PMH-C Therapeutic Approaches 5

Question 1

Which therapeutic approach is most appropriate for a perinatal client with a primary diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder experiencing postpartum mood instability?

Accepted Answer

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with skills training in emotion regulation

Answer

DBT is the gold-standard treatment for BPD and provides essential emotion regulation and distress tolerance skills needed for postpartum stability.

Question 2

A therapist uses 'empty chair' technique during therapy with a postpartum client grieving a pregnancy loss. This technique is associated with which modality?

Accepted Answer

Gestalt Therapy or Emotion-Focused Therapy

Answer

The empty chair technique is a hallmark of Gestalt therapy and Emotion-Focused Therapy, used to process unfinished business and complicated grief.

Question 3

What is the therapeutic rationale for including partners in perinatal mental health treatment sessions?

Accepted Answer

Partner inclusion improves social support, enhances communication, and promotes shared parenting responsibility

Answer

Including partners builds social support, improves relationship communication, and helps partners understand and respond to perinatal mental health challenges.

Question 4

A perinatal therapist is working with a client using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Which metaphor best illustrates the ACT concept of psychological flexibility?

Accepted Answer

Leaves floating on a stream, representing thoughts passing through awareness without attachment

Answer

The leaves on a stream metaphor in ACT helps clients practice defusion—observing thoughts as passing mental events rather than fixed truths requiring action.

Question 5

When a perinatal therapist notices countertransference feelings of over-protectiveness toward a client with severe postpartum depression, what is the most appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Reflect on the countertransference in supervision to prevent it from interfering with treatment

Answer

Countertransference should be explored in clinical supervision to understand its origins and prevent it from negatively impacting the therapeutic relationship or clinical decisions.

(PMH-C) Perinatal Mental Health Certification Practice Test

(PMH-C) Perinatal Mental Health Certification Practice Test

PMH-C Therapeutic Approaches 5