CAADE Treatment Planning 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client states they want to 'cut back' on alcohol rather than achieve full abstinence. How should the counselor respond in treatment planning?
- Refuse to proceed unless the client commits to abstinence
- Explore the client's goals, provide education on options, and incorporate the client's stated goal while addressing safety (Correct answer)
- Document the refusal and discharge the client
- Set abstinence goals without telling the client
Correct answer: Explore the client's goals, provide education on options, and incorporate the client's stated goal while addressing safety
Respecting client autonomy while providing education and harm reduction options is consistent with person-centered, ethical treatment planning.
Question 2: An intervention listed in a treatment plan should specify:
- Only the counselor's theoretical orientation
- The specific action, responsible party, and frequency or timeline (Correct answer)
- General support without detail
- The cost of the service only
Correct answer: The specific action, responsible party, and frequency or timeline
Well-written interventions identify what will be done, who is responsible, and how often or by when to ensure accountability.
Question 3: Which of the following is a strength-based element in treatment planning?
- Focusing exclusively on the client's deficits and pathology
- Identifying and building on the client's existing skills and resources (Correct answer)
- Listing only the problems to be addressed
- Prioritizing program rules over client capabilities
Correct answer: Identifying and building on the client's existing skills and resources
Strength-based planning identifies existing client resources and capabilities to build upon rather than focusing solely on deficits.
Question 4: When a mandated client disagrees with a treatment plan goal, the counselor should:
- Enforce the goal without discussion since the referral source mandated it
- Explore the client's perspective, explain the rationale, and seek common ground within required parameters (Correct answer)
- Immediately terminate treatment
- Report the disagreement as non-compliance
Correct answer: Explore the client's perspective, explain the rationale, and seek common ground within required parameters
Even with mandated clients, exploring disagreement and finding common ground increases engagement while meeting referral requirements.
Question 5: A treatment plan for a client with opioid use disorder should routinely address:
- Only counseling sessions and no pharmacological support
- Medication-assisted treatment as a valid, evidence-based option alongside counseling and recovery support (Correct answer)
- Criminal justice requirements only
- Financial planning as the primary treatment goal
Correct answer: Medication-assisted treatment as a valid, evidence-based option alongside counseling and recovery support
SAMHSA guidelines support medication-assisted treatment (MAT) as an evidence-based component of opioid use disorder treatment planning.
Question 6: The primary purpose of identifying barriers to treatment in a plan is to:
- Document reasons the client may fail
- Proactively address obstacles that could prevent the client from engaging or succeeding in treatment (Correct answer)
- Justify lower expectations for the client
- Fulfill paperwork requirements
Correct answer: Proactively address obstacles that could prevent the client from engaging or succeeding in treatment
Identifying barriers allows the counselor and client to develop strategies to overcome them before they derail treatment.
Question 7: How should a counselor handle a client who is unable to read the written treatment plan?
- Require the client to read it before signing
- Read and explain the plan aloud, use visual aids, and ensure the client demonstrates understanding before signing (Correct answer)
- Have the client sign without explanation
- Exclude the client from the planning process
Correct answer: Read and explain the plan aloud, use visual aids, and ensure the client demonstrates understanding before signing
Health literacy accommodations ensure clients fully understand and meaningfully participate in their treatment plan regardless of reading ability.
CAADE Treatment Planning 4
A client states they want to 'cut back' on alcohol rather than achieve full abstinence.
How should the counselor respond in treatment planning?