter because an auxiliary plays a role of the significant other The ventilation of stored-up feelings is best described by which of the following? - Correct Answer-catharsis What term did Moreno use to refer to the protagonist's psychological reality? - Correct Answer-surplus reality The most important issue in the warm-up phase of the psychodrama process is creating an atmosphere that fosters which of the following? - Correct Answer-spontaneity and involvement. In psychodrama, which of the following exercises may be used when the person the protagonist wants to encounter is too threatening? - Correct Answer-empty chair Discuss the use of psychodrama in schools. - Correct Answer-Psychodrama produces insight through action. It is designed to bring the underlying attitudes, thoughts, and emotions of individuals into consciousness and expression. Classical psychodrama is too intense for use with children and adolescents, but role playing can be very effective for developing psychosocial skills that are essential for adapting to contemporary life. Role playing is an experiential mode that involves active integration of the imaginative and emotional dimensions of human experience, and it is widely used in education from preschool to professional graduate programs. School groups are generally time limited and structured around a topical theme, and many of the techniques described in this the text can enliven the work of both children and adolescents. Define role training and describe its use. - Correct Answer-Role training involves a more systematic use of techniques such as replay, mirror, role reversal, and feedback and modeling from the group to help clients develop more skill and confidence in dealing with situations that had previously felt awkward or threatening. This is similar to behavioral rehearsal, a component of behavioral group therapy; however, the technique was developed by Moreno in the 1930s and it spread from there. Psychodrama methods are not used only to bring out emotions or even to foster insight. Sometimes they can be applied in the service of expanding or refining an individual's role repertoire. Role training allows a person to experiment with new behaviors in the safety of the group. Protagonists have many opportunities for replaying a scene until they discover a response that fits them personally. They are given support, reinforcement, and feedback on the effectiveness of their new behaviors. As a part of working through a problem, the director typically focuses on acquiring and rehearsing specific interpersonal skills, which are often learned through the modeling of other members. Identify one major strength and one main limitation of psychodrama. - Correct Answer- Possible Strengths: -Psychodrama can be integrated into the framework of other group approaches. Psychodrama offers a dynamic approach to life's problems and provides members with alternative ways of coping with their concerns. Psychodrama often produces cathartic experiences. Psychodrama supports the growing trend toward technical eclecticism in psychotherapy. Psychodrama is ideally suited for groups, but it can be adapted to individual, couples and family therapy as well. Psychodrama is characterized by evolution and has continued to develop with significant refinements in theory and practice. Possible Limitations: Psychodrama is no panacea and it must be used with good judgment and in a balance with other group therapy skills. In classical psychodrama, one individual may consume the group's attention for an entire 2-hour session. Practitioners who use psychodrama need to exercise caution in working with people who manifest acting-out behaviors and individuals with serious disturbances. As with other approaches to psychotherapy, it is important that leaders using the powerful methods of psychodrama also become aware of how their own personal problems and unmet needs might interfere with their professional functioning. Although group counselors who employ psychodramatic methods assume an active and directive role in facilitating a group, these methods will be most effective when the leader maintains the person-centered spirit. Research on the effectiveness of psychodrama has been limited, and few controlled studies have been attempted. Describe the warm-up phase of a psychodrama. - Correct Answer-Warming up consists of the initial activities required for a gradual increase in involvement It is not uncommon for people to recount difficult circumstances or situations and say that there is nothing they can do because they have "no choice" in the matter. How would an existential therapist view this? - Correct Answer-as untrue, because even in the most difficult of circumstances, we do have choices about some things. Why is existential therapy particularly useful in multicultural settings? - Correct Answer-it is not rooted in the values of any particular culture When using existential therapy in a group of children or adolescents, what should the therapist keep in mind? - Correct Answer-children and adolescents do struggle with many existential issues. Which of the following best describes one of the values of an existential approach? - Correct Answer-it brought the person back into a central place The existential approach to group is more of a perspective on human nature and an approach to understanding behavior than a "school of therapy." With this in mind, explain how an existential practitioner views group counseling. - Correct Answer-Existential therapy is ultimately a process of exploring the values and beliefs that give meaning to living. Existential therapists invite clients to take action that grows out of their honest appraisal of their life's purpose. The therapist's basic task is to encourage clients to consider what they are most serious about so they can pursue a direction in life. An existential group therapist accepts the premise that clients must play an active role in the therapeutic process and that they have the capacity to make well-informed choices about living. Group members create their own purpose in the group, and the preferences, beliefs, motivations, and expectations of members significantly influence outcomes. Identify and describe the basic goals of the existential group. - Correct Answer-In an existential group, participants make a commitment to a lifelong journey of self- exploration with these goals: (1) enabling members to become truthful with themselves; (2) widening their perspectives on themselves and the world around them; (3) clarifying what gives meaning to their present and future life; (4) successfully negotiating and coming to terms with past, present, and future crises; and (5) understanding themselves and others better and learning better ways of communicating with others. An open attitude toward life is essential, as is the willingness to explore unknown territory. Group members are encouraged to begin listening to themselves and paying attention to their subjective experience. Attention is given to clients' immediate, ongoing experience with the aim of helping them develop greater presence in their quest for meaning and purpose. This phenomenological self-searching emphasizes what members discover within their own stream of awareness when this stream is not directed by the therapist. To a large degree, the task of therapy is to help clients return to a position of openness to themselves, to their world, and to life itself. By openly sharing and exploring universal personal concerns, members develop a sense of mutuality. The group becomes a place where people can be together in deeply meaningful ways. Describe the existential concept of self-awareness. - Correct Answer-The capacity for self-awareness separates us from other animals and enables us to make free choices. The greater our awareness, the greater our possibilities for freedom. Schneider explains that the core existential position is that we are both free (willful, creative, expressive) and limited by environmental and social constraints. We are all subject to the deterministic forces of sociocultural conditioning and to the limitations imposed by our genetic endowment, but we are still able to choose based on our awareness of these limiting factors. According to May, regardless of how great the forces victimizing us are, we have the capacity to know that we are being victimized, which allows us to take a stand on this situation. Furthermore, through self-awareness we come to recognize the responsibility associated with the freedom to choose and to act. Discuss the existential concepts of self-determination and personal responsibility. - Correct Answer-An important existential theme is that we are self-determining beings, free to choose among alternatives and therefore responsible for directing our life and shaping our destiny. Although we are thrust into the world, the existentialist view is that how we live and what we become are the result of our own choices. Our existence is a given, but we do not have, and cannot have, a fixed, settled "nature," or "essence." We are constantly faced with having to choose the kind of person we want to become, and as long as we live, we must continue to choose. Frankl stressed the relationship between freedom and responsibility and insists that ultimate freedom can never be taken from us because we can at least choose our attitude toward any given set of circumstances. Discuss the existential view of death as a significant variable in living fully. How are death and meaning in life related concepts? - Correct Answer-The existential therapist considers death as essential to the discovery of meaning and purpose in life. Life has meaning precisely because it must end, and life is enhanced when we take seriously the reality of the life we do have. The reality of our finiteness can stimulate us to look at our priorities and to ask what we value most. The present is precious because it is all we really have. It is our temporal nature that makes us feel the urgency to do something with our life, to make a choice between affirming life by trying to become the person we are capable of becoming or allowing life to slip by us and eventually realizing that we've never given ourselves a chance to be different. Frankl believed that it is not how long we live but how we live that determines the quality and meaningfulness of our life. When we emotionally accept the reality of our mortality, we realize more clearly that our actions do count, that we do have choices, and that we must accept the ultimate responsibility for how we are living.