Therapeutic Interventions & Treatment Planning Flashcards

A psychologist working with an adolescent in family therapy notices the parents consistently interrupt the teen. Using structural family therapy, the therapist would MOST likely:

Answer: Enact a boundary by redirecting the teen to speak directly without parental interference

Structural family therapy uses enactment to restructure family subsystem boundaries and hierarchy in the moment.

A therapist integrates techniques from multiple theoretical orientations based on each client's unique needs. This approach is best described as:

Answer: Systematic integrative psychotherapy

Systematic integrative psychotherapy uses a principled, organized framework to combine techniques across orientations, distinguishing it from unsystematic eclecticism.

In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), 'cognitive defusion' refers to:

Answer: Altering the relationship to thoughts rather than changing thought content

Cognitive defusion helps clients observe thoughts as passing mental events rather than literal truths, reducing the thoughts' behavioral influence.

When developing a safety plan for a client with suicidal ideation, which element is considered MOST critical?

Answer: Identification of warning signs and access to means restriction

Effective safety plans must identify personal warning signs and reduce access to lethal means, which directly lowers suicide attempt lethality.

A therapist uses the Stages of Change model to guide treatment planning. A client who acknowledges a problem and is considering change but has not yet committed to action is in which stage?

Answer: Contemplation

The contemplation stage is characterized by awareness of the problem and consideration of change without commitment to a specific action plan.

A psychologist implements prolonged exposure therapy for a client with PTSD. Imaginal exposure is PRIMARILY used to:

Answer: Reduce conditioned fear responses to traumatic memories through habituation

Imaginal exposure reduces fear through habituation by having clients repeatedly confront traumatic memories until emotional distress decreases.

Which of the following BEST describes the primary goal of psychoeducation in treatment planning?

Answer: Empowering clients with knowledge about their condition to promote active engagement in treatment

Psychoeducation increases clients' understanding of their disorder, which improves treatment adherence and engagement.