NSG 527 Mid-Term Exam Study Guide (Latest 2026/2027
Update) Theoretical Foundations & Advanced Practice |
Q&A | Grade A | 100% Correct (Verified Answers) – Nursing
Program
Subject: Advanced Psychosocial Theories & Therapeutic Modalities – NSG 527 Mid-Term
Source: Evidence-based midterm blueprint / 2026-2027 curriculum
Format: Q&A Guide with Rationale – 100% Verified Concepts + Clinical Application
1: Who are the founders of existential therapy?
Correct Answer: Rollo May & Irvin Yalom
1. Rollo May introduced existential psychology in the US; Irvin Yalom expanded existential psychotherapy
focusing on death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness.
2. Both emphasized the human capacity for self-awareness and confronting life's givens rather than
pathologizing normal anxiety.
3. Common wrong answer (Freud or Rogers) focuses on drives or self-concept, missing the existential
philosophical roots.
2: What is the primary approach of existential therapy?
Correct Answer: An experiential & relational approach
1. Existential therapy is not just cognitive; it focuses on lived experience and the therapeutic relationship
as a vehicle for authenticity.
2. The approach encourages clients to explore their own values, choices, and anxieties within a genuine
relational context.
3. Behavioral approaches (wrong) emphasize conditioning; existentialism is experiential and relational.
3: What is the philosophy behind existential therapy?
Correct Answer: You can make changes to be the person that you want to be.
1. Rooted in phenomenology and freedom to self-define, existentialism holds that individuals can
reshape identity through conscious choice.
2. Unlike determinism, it affirms personal agency and the ongoing project of becoming.
3. A rigid behavioral view (wrong) dismisses human potential for self-redefinition; existentialism
champions it.
4: Existential therapy is based on philosophical concern with what?
Correct Answer: What it means to be fully human
1. Existentialism investigates authentic existence, mortality, freedom, and meaning.
2. The therapy addresses universal human dilemmas rather than just symptom reduction.
3. Symptom-focused models (e.g., medical model) miss the philosophical depth regarding being human.
, 5: Existential therapy is based on what kind of relationship between client and therapist?
Correct Answer: A personal relationship between client and therapist
1. The therapeutic alliance is authentic and mutual, not just technical; therapist shares genuine presence.
2. Yalom stressed that the real relationship heals more than technique alone.
3. Manualized or distant therapeutic stances (CBT-only) contrast with the personal existential bond.
6: What does existential therapy stress regarding personal fate?
Correct Answer: Personal freedom in deciding one's fate
1. Freedom to choose is central; even in adversity one can choose attitudes.
2. This counters victim mentality and fosters responsibility for one's life direction.
3. Deterministic theories erase personal choice; existentialism champions it.
7: What does existential therapy place value on?
Correct Answer: Self-awareness
1. Self-awareness enables freedom, choice, and authentic change.
2. Without awareness, clients remain stuck in inauthentic patterns.
3. Insight alone (psychodynamic) differs; existential awareness includes existential givens.
8: What is the function of the existential therapist?
Correct Answer: Understand client's subjective world
1. Therapist uses phenomenological empathy to grasp the client's lived experience.
2. This contrasts with diagnosing from an external objective frame.
3. Prescriptive advising would violate the existential stance of honoring subjectivity.
9: How is anxiety viewed in existential therapy?
Correct Answer: As part of the human condition
1. Normal anxiety (existential anxiety) arises from facing death, freedom, isolation — not pathological.
2. Suppressing anxiety can block growth; facing it builds courage.
3. Medical model often pathologizes all anxiety; existentialism normalizes it.
10: From what does anxiety arise according to existential therapy?
Correct Answer: Our personal need to survive, to preserve our being, and to assert our being
1. Anxiety signals threats to existence or values, mobilizing self-preservation.
2. May described anxiety as ontological — about being itself.
3. Freudian anxiety (unconscious conflict) provides a narrower psychodynamic view.
11: In existential therapy, anxiety can be what two types?
Correct Answer: Neurotic or normal
1. Normal anxiety is proportionate and can be used constructively; neurotic anxiety is disproportionate
and out of awareness.
2. Therapeutic goal is to transform neurotic into normal anxiety.
3. Many theories treat all anxiety as disorder; existentialism distinguishes types.
Update) Theoretical Foundations & Advanced Practice |
Q&A | Grade A | 100% Correct (Verified Answers) – Nursing
Program
Subject: Advanced Psychosocial Theories & Therapeutic Modalities – NSG 527 Mid-Term
Source: Evidence-based midterm blueprint / 2026-2027 curriculum
Format: Q&A Guide with Rationale – 100% Verified Concepts + Clinical Application
1: Who are the founders of existential therapy?
Correct Answer: Rollo May & Irvin Yalom
1. Rollo May introduced existential psychology in the US; Irvin Yalom expanded existential psychotherapy
focusing on death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness.
2. Both emphasized the human capacity for self-awareness and confronting life's givens rather than
pathologizing normal anxiety.
3. Common wrong answer (Freud or Rogers) focuses on drives or self-concept, missing the existential
philosophical roots.
2: What is the primary approach of existential therapy?
Correct Answer: An experiential & relational approach
1. Existential therapy is not just cognitive; it focuses on lived experience and the therapeutic relationship
as a vehicle for authenticity.
2. The approach encourages clients to explore their own values, choices, and anxieties within a genuine
relational context.
3. Behavioral approaches (wrong) emphasize conditioning; existentialism is experiential and relational.
3: What is the philosophy behind existential therapy?
Correct Answer: You can make changes to be the person that you want to be.
1. Rooted in phenomenology and freedom to self-define, existentialism holds that individuals can
reshape identity through conscious choice.
2. Unlike determinism, it affirms personal agency and the ongoing project of becoming.
3. A rigid behavioral view (wrong) dismisses human potential for self-redefinition; existentialism
champions it.
4: Existential therapy is based on philosophical concern with what?
Correct Answer: What it means to be fully human
1. Existentialism investigates authentic existence, mortality, freedom, and meaning.
2. The therapy addresses universal human dilemmas rather than just symptom reduction.
3. Symptom-focused models (e.g., medical model) miss the philosophical depth regarding being human.
, 5: Existential therapy is based on what kind of relationship between client and therapist?
Correct Answer: A personal relationship between client and therapist
1. The therapeutic alliance is authentic and mutual, not just technical; therapist shares genuine presence.
2. Yalom stressed that the real relationship heals more than technique alone.
3. Manualized or distant therapeutic stances (CBT-only) contrast with the personal existential bond.
6: What does existential therapy stress regarding personal fate?
Correct Answer: Personal freedom in deciding one's fate
1. Freedom to choose is central; even in adversity one can choose attitudes.
2. This counters victim mentality and fosters responsibility for one's life direction.
3. Deterministic theories erase personal choice; existentialism champions it.
7: What does existential therapy place value on?
Correct Answer: Self-awareness
1. Self-awareness enables freedom, choice, and authentic change.
2. Without awareness, clients remain stuck in inauthentic patterns.
3. Insight alone (psychodynamic) differs; existential awareness includes existential givens.
8: What is the function of the existential therapist?
Correct Answer: Understand client's subjective world
1. Therapist uses phenomenological empathy to grasp the client's lived experience.
2. This contrasts with diagnosing from an external objective frame.
3. Prescriptive advising would violate the existential stance of honoring subjectivity.
9: How is anxiety viewed in existential therapy?
Correct Answer: As part of the human condition
1. Normal anxiety (existential anxiety) arises from facing death, freedom, isolation — not pathological.
2. Suppressing anxiety can block growth; facing it builds courage.
3. Medical model often pathologizes all anxiety; existentialism normalizes it.
10: From what does anxiety arise according to existential therapy?
Correct Answer: Our personal need to survive, to preserve our being, and to assert our being
1. Anxiety signals threats to existence or values, mobilizing self-preservation.
2. May described anxiety as ontological — about being itself.
3. Freudian anxiety (unconscious conflict) provides a narrower psychodynamic view.
11: In existential therapy, anxiety can be what two types?
Correct Answer: Neurotic or normal
1. Normal anxiety is proportionate and can be used constructively; neurotic anxiety is disproportionate
and out of awareness.
2. Therapeutic goal is to transform neurotic into normal anxiety.
3. Many theories treat all anxiety as disorder; existentialism distinguishes types.
