Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Therapist Development Center Practice Exam

How should a therapist handle a client experiencing ongoing relational difficulties with little sharing during sessions?

1. Encourage the client to open up in more detail

2. Utilize creative therapeutic techniques to elicit information

3. Be open about the therapist's own experiences

4. Assess the barriers to engagement and discuss them

The correct answer is: Assess the barriers to engagement and discuss them

The best approach for a therapist handling a client who is experiencing ongoing relational difficulties and displaying little sharing during sessions is to assess the barriers to engagement and discuss them. This approach directs the therapeutic process towards identifying underlying issues that may be hindering the client's willingness or ability to share. By assessing barriers to engagement, the therapist creates a safe space for clients to explore any fears, anxieties, or past experiences that may be impacting their ability to open up. This not only builds rapport but also validates the client's feelings and experience, allowing for a deeper exploration of the relational difficulties they are facing. Facilitating this kind of discussion can lead to greater insight and can help the therapist tailor their interventions more effectively based on the client's needs. Utilizing creative therapeutic techniques or encouraging the client to open up may not address the root causes of the client’s hesitance. Similarly, being open about the therapist's own experiences could shift the focus away from the client's issues and might not be appropriate in this context, as it could lead to a therapeutic imbalance where the client feels less heard or understood. Therefore, discussing barriers to engagement is both insightful and essential in navigating relational difficulties in therapy.