National Counselor Exam (NCE)

An apparent treatment success that is due to the patient's expectation or hopes rather than the treatment itself is called ____________.

1. Placebo effect

2. Therapeutic alliance

3. Emotional release

4. Cognitive dissonance

The correct answer is: Placebo effect

The concept described in the question pertains to a phenomenon where a patient's improvement or positive outcomes occur not because of the direct effects of a treatment, but rather due to their beliefs, expectations, or hopes. This is referred to as the placebo effect. In clinical practice, when individuals believe they are receiving effective treatment—even if it is a placebo—this belief can lead to real changes in their symptoms or overall well-being. The psychological aspects of this effect are powerful; patients' positive expectations can trigger physiological responses that result in an improvement in health conditions. Understanding the placebo effect is crucial for counselors and healthcare providers as it highlights the importance of a patient's mindset and expectations in the therapeutic process. It underscores that the psychological context of treatment is not only significant but can influence outcomes in ways that are sometimes as effective as the treatments themselves. Other concepts in the options relate to different aspects of human psychology and therapeutic processes but do not capture the specific outcome based purely on psychological belief without physiological intervention.