IMPORTANT NOTICE:
SECURE TEST BANK
Mastering Competencies in Family Therapy
Chapter 14: Clinical Assessment
1. A clinical assessment focuses more on the __________ and health dynamics of clients,
allowing the therapist to have a better sense of how to more effectively partner with
clients in therapy.
a. physical
b. emotional
c. psychological
d. external
2. __________and diagnosis help therapists identify potential courses of treatment; decide
how best to keep clients and the public safe; and determine the need for referrals and
additional services.
a. Case conceptualizations
b. Case reporting
c. Therapeutic analysis
d. Clinical assessments
3. Like most things in life, a clinical assessment has some potential dangers and pitfalls.
Which of the following can make clinical assessment possibly dangerous?
a. The therapist
b. Neutrality
c. Objectivity
d. Subjectivity
4. Using a second-order cybernetic perspective to make a diagnosis is helpful for
understanding which of the following?
a. The need for therapists to be completely neutral when working with clients
b. How the brain works using computer modeling
c. Predictable sequences of interactions between family members
d. How the therapist’s presence inherently influences the behavior of the clients
5. A systemic perspective of diagnosis describes which of the following?
a. A person’s medical history
b. A person’s cognitions in a particular relationship
c. A person’s somatic complaints
d. A person’s behavior in a particular context
6. In a general family therapy approach to diagnosis, each description of the problem is
considered one of many possible __________ that depend on webs of relationships and
social discourse; it does not stand on its own.
a. facts
b. truths
c. diagnoses
d. meanings
7. Postmodern therapists are skeptical of diagnoses because these become __________ that
clients use to inform their identity — often silencing their strengths, resiliencies, and
capabilities.
a. diagnoses
b. truths
c. labels
d. Both A and B
8. A parity diagnosis differs from a non-parity diagnosis in which way?
a. It is not reimbursed by insurance.
b. It is reimbursed at the same rate as a medical disorder.
c. It is a parody of an existing diagnosis.
d. It does not include severe disorders.
9. Which of the following is about helping clients lead rich, meaningful lives rather than
simply reducing symptoms related to a mental health diagnosis?
a. Discovery model
b. Recovery model
c. Systemic model
d. Humanistic model
10. The recovery model uses a social model of disability rather than a medical model; thus, it
deemphasizes diagnostic labeling and emphasizes __________, the hallmark of family
therapy approaches.
a. psychotic functioning
b. psychosocial functioning
c. family functioning
d. physical functioning
11. A systemic approach to assessing a client’s mental status and making a diagnosis is
approached using a combination of which two systemic techniques?
a. Problem assessment and linear questions
b. Problem assessment and multi-modal questions
c. Problem assessment and circular questions
d. None of the above
12. A mental status exam from a postmodern perspective involves honoring a client’s
_____________ and ____________ of the problem?
a. narrative; intensity
b. feelings; frequency
c. cognitions; severity
d. description; perception
13. Formal written assessments have been standardized to help therapists obtain a more
_____________ assessment of client functioning.
a. subjective
b. objective
c. inclusive
d. exclusive
14. Which of the following is NOT considered a pro for conducting a formal assessment?
a. It is likely to be more accurate than informal measures.
b. It is more time intensive.
c. It is able to compare with national norms.
d. It is helpful with more severe pathology.
15. Which of the following is NOT considered a con in completing informal assessments
with clients?
a. It is inexpensive.
b. There are no national norms.
c. Its effectiveness is largely determined by the therapist’s skill.
d. It depends on client’s honesty and memory for accuracy.
16. Before making a clinical diagnosis, family therapists should consider which of the
following factors that include age, ethnicity, and family dynamics?
a. Global
b. Divisive
c. Contextual
d. Mental
17. When family therapists are completing a clinical assessment, they should consider risks.
Which of the following are important risk management indicators?
a. Suicidality
b. Homicidality
c. Substance abuse
d. All of the above
18. When assessing certain risk factors, therapists should be aware of the types of child abuse
considered reportable according to most state authorities. They include all of the
following EXCEPT?
a. Sexual abuse
b. Physical abuse
c. Emotional Abuse
d. Neglect
19. Family therapists should be aware of other risk factors when assessing clients. These risk
factors include which of the following?
a. Eating disorders
b. Cutting or self-harm
c. Criminal or legal history
d. All of the above
20. Whenever a potential risk is identified during an assessment or in the course of therapy
— such as passive suicidal ideation, history of cutting, and history of abuse — which of
the following should be established?
a. A full report
b. A safety plan
c. A family contract
d. A weekly log
21. Having a specific plan about who to call and what to do if a crisis begins to arise, as well
as identifying tasks to calm oneself such as journaling and exercising, are considered to
be components of which of the following?
a. Identity plan
b. Assessment plan
c. Safety plan
d. Treatment plan
22. Which of the following is NOT considered a common case management activity?
a. Contacting and coordinating care with client’s social workers
b. Referring client for a medical assessment to rule out medical causes and/or
exacerbating conditions
c. Referring client for social services such as job training, welfare, housing, victim
services, and legal assistance
d. Planning for termination of therapy
23. Perhaps one of family therapy’s more unique and important contributions to the field of
mental health is the concept of __________, meaning delivering messages in a way the
intended audience can receive it.
a. learning to speak in medical language
b. learning to speak the client’s language
c. learning to speak the formal DSM language
d. All of the above