2019 ATI Mental Health Proctored Exam Related

Review 2019 ATI Mental Health Proctored Exam related questions and content

A psychotherapist works with an anxious, dependent patient. Which strategy is most consistent with psychoanalytic psychotherapy?

  • A. Identifying the patient's strengths and assets
  • B. Praising the patient for describing feelings of isolation
  • C. Focusing on feelings developed by the patient toward the therapist
  • D. Providing psychoeducation and emphasizing medication adherence
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because focusing on the patient's feelings developed towards the therapist is consistent with psychoanalytic therapy. This approach allows the therapist to explore transference and countertransference dynamics, which are central in understanding the patient's inner conflicts and relational patterns. By addressing these feelings, the therapist can help the patient gain insight into unresolved issues from their past that are influencing their current behavior.

Choice A is incorrect because while it can be beneficial in therapy, it is more aligned with a strengths-based or humanistic approach rather than psychoanalytic therapy. Choice B is also incorrect because praising the patient for describing feelings of isolation does not directly address the deeper unconscious processes that psychoanalytic therapy aims to explore. Choice D is incorrect because providing psychoeducation and emphasizing medication adherence are more commonly associated with cognitive-behavioral or medication-focused therapies, rather than psychoanalytic therapy.