Discussion Questions
Chapter 14: The Clinical Staff
1. Review the factors that should be taken into account in order for a clinical team to function
effectively. Do you have any examples from your own experiences where a team functioned
effectively/ineffectively? Based on your reading of this chapter, what are you aware of
regarding the dynamics of your past work experiences that made a particular workplace
function productively/unproductively?
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of working with a multidisciplinary team? What
are some of the challenges in team building? How should this process be facilitated?
3. Imagine that because of budget cuts, one type of staff position is to be cut from your team.
Which staff position would you chose to be cut? Explain your decision. What price would
your treatment program pay in cutting that particular position? In large group discussion,
compare your decision to other class members. Who agrees/disagrees? Why?
4. How should staff–client conflict be managed on from a multidisciplinary team perspective?
5. Clinical staffing is your opportunity to discuss a client with the whole team. Each client must
be presented to the clinical staff on a weekly basis. The case presentation typically includes
information regarding current clinical problems, needs, and responses to treatment and
major changes in the client, family, or life events that could complicate or alter treatment.
Do you believe the information included in the weekly case presentation should be shared
with the client? Why or why not?
6. The book identified many professional roles that are part of a solid multidisciplinary team.