CADC Alcohol and Drug Counselor Treatment Planning and Collaboration 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a client with co-occurring depression and alcohol use disorder begins treatment, the counselor should prioritize which approach to treatment planning?
- Treat the alcohol use disorder first, then address depression once sober
- Address depression exclusively since it is the underlying cause
- Develop an integrated treatment plan that addresses both disorders simultaneously (Correct answer)
- Refer the client to a psychiatrist and resume counseling after medication is stabilized
Correct answer: Develop an integrated treatment plan that addresses both disorders simultaneously
Integrated treatment that addresses co-occurring disorders simultaneously produces better outcomes than sequential or parallel approaches.
Question 2: A treatment plan goal states: 'Client will improve sobriety.' Why is this goal considered inadequate?
- It does not include a target date or measurable criteria (Correct answer)
- It focuses on the wrong substance
- It was not written by the treatment team
- It lacks a diagnosis code reference
Correct answer: It does not include a target date or measurable criteria
Treatment plan goals must be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) to be clinically useful.
Question 3: During a treatment team meeting, a client's primary counselor disagrees with the psychiatrist's medication recommendation. The best action is to:
- Override the recommendation using clinical authority
- Document the disagreement and raise concerns through appropriate professional channels (Correct answer)
- Ignore the disagreement to preserve the therapeutic relationship
- Immediately inform the client of the conflict
Correct answer: Document the disagreement and raise concerns through appropriate professional channels
Counselors should express disagreements professionally within the team structure while maintaining collaborative care.
Question 4: Which element is MOST important when establishing treatment plan objectives for a client recovering from opioid use disorder?
- Objectives set exclusively by the counselor based on clinical expertise
- Measurable, client-specific steps that reflect the client's own recovery goals (Correct answer)
- Objectives copied from evidence-based templates without modification
- Goals that mirror what the insurance company requires for reimbursement
Correct answer: Measurable, client-specific steps that reflect the client's own recovery goals
Client-centered, measurable objectives improve engagement and treatment outcomes by aligning with the client's values and goals.
Question 5: A client in residential treatment reveals she is experiencing domestic violence at home. The counselor's FIRST responsibility is to:
- Discharge the client so she can return home safely
- Assess the immediate danger and connect her to safety planning resources (Correct answer)
- Contact the abusive partner directly to address the situation
- Document the disclosure and wait until the next team meeting to act
Correct answer: Assess the immediate danger and connect her to safety planning resources
Immediate safety assessment and connection to appropriate resources is the priority when domestic violence is disclosed.
Question 6: Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of a clinical case consultation?
- To assign blame when a client relapses
- To gather perspectives from colleagues to improve client care and counselor decision-making (Correct answer)
- To formally evaluate the counselor's performance
- To obtain a second billing authorization from the insurer
Correct answer: To gather perspectives from colleagues to improve client care and counselor decision-making
Case consultation supports clinical decision-making by leveraging team expertise to enhance individualized client care.
Question 7: When reviewing a client's treatment plan 30 days after admission, the counselor finds that no progress has been made on any objective. The MOST appropriate next step is to:
- Discharge the client for non-compliance
- Reassess the objectives and identify barriers with the client before modifying the plan (Correct answer)
- Repeat the same plan for another 30 days
- Transfer the client to a higher level of care without discussion
Correct answer: Reassess the objectives and identify barriers with the client before modifying the plan
Lack of progress signals a need to identify barriers collaboratively and revise the plan rather than blame the client.
CADC Alcohol and Drug Counselor Treatment Planning and Collaboration 2
When a client with co-occurring depression and alcohol use disorder begins treatment, the counselor should prioritize which approach to treatment planning?