Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC) Practice Exam

What is the primary aim of psychoanalytic therapists?

1. To reinforce client behaviors

2. To make the client's unconscious conscious

3. To teach coping strategies

4. To enhance social skills

The correct answer is: To make the client's unconscious conscious

The primary aim of psychoanalytic therapists is to make the client's unconscious conscious. This therapeutic approach, rooted in the theories of Freud, emphasizes understanding the underlying motivations, thoughts, feelings, and conflicts that exist outside of the individual's conscious awareness. By bringing these unconscious elements to the surface, clients can gain insight into their behaviors and emotional patterns, leading to a deeper understanding of their issues and facilitating healing and personal growth. In contrast, reinforcing client behaviors focuses on behavior modification rather than uncovering deeper psychological processes. Teaching coping strategies is more characteristic of cognitive-behavioral approaches that aim to equip clients with practical skills for managing specific issues. Similarly, enhancing social skills is typically not the primary focus of psychoanalytic therapy, which delves into unconscious processes rather than external social interactions. Therefore, the objective of making the unconscious conscious is central to the psychoanalytic framework and underpins much of its therapeutic practice.