Clinical Procedures and Protocols Flashcards
7 cards from real LPCC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Clinical Procedures and Protocols flashcards as text
A counselor suspects a child client is being sexually abused based on behavioral indicators but has no direct disclosure. What is the appropriate clinical action?
Answer: Report the suspicion to child protective services, as reasonable suspicion meets the threshold
Mandated reporters are required to report reasonable suspicion of child abuse; they do not need certainty or a direct disclosure.
A counselor administers the PHQ-9. A client scores 18. Which clinical interpretation is most accurate?
Answer: Moderately severe depression; active treatment is indicated
A PHQ-9 score of 15–19 indicates moderately severe depression and calls for active treatment such as pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy.
When writing a progress note using the SOAP format, where does the counselor record the client's self-report of sleep disturbance?
Answer: Subjective
The Subjective section captures what the client reports about their own symptoms and experiences.
A counselor is planning to use EMDR with a trauma client. Which phase of EMDR directly targets the processing of traumatic memories?
Answer: Phase 4 – Desensitization
Phase 4 (Desensitization) is the core processing phase in EMDR where bilateral stimulation is applied to reduce disturbance linked to the target memory.
A counselor observes that a long-term client has developed a pattern of consistently idealizing and then devaluing the therapeutic relationship. This pattern most likely reflects which clinical phenomenon?
Answer: Transference
Idealization–devaluation cycles in the therapeutic relationship are a hallmark transference pattern, particularly in clients with borderline features.
Which intervention is MOST consistent with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for a client experiencing intense emotional dysregulation?
Answer: Teaching TIPP skills (Temperature, Intense exercise, Paced breathing, Paired muscle relaxation)
TIPP skills are DBT crisis survival skills that use physiological mechanisms to rapidly reduce extreme emotional arousal.
A counselor is preparing a treatment plan. Which component makes goals clinically useful and measurable?
Answer: Goals should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound
SMART goals provide clear, measurable benchmarks that allow both client and counselor to evaluate progress objectively.