Child and Adolescent Therapy Flashcards

A school-age child with ADHD frequently disrupts family sessions. Which systemic intervention is most appropriate to address this first?

Answer: Explore how the family system may be reinforcing the disruptive behavior

A systemic perspective examines how family patterns and responses may inadvertently maintain the child's disruptive behavior.

A therapist notices a 10-year-old client's drawings consistently show adult figures with exaggerated genitalia. The therapist's priority action is to:

Answer: Conduct a structured assessment for possible sexual abuse

Sexualized content in a child's play or drawings is a recognized indicator that warrants a thorough clinical assessment for possible sexual abuse.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A) differs from standard adult DBT primarily by:

Answer: Including a family skills training module and adapting the skills for developmental level

DBT-A adds a family component and uses developmentally appropriate language and shorter skill modules while retaining the standard DBT structure.

According to attachment theory, a child who seeks proximity when distressed but is not easily soothed and shows anger toward the caregiver upon reunion displays which attachment style?

Answer: Anxious-ambivalent (resistant) attachment

Anxious-ambivalent attachment is characterized by heightened distress, difficulty being soothed, and ambivalent behavior (anger and clinging) toward the caregiver.

A 16-year-old client tells the therapist she is planning to run away to avoid returning home but denies plans to harm herself. The MFT's most appropriate response is to:

Answer: Explore the function of the plan and assess for underlying safety concerns

Running away is a safety concern requiring thorough exploration of triggers, risks, and home environment before determining next steps.

Which play therapy technique involves the therapist actively joining the child's play and mirroring their actions to build rapport?

Answer: Tracking and reflection of play content

Tracking involves narrating and reflecting the child's play actions, demonstrating attention and attunement, which builds the therapeutic relationship.

An MFT using a narrative therapy approach with a depressed adolescent would most likely employ which technique?

Answer: Externalizing the problem by separating the adolescent's identity from depression

Externalizing the problem is a core narrative technique that helps clients see the problem (e.g., 'Depression') as separate from their identity.