Photo by Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-with-hand-on-temple-looking-at-laptop-842554/
Oftentimes, customers that I coach will ask for acronyms. To tell you the truth, I don’t love acronyms with test taking. I often think it can put blinders on us and cause us not to take each individual scenario into consideration. The exam wants you to think critically about each case vignette–if we apply a “one size fits all” approach, sometimes it limits us and causes a quick reaction to answer. With that being said, I think these acronyms below are general enough that they still allow us to work through each scenario without being locked into an answer too soon…you could use these as strategies or guides of consideration rather than absolute fact. If you notice the patterns with these below, they encourage systemic thinking and safety first.
S.E.E.
Systemic • Ethical • Effective
S.A.F.E.
Safety • Abuse • Follow laws • Evaluate system
A.R.T.
Assess FIRST (don’t jump to treat)
SYSTEMIC =
Patterns > People
Cycle > Content
Function > Symptom
If stuck…I once had a supervisor where he told me if I ever feel “stuck” treating a client, to enlarge the system. The same advice helps in exam strategy
Zoom OUT (who else? what pattern?)
Avoid:
Diagnose early
Individual focus
Extreme actions
Pick answer that is
Systemic • Ethical • Safe • Next step
ORDER:
Safety
Ethics
System
Action
When in doubt: ASSESS + think RELATIONSHIPS. Too often we jump straight into interventions. Oftentimes, we need to slow it down! Any strategies or acronyms you can think of that allow you to still think critically?