Intro To Counseling

Front 1

Explain the use of testing in assessment

Back 1

- Testing in assessment varies with different types of testing for the clients. You are testing to retrieve information to understand the issues that bring people to counseling. Test and assessment are used interchangeably as testing is only one type of assessment tool.

Front 2

Explain the use of case conceptualization

Back 2

Formulating a case conceptualization will involve using the tests or information gathered from the assessment to identify specific concerns of the client.

Front 3

Explain the use of diagnosis

Back 3

Diagnosis will be used to identify disorders that the client may present. This is normally used in a clinical setting where the clinician may use the multiaxial system to gather information to determine the focus of treatment amongst other concerns.

Front 4

Explain the use of treatment planning

Back 4

Treatment planning would require a test appropriate to the client presenting the concern along with a case conceptualization that gives an understanding of how and what the concern is and how to deal with it.

Front 5

What does a mental status examination include?

Back 5

A mental status examination is an integral part of the intake interview and requires counselor to solicit specific information and make observations about the following areas of client functioning:
1). Appearance and behavior: including client’s dress, posture, motor activity, and behavior.
2). Speech patterns: rapid or slow? Is it easy to follow the meaning of the client’s sentences?
3). Thought process: What is the content of the client’s thought (e.g., obsession)?
4). Mood and Affect: A client may report that he/she has felt sad (mood), and the counselor might notice tears and hunched body posture during the interview (affect); in this case, the client’s affect would be appropriate to mood.
5). Intellectual functioning: observation of the client’s level of comprehension and complexity of thinking and speech.
6). Sensorium: Is the client oriented to her/his surroundings?
7). Judgment: client’s decisions are helpful rather than harmful
8) Insight
9). Reliability

Front 6

Identify the stages of Prochaska, DeClemente, and Norcross’ (1992) model of readiness for change.

Back 6

1. Precontemplation stage: the client does not have intent to change, or he/she lack awareness that a problem exists.
2. Contemplation stage: the client is aware that problems exists and have begun thinking about the benefits of change, but not yet committed to act to change.
3. Preparation stage: the client intends and commits to take action and have begun making minor behavioral change.
4. Action stage: the client is in the process of practicing the desired change.
5. Maintenance stage: After 6 months of maintaining behavioral change successfully, the client works to integrate new behaviors into her/his life and at the same time prevents relapse.

Front 7

Describe the three-tiered system used in treatment planning.

Back 7

1. Goals are broad statements of desired outcome, such as a positive mood, an effective manager of stress, or high self-esteem.
2. Objectives are statements of observable or measurable outcome targets. Help the client reach the goal.
3. Interventions are counseling strategies designed to meet the objectives, and they reflect the theoretical framework of the counselor.
Example:
1. Goal: GG will be an effective communicator.
2. Objective 1: GG will learn anger management strategies.
3. Intervention 1: GG will identify situations that trigger anger.
Intervention 2: GG will learn strategies to deescalate when angry.
Intervention 3: GG will participate in assertiveness training.