ABSTRACT

TRUTH OR FICTION?

The first contact with a client, though usually made through the telephone, is very

A therapist should avoid providing structure in the initial session with a family.

In the first therapy session, it is not helpful to learn about the solutions the client has already tried.

As the first session comes to a conclusion, it is helpful for the therapist to offer some comments on the presenting problem.

Family therapists should have the skills to make a DSM diagnosis.

A therapist should never ask a client directly about suicidal ideation.

The circumplex model of family assessment examines family cohesion, family flexibility, and communication.

When using the circumplex model, therapists should take into consideration a family's life cycle stage and cultural background.

When working with a couple, it is usually best for the therapist to join with one person more strongly than the other.

When working with a couple, it is essential for the therapist to develop goals that are agreed upon by the therapist and both members of the couple.

Family therapists should avoid contact with other professionals involved in the care of their clients.

When administering a psychometric instrument, the therapist should pay attention to the level of reactivity in a client's responses.

A treatment plan is usually developed by the end of the second session.

Treatment plans should never include the therapist's theoretical underpinnings.

Once a treatment plan is made, it should not be changed.