The causes of a client's distress might conceivably come almost entirely from sources outside the individual.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Cannot be determined
• D. Not applicable

Answer: (A)

Distress can arise largely from factors outside the person, and that possibility is realistic in counseling. External circumstances—such as traumatic events, abuse, poverty, discrimination, job loss, or family conflict—can overwhelm an individual’s coping resources and produce significant distress even when internal traits are neutral. This fits with biopsychosocial and systems-oriented thinking, which emphasize how environments, relationships, and social context shape mental health. So, it’s plausible that the primary sources of distress come from outside the individual, and assessment should consider these external factors alongside any internal contributors.