Client Assessment & Goal Setting Flashcards

A client completes a relationship satisfaction assessment scoring very high across all dimensions but reports feeling deeply unhappy. The coach should:

Answer: Explore the discrepancy between the score and the client's felt experience to understand what is missing

Discrepancies between assessment scores and subjective experience are important coaching data worth exploring, not dismissing.

What is 'solution-focused' goal setting in relationship coaching?

Answer: Orienting goals toward desired future states rather than dwelling on current problems

Solution-focused coaching directs attention toward preferred futures, using exceptions to current problems as evidence that goals are achievable.

During intake assessment, it is revealed that one partner has recently experienced a significant loss (job, death of parent). The coach should:

Answer: Acknowledge the loss, assess its impact on the relationship, and factor it into the coaching plan

External stressors significantly affect relationship dynamics, so acknowledging them and integrating their impact into goal planning reflects holistic coaching practice.

A client sets a goal to 'never argue' with their partner. The coach's best response is to:

Answer: Help the client reframe toward healthier conflict engagement, since conflict-free relationships are unrealistic

Conflict is a normal part of relationships; coaching reframes goals from avoidance to constructive engagement skills.

Which questioning technique is most effective for helping a client identify their 'best hoped-for outcome' from coaching?

Answer: The miracle question: 'If a miracle happened tonight and your relationship was exactly as you want it, what would be different tomorrow?'

The miracle question, from solution-focused brief therapy, is a powerful coaching tool for eliciting vivid, specific images of desired relationship outcomes.

When assessing relationship goals, a coach should prioritize goals that are:

Answer: Intrinsically motivated by the client's own values and desires

Intrinsically motivated goals — driven by the client's own values — produce stronger commitment and sustained behavior change than externally imposed ones.

A coach administers an assessment and notices potential signs of domestic violence. The ethically required action is to:

Answer: Immediately refer the client to emergency services and provide appropriate safety resources

Suspected domestic violence requires prioritizing client safety above all else, including providing emergency resources and appropriate referrals.