BHP Treatment Planning & Protocols 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which protocol framework is widely used in behavioral health to guide motivational interviewing within treatment planning sessions?
- OARS (Open questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summaries) (Correct answer)
- CAGE (Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener)
- FRAMES (Feedback, Responsibility, Advice, Menu, Empathy, Self-efficacy)
- SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan)
Correct answer: OARS (Open questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summaries)
OARS is the foundational set of motivational interviewing skills used to engage clients and evoke their own motivation for change during treatment planning.
Question 2: A client refuses to sign their treatment plan. What is the BEST course of action for the BHP?
- Proceed with treatment using the unsigned plan since it was clinically developed
- Document the client's refusal, explore their concerns, and attempt to revise the plan collaboratively (Correct answer)
- Discharge the client for non-compliance
- Contact the client's insurance company to report non-cooperation
Correct answer: Document the client's refusal, explore their concerns, and attempt to revise the plan collaboratively
Documenting the refusal and exploring concerns demonstrates respect for client autonomy and creates an opportunity to revise the plan to better reflect the client's perspective.
Question 3: The SMART criteria for treatment plan goals stands for:
- Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound (Correct answer)
- Strengths-based, Motivational, Accurate, Realistic, Thorough
- Symptom-focused, Manageable, Attainable, Reviewed, Therapeutic
- Structured, Measurable, Assertive, Reasonable, Timely
Correct answer: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound
SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, ensuring each goal is clear and trackable.
Question 4: During a treatment planning session, a client states their goal is to 'feel happier.' What should the BHP do next?
- Write the goal exactly as stated to respect client language
- Work with the client to operationalize the goal into observable, measurable behaviors (Correct answer)
- Explain that 'happiness' is not an appropriate treatment goal
- Assign the client a standardized happiness scale to complete
Correct answer: Work with the client to operationalize the goal into observable, measurable behaviors
Vague goals must be collaboratively translated into specific, observable behaviors so that progress can be objectively measured.
Question 5: Which level of care on the ASAM continuum is most appropriate for a client with moderate alcohol use disorder who has a stable home environment and strong social support?
- Level 4.0 Medically Managed Intensive Inpatient
- Level 3.5 Clinically Managed High-Intensity Residential
- Level 1.0 Outpatient Services (Correct answer)
- Level 3.1 Clinically Managed Low-Intensity Residential
Correct answer: Level 1.0 Outpatient Services
A client with moderate severity, stable environment, and strong social support typically meets criteria for outpatient (Level 1.0) rather than residential or inpatient care.
Question 6: A BHP is updating a treatment plan after a client experienced a psychiatric hospitalization. What is the FIRST priority upon the client's return to outpatient care?
- Resume the previous treatment plan as written since it was recently approved
- Conduct a thorough reassessment and revise the treatment plan to reflect the client's current needs (Correct answer)
- Wait 30 days before updating the plan to allow the client to stabilize
- Consult the insurance company before making any changes
Correct answer: Conduct a thorough reassessment and revise the treatment plan to reflect the client's current needs
A hospitalization represents a significant change in clinical status, requiring immediate reassessment and treatment plan revision to address current needs and prevent re-hospitalization.
Question 7: Which type of intervention would be MOST appropriate to include in a treatment plan for a client with panic disorder?
- Psychodynamic exploration of early childhood relationships
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy including interoceptive exposure and breathing retraining (Correct answer)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy focused on emotion regulation skills
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy with a goal of one session only
Correct answer: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy including interoceptive exposure and breathing retraining
CBT with interoceptive exposure and breathing retraining is an evidence-based first-line intervention specifically validated for panic disorder.
BHP Treatment Planning & Protocols 3
Which protocol framework is widely used in behavioral health to guide motivational interviewing within treatment planning sessions?