Pragmatics Exam 1

Question 1

Basic Tasks of Psychotherapy/ Counseling

Answer 1

1. Establish and cultivate a therapeutic relationship
2. Formulate an assessment and diagnosis
3. Identify goals
4. Plan and carry out treatment

Question 2

Diagnosis

Answer 2

A word or brief phrase that categorizes presenting problems without particularizing or detailing them. Ex: Depression

Question 3

Assessment

Answer 3

Both describe and explain what is going on with clients from a particular theoretical viewpoint.

Question 4

Baseline Data

Answer 4

Used to formulate an assessment and conceptualize the case. It is used in the therapeutic process to evaluate progress.

Question 5

Theory

Answer 5

A system of interrelated hypothesis about reality - useful ideas about what is likely the case. Theory is NOT fact.

Theory is the lens through which we conceptualize and explain what is going on (individually and relationally).

Question 6

Aims of the Intake Process

Answer 6

1. Familiarizing clients with the therapist and therapy
2. Understanding the clients’ goals and concerns
3. Finding with clients a realistic hope for a good outcome or prognosis

Question 7

Tasks to COMPLETE at the initial session

Answer 7

1. Welcoming and receiving clients as they present themselves
2. Identifying the presenting problem
3. Setting the therapeutic/ professional ground rules, establishing fee and clarifying what treatment sessions will entail

Question 8

Tasks to BEGIN at the initial session

Answer 8

Assessment
Goal Setting
Initiating treatment (if time allows)

Highest priority: deciding if client/ therapist should work together

Lowest priority: initiating treatment (unless crisis or emergency)

Question 9

Sacred trust:

“Do no harm”

Answer 9

You are accountable to clients and to other therapists in abiding by legal and ethical principles that must guide your behavior

Question 10

Scope of practice

Answer 10

What am I allowed to treat?
What does my license mandate I treat?

• we treat all relationship issues

Question 11

Scope of competence

Answer 11

What areas do I hold competencies in?

• relationship issues

Unless we carry additional certifications/ licenses to practice
Ex: sleep disorders

Question 12

Client Confidentiality

Answer 12

It is established by law and reinforced by the ethical code of our profession to protect clients, not us.

• the cornerstone of counseling/ therapeutic relationships

Question 13

Patient Privilege

Answer 13

It is the patients’ privilege to decide whether or not information is disclosed and to whom.

• we always get written permission to do so

Question 14

California law REQUIRES and MANDATES therapists break confidentiality when:

Answer 14

Child abuse
Dependent adult and elder abuse
Situations in which a client threatens serious physical violence to an identifiable victim

Question 15

California law ALLOWS and PERMITS the therapist to break confidentiality when:

Answer 15

A client is suicidal and the therapist believes disclosure is necessary to prevent the threatened danger

Question 16

Ethical Principles that guide fee setting

Answer 16

Clarity and Fairness

Clarify amount of fee and payment policy on the phone and in 1st session. In writing is best.

Unethical to abandon clients mid-therapy because of sudden financial reversal

Question 17

Dual Relationships

Answer 17

Dual relationships are forbidden to prevent exploitation of clients and the undermining of therapeutic agendas that present a conflict of interests, interfere with therapy, injure the therapeutic trust or sabotage the therapist’s professional objectivity

Question 18

Content

Answer 18

“WHAT” is said; spoken factual information.

Refers to the events and the ideas/ thoughts/ feelings around those events.

It is the subject matter of the session

Question 19

Process

Answer 19

The “WAY” the information is sent (attitude and manners of senders and receivers).

“HOW” the conversation is progressing between the therapist and client.

Refers to what is actually going on in the room, at that moment between client and therapist.