The Clinical formulation of a client's problem has the following advantages:

(A) Identification of areas to be targetted for treatment in psychotherapy
(B) Understanding the status of the client
(C) Understanding the problems
(D) To make money
(E) Choice of techniques for treatment

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(A), (C) & (E) only

The correct answer is Option (4) → (A), (C) & (E) only

Clinical formulation refers to formulating the problem of the client in the therapeutic model being used for the treatment. The clinical formulation has the following advantages:

1. Understanding of the problem : The therapist is able to understand the full implications of the distress being experienced by the client.

2. Identification of the areas to be targeted for treatment in psychotherapy : The theoretical formulation clearly identifies the problem areas to be targeted for therapy. Thus, if a client seeks help for inability to hold a job and reports inability to face superiors, the clinical formulation in behaviour therapy would state it as lack of assertiveness skills and anxiety. The target areas have thus been identified as inability to assert oneself and heightened anxiety.

3. Choice of techniques for treatment : The choice of techniques for treatment depends on the therapeutic system in which the therapist has been trained. However, even within this broad domain, the choice of techniques, timing of the techniques, and expectations of outcome of the therapy depend upon the clinical formulation.

The clinical formulation is an ongoing process. Formulations may require reformulations as clinical insights are gained in the process of therapy. Usually the first one or two sessions yield enough clinical material for the initial clinical formulation. It is not advisable to start psychotherapy without a clinical formulation.