Besides major depressive disorder, which other disorder is commonly addressed in counseling?

• A. Paranoid personality disorder
• B. Generalized anxiety disorder
• C. Bipolar II disorder
• D. Adjustment disorder

Answer: (B)

Generalized anxiety disorder is commonly addressed in counseling because persistent, excessive worry across multiple domains is a frequent presenting concern that disrupts daily functioning. Clients with GAD report worry more days than not for several months, with worry they feel they cannot control, plus physical symptoms like restlessness, fatigue, concentration difficulties, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep problems. These features create distress and impairment that often bring people to therapy for relief. Counseling approaches, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy and related skills like worry exposure, cognitive restructuring, relaxation, and problem-solving, have strong, well-established efficacy for GAD, making it a common focus in practice alongside depression. While other disorders listed—such as a pervasive personality pattern, episodic mood conditions requiring medical management, or stress-responsive adjustment disorders—may appear in counseling, the combination of high prevalence, functional impact, and effective, widely taught treatments makes generalized anxiety disorder a frequent target in everyday counseling work.