Client Assessment & Goal Setting Flashcards

What is the primary purpose of a 'relationship history' component in initial client assessment?

Answer: To identify recurring patterns, themes, and learning that inform current goals

Relationship history reveals patterns that, when recognized, help clients set goals that address root dynamics rather than surface symptoms.

A client reports their goal is to 'save their marriage at any cost.' How should a coach assess whether this goal is appropriate?

Answer: Explore what 'any cost' means and assess whether the goal involves safety, dignity, and mutual respect

Unpacking the 'at any cost' language helps ensure goals don't inadvertently endorse harmful self-sacrifice or unsafe relationship conditions.

During a needs assessment, a client describes wanting more 'quality time' but cannot define what that means. The best coaching move is to:

Answer: Ask the client to describe a specific past moment when they felt truly connected to understand their personal definition

Anchoring abstract needs in specific past experiences helps clients define what they actually want, making goals more precise and achievable.

How does assessing a client's 'stage of change' (per the Transtheoretical Model) affect goal setting in relationship coaching?

Answer: It helps the coach match goal types and pacing to the client's actual readiness to change

Matching goals to a client's stage of change (precontemplation through maintenance) prevents setting premature action-based goals for clients who are not yet ready.

Which of the following best describes 'co-created' goals in relationship coaching?

Answer: Goals developed through a collaborative dialogue between coach and client, integrating client values with coaching expertise

Co-created goals balance the client's self-knowledge and values with the coach's skill in structuring achievable, meaningful objectives.

A client in a long-distance relationship presents for assessment. Which additional domain should be explicitly assessed that might not arise in geographically co-located couples?

Answer: Digital communication quality, frequency expectations, and visit planning

Long-distance relationships have unique stressors around digital connection and physical visit logistics that require specific assessment to inform relevant goals.

At the conclusion of a thorough client assessment, the coach should:

Answer: Summarize key themes, reflect findings back to the client, and collaboratively prioritize initial coaching goals

Reflecting assessment findings back to the client and co-prioritizing goals ensures alignment, accuracy, and client ownership of the coaching direction.