'Potentiality' goals in treatment planning focus on what?

• A. Increase immediate symptom relief
• B. Address underlying personality structure via psychodynamic theory
• C. Explore client interests
• D. Improve social skills

Answer: (B)

Potentiality goals focus on deeper, lasting change by addressing the client’s underlying personality structure, which is typically explored through psychodynamic theory. This approach looks beyond immediate symptoms to how early experiences, unconscious processes, and defenses shape behavior, relationships, and self-concept. The aim is to reorganize enduring patterns that influence functioning over time, leading to more fundamental and durable change.

In contrast, aiming for immediate symptom relief concentrates on reducing present distress with targeted, often short-term interventions. Exploring client interests is more about engagement and motivation in the here-and-now rather than altering deep-seated structures. Improving social skills focuses on specific competencies and behaviors in interactions, which is important but not the same as reorganizing personality structure.