Thanks for your question! This is a fairly rare Assumption—PR question stem, not a Justify—PR stem, because it asks us to identify a principle that must be assumed in order for the conclusion to be properly drawn. Since “must” is a necessary condition indicator, the correct answer will be principle upon which the argument depends. By contrast, a Justify—PR question would have required us to identify a principle, which, if assumed, would enable the conclusion to be properly drawn, i.e. a principle sufficient to prove the conclusion.
The psychologist’s argument is structured as follows:
Premise:
- Psychotherapists who attempt to provide psychotherapy on talk shows are expected to entertain a broad audience.
Premise:
- Satisfying this demand is nearly always incompatible with providing high-quality psychological help.
Conclusion:
- Psychotherapists should never provide psychotherapy on talk shows.
As a general rule, when prephrasing a principle to answer any Help Family question, look for logical gaps or deficiencies in the argument that need to be fixed. In this problem, the author argues that psychotherapy should never be provided on talk shows because such therapy is unlikely to be of high quality (“satisfying this demand is nearly always incompatible with providing high-quality psychological help”). This line of reasoning is certainly objectionable: even if talk shows fail to provide the ideal context for psychological help, one could argue that for some people substandard psychotherapy is better than none.
To identify a principle upon which the argument depends, we must establish that therapy should never be provided in a context in which it is unlikely to be of high quality. Answer choice (E) fits the bill. To double-check if this is an assumption, apply the Assumption Negation Technique—logically negate the answer and ask yourself if the following statement would undermine the argument:
Psychotherapists can sometimes attempt to provide psychological help even if the manner in which such help is provided makes it unlikely to be of high quality.
Since the logical opposite of this answer choice directly undermines the conclusion of the argument, answer choice (E) contains an assumption upon which the argument depends.
Now, let’s take a look at answer choice (C). This is an attractive answer choice, especially if one misreads the question stem. Indeed, if we adopt the principle that psychotherapy should never be provided in a context in which there is any chance that the therapy might of less than high quality, the author would be justified in reaching her conclusion. After all, therapy on talk shows is “nearly always” of less than high quality, which would certainly meet the standard set forth in answer choice (C).
Unfortunately, this principle is not an assumption upon which the conclusion depends. It simply sets the bar for finding psychotherapy objectionable too low. To double-check if this is an assumption, apply the Assumption Negation Technique—logically negate the answer and ask yourself if the following statement would undermine the argument:
Psychotherapy can sometimes be provided in a context in which there is some chance that the therapy might be of less than high quality.
The author would reply by observing that talk shows pose a substantially higher chance that the therapy provided on them would be of less than high quality. Since the logical opposite of answer choice (C) does not weaken the conclusion of the argument, it is not an assumption upon which the argument depends.
Generally speaking, the correct answer to an Assumption question will not go too far: it must be a statement upon which the conclusion depends, not a statement that proves the conclusion. An assumption can be considered a “minimalist” answer, and cannot contain exaggerations or elements that are extraneous to the argument.
Hope this helps!
Hey smile22,Thanks for your question! This is a fairly rare Assumption—PR question stem, not a Justify—PR stem, because it asks us to identify a principle that must be assumed in order for the conclusion to be properly drawn. Since “must” is a necessary condition indicator, the correct answer will be principle upon which the argument depends. By contrast, a Justify—PR question would have required us to identify a principle, which, if assumed, would enable the conclusion to be properly drawn, i.e. a principle sufficient to prove the conclusion.The psychologist’s argument is structured as follows:As a general rule, when prephrasing a principle to answer any Help Family question, look for logical gaps or deficiencies in the argument that need to be fixed. In this problem, the author argues that psychotherapy should never be provided on talk shows because such therapy is unlikely to be of high quality (“satisfying this demand is nearly always incompatible with providing high-quality psychological help”). This line of reasoning is certainly objectionable: even if talk shows fail to provide the ideal context for psychological help, one could argue that for some people substandard psychotherapy is better than none.To identify a principle upon which the argument depends, we must establish that therapy should never be provided in a context in which it is unlikely to be of high quality. Answer choice (E) fits the bill. To double-check if this is an assumption, apply the Assumption Negation Technique—logically negate the answer and ask yourself if the following statement would undermine the argument:Since the logical opposite of this answer choice directly undermines the conclusion of the argument, answer choice (E) contains an assumption upon which the argument depends.Now, let’s take a look at answer choice (C). This is an attractive answer choice, especially if one misreads the question stem. Indeed, if we adopt the principle that psychotherapy should never be provided in a context in which there is any chance that the therapy might of less than high quality, the author would be justified in reaching her conclusion. After all, therapy on talk shows is “nearly always” of less than high quality, which would certainly meet the standard set forth in answer choice (C).Unfortunately, this principle is not an assumption upon which the conclusion depends. It simply sets the bar for finding psychotherapy objectionable too low. To double-check if this is an assumption, apply the Assumption Negation Technique—logically negate the answer and ask yourself if the following statement would undermine the argument:The author would reply by observing that talk shows pose a substantially higher chance that the therapy provided on them would be of less than high quality. Since the logical opposite of answer choice (C) does not weaken the conclusion of the argument, it is not an assumption upon which the argument depends.Generally speaking, the correct answer to an Assumption question will not go too far: it must be a statement upon which the conclusion depends, not a statement that proves the conclusion. An assumption can be considered a “minimalist” answer, and cannot contain exaggerations or elements that are extraneous to the argument.Hope this helps!
In the state of Arizona, there continues to be a great need for substance abuse counselors. A startling 10% of citizens over the age of 12 either abuse alcohol or suffer from alcohol dependency. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that it has the 12th highest rate in the U.S. of drug overdose deaths. There are three levels of licensure certification to become a Substance Abuse Counselor: LSAT, LASAC and LISAC. Each have their own requirements to become licensed in field.
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With the three different licenses available to those who want to pursue the career of a substance abuse counselor in Arizona. One must have the proper education, experience, and pass required exams to obtain a license from Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. Find out more about the AZBBHE:
Levels of Licenses
There are three Arizona Addiction Counselor licenses available from the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners:
- LSAT- Licensed Substance Abuse Technician
- LASAC- Licensed Associate Substance Abuse Counselor
- LISAC- Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor
LSAT
A LSAT will work within the same settings as a Licensed Substance Abuse Counselor, but does not necessarily require a bachelor’s degree. For those that are looking to start in the substance abuse counselling field, this is the place to start.
Education
Licensure Exam
- Applicants are allowed only two attempts on an exam within a year.
- The following are board approved exams: The International Certification Reciprocity Consortium/Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (IC & RC) exam ( https://internationalcredentialing.org/examprep) and the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) exam (https://www.naadac.org/certification).
- The applicant must make a passing score on a licensure exam from IC&RC (International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium), NAADAC (National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors), or NBCC (National Board for Certified Counselors).
- When applying for the license, the applicant must have a fingerprint clearance card which will consist of a $40 fee.
- A self-query from the National Practitioner Data Bank is required upon application. The self-query must not be dated more than 90 days prior to the application. There is an $8 fee. This can be done here: https://www.npdb.hrsa.gov/pract/selfQueryBasics.jsp
- There is a one time fee of $250 per application.
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LASAC
When one has already become a LSAT, they then may work towards becoming a LASAC. A LASAC is a counselor and acts completely as a counselor, however they must be under direct supervision unlike the LISAC. The LASAC candidate does require a higher level of education than the LSAT.
Education & Hours
- The applicant must have a bachelor’s degree in a behavioral science with an emphasis on counseling that meets the requirements from a regionally accredited college or university. OR the applicant may have a master’s or higher degree in a behavioral science with an emphasis on counseling from a regionally accredited college or university.
- The applicant must be able to provide documentation that the applicant has received at least 3,200 hours of work experience in not less than 24 months in substance abuse counseling under supervision.
- The 3,200 hours must include a minimum of 1,600 hours of direct client contact and not more than 1,600 hours of indirect client service.
- For the direct client contact hours, not more than 400 hours may be in psychoeducation.
- The exam will be chosen and approved by the AZBBHE.
- Find out more about the exams available from the links listed in the LSAT exam section or directly from the Board.
- Find practice exams linked at the very bottom under “Exam Preparations” section.
Exam
LISAC
The highest level of certification attainable in the state of Arizona as a substance abuse counselor is Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor. At this level, one can practice independently without a supervisor.
Education & Hours.
- The applicant must have received a master’s or higher degree in a behavioral science with an emphasis on counseling.
- The applicant must present documentation to prove the applicant has received at least 3,200 hours of work experience in not less than two years time in substance abuse counseling under supervision.
- The 3,200 hours must include at least 1,600 hours of direct client contact and not more than 1,600 hours of indirect client service.
- For the direct client contact hours, not more than 400 hours may be in psychoeducation.
- The exam will be one chosen and approved by the AZBBHE.
- Find out more about the exams available from the links listed in the LSAT exam section or directly from the Board.
- Find practice exams and free study resources linked in the “Exam Preparations” section.
Exam.
Exam Preparations.
There are many different study materials available. The IC&RC offer five different practice exams that have a one time fee of $49 each. These practice exams may be taken online. The IC&RC also offer a page of free study resources:
https://internationalcredentialing.org/Resources/Documents/Free%20Study%20Resources.pdf
Arizona Board for Certification of Addiction Counselors (ABCAC) offers another route to becoming a substance abuse counselor. Their requirements to become a certified substance abuse counselor are as follows:
- The applicant must download and print the application manual and send it in with a check or money order made out to ABCAC. Fees and other details can be found in the manuals.
- Upon the approval of the application, one then will be registered for the relevant IC&RC exam.
- After passing this exam, the applicant will receive their new certificate in the mail.
The application to take the exam can be found here: ABCAC
The page of ABCAC here provides access to the different manuals:
https://abcac.org/services/
Renewal Laws in Arizona
Per article published by Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, its laws regarding license renewal are:
- Substance abuse counselors are required to renew their licenses every two years.
- This renewal also requires 30 documented hours of continuing education for the counselor applying for renewal.
- License renewal costs $325
Read the official article: https://www.azbbhe.us/pdfs/ARTICLE%208.pdf
*Related Topics
- Arizona Counseling Overview, Education, Licensure and Resources
- Arizona Social Work Overview, Education, Licensure and Resources
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Arizona Substance Abuse Organizations
Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (AZBBHE) 1740 W Adams St #3600, Phoenix, AZ 85007 (602) 542-1882
Arizona Board for Certification of Addiction Counselors (ABCAC) ABCAC, PO Box 3266, Chandler, AZ 85244 (480) 442-6678
Drug Free Arizona Kids The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, Arizona Affiliate 3030 N Central Ave #509, Phoenix, AZ 85012 (602) 264-5700
Arizona Counselors Association (AZCA) 28150 N Alma School Rd, #103-503, Scottsdale, Arizona 85262 (480) 485-9968
Arizona Association of Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counselors (AzAADAC)
https://www.naadac.org/arizona
Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) 150 North 18th Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85007 (602) 542-1025
Resources:
https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/03321.htm
https://www.azbbhe.us/node/827
By Jasmeene Burton-Martin, Brand Associate & Boot Camp Instructor, S. Montgomery Admissions Consulting
Anyone who has started studying for the LSAT knows how incredibly demanding the skills-based exam can be. You are only allotted 35 minutes to complete 25-27 difficult and peculiar questions on topics that are dense, uninteresting, and incredibly odd. You sit for two hours to repeat the process multiple times with barely any break between, constantly shifting between question types and passages with strangely worded phrases that are almost never used in common speech. The LSAT is designed to apply pressure to each test taker and to record your performance under these conditions, more or less giving schools an idea of your academic capabilities.
The bottom line?
There is very little room for error. In order to attempt every question, you must develop impeccable control over your timing and confident mastery over the content. In order to select answers accurately, you must craft a precise approach for each game, passage, and argument. You must cultivate laser-focus, never contemplating anything extraneous to the argument’s structure and reasoning.
More and more people are realizing that the LSAT’s difficulty stems beyond the test makers’ design. People of color and students from first-generation and low-income backgrounds are increasingly realizing that they are experiencing stress and testing anxiety. Not only this, but many are realizing that contrary to how they’ve been taught to cope, the experience of testing anxiety is not the norm. When I considered my own path through high school and college, I had assumed it was totally normal to feel increased stress and anxiety whenever it was time to take an exam or work on a huge paper. The day I realized that not everyone needed to take deep breaths during an exam was an eye-opener. It occurred to me that I was spending precious test time using coping exercises whereas my peers without test anxiety used 100% of their time to answer questions calmly.
The purpose of accommodations is to ensure that you can demonstrate your ability on the LSAT. That means that if you are using your time to manage your symptoms or circumstances, you get assistance to overcome those things. LSAC commonly gives accommodations for paper and modified versions of the test, extra time, reduced-distraction environments, breaks, assistive technology, and more, depending on the nature of your request. While these accommodations can be given for permanent disabilities, there are also accommodations that can be given for temporary circumstances, like having a broken arm or being in the final stages of pregnancy.
Applying for accommodations on the LSAT is straightforward, but requires careful planning to ensure you can utilize them successfully. If you are going to take the LSAT in less than two months, it is critical to submit your request for accommodations as soon as possible. It can take a long time for your request to be reviewed, so you want to be sure that you have enough time to practice with your accommodations and appeal your decision, if needed.
Requests for accommodations are typically approved in three ways:
-
Automatic Approval Based on Prior Approval of LSAT Accommodations
This means that if you already applied for accommodations, you’ll be automatically approved for exactly the things you previously requested, nothing else required. If you are seeking new or different accommodations, you will need to reapply.
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LSAT Accommodation Request Based Solely on Prior Accommodations on Certain Other Standardized Postsecondary Admission Tests
This means that if you received accommodations on another standardized test, you can request the exact same accommodations and are likely to receive them if you meet certain eligibility requirements regarding the supporting documentation and nature of the request.
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Other Requests
Candidates who have never received any type of accommodation before on standardized tests or the LSAT will follow one of the following types of other requests:
Category 1: Accommodations not involving extended time
Category 2: Accommodations including up to 50% extended time for candidates without visual impairments or 100% extended time for candidates with visual impairments
Category 3: Accommodations including more than 50% extended time for candidates without visual impairments or more than 100% extended time for candidates with visual impairments
The majority of requests will fall under Category 2 requests. Regardless of the request category, the process to apply for accommodations is the same:
Step 1: Register for a test date
It is critical to sign up well in advance of a test’s registration deadline, since this is also the accommodations request deadline. LSAC will not process your application for accommodations until you are registered. Keep in mind, changing your test date will not not affect your accommodations request timeline. Dates and deadlines for upcoming LSAT administrations can be found here.
Step 2: Think about what accommodations you need for the exam
LSAC has a list of commonly requested accommodations which can help you identify what might be right for you. Reflect on your situation and consider what might be necessary to alleviate any issues that come from preexisting conditions. Most importantly, carefully consider why you are requesting each accommodation. Depending on the accommodations you request, you may need to gain additional documentation from a qualified professional or previous experiences with academic or testing accommodations.
Step 3: Speak to your doctor or therapist
Speak with a qualified professional that can speak to why accommodations are necessary in your situation. This is commonly a doctor or therapist that knows you well and can explain how each accommodation will mitigate factors inhibiting your testing performance. If you do not have an official diagnosis for a condition, but believe that you may be experiencing difficulty due to an underlying condition, speak candidly with your doctor or therapist about your experiences and ask whether the accommodations you are considering are appropriate.
Step 4: Gather your documentation
Everyone who requests accommodations must fill out the Candidate Form. This should be filled out by the person taking the test, but your doctor or therapist will likely be helpful in filling out portions of the form. If you received accommodations in school and/or on other standardized tests, you will need to provide supporting documentation. If you are requesting different accommodations than you previously received in school and/or on standardized tests, you must also submit the Statement of Need for Accommodation. If you have never received accommodations, you must submit the Evidence of Disability form, in addition to the previous two forms. This should be completed by both the test taker and the qualified professional.
Step 5: Finalize your request, submit, and wait
Be sure that you have each piece required for your category of request. All statements and documentation should be typed (though if you have supplementary evidence of your disability, neat handwritten script is acceptable). These documents will be uploaded via your LSAC portal under LSAT > Request Accommodations. Once you’ve submitted everything, all there’s left to do is wait! As I said earlier, the best thing you can do is submit as early as possible. Some people get approved in a few weeks, but others (myself included) have taken multiple months to receive their accommodations. If you’re ever unsure what your status is, don’t be afraid to email [email protected] or speak with an LSAC representative via phone.
Once LSAC has reviewed your file and rendered a decision, you will get an email saying that a decision letter has been posted to your LSAC page. If your request is approved, it is important to begin practicing with your accommodations as soon as possible, so that you are able to implement them on test day.
If your request is denied, you may consider appealing the decision, adding more robust documentation to support your request. However, you’ll have greater peace of mind if you take care early on to ensure you make the strongest case possible. LSAC provides information on why requests for accommodations are typically denied. Be sure to review this information to ensure that you are giving yourself the best chance of getting approved the first time around.
Jasmeene Burton-Martin is a rising 1L at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and serves as a Brand Associate and Boot Camp Instructor for S. Montgomery Admissions Consulting. As an LSAT tutor, Jasmeene is committed to uplifting the lives (and the scores) of first-generation students and applicants of color. A neurodiverse student herself, Jasmeene is passionate about helping future lawyers overcome their learning differences and challenges.
If you have questions about the application process and want dedicated guidance through the process, you can contact Sydney at [email protected].
