What should a psychologist do if they have a patient who is not benefitting from treatment?

The correct choice emphasizes the ethical responsibility of psychologists to ensure that their patients are receiving effective and beneficial treatment. When a psychologist realizes that a patient is not making progress or benefitting from the ongoing treatment, it may be necessary to consider ending that particular treatment approach. Termination might mean discontinuing therapy altogether, or it could involve transitioning to a different therapeutic approach that might be more effective or appropriate for the patient's needs.

In psychology, it is crucial to regularly assess a patient's progress and the effectiveness of interventions. If a psychologist identifies that a patient is stagnating or deteriorating, it is also their duty to evaluate their methods, and potentially recommend alternative treatments or refer the patient to another professional who may provide different perspectives or approaches.

The choice of referring the patient to a psychiatrist specifically might sometimes be warranted if the concerns are related to medication management or if the patient’s needs exceed the psychologist’s scope of practice. However, the priority should be to address the ineffectiveness of the current treatment, which leads to the importance of possible termination or reevaluation of the therapeutic goals.

Continuing treatment simply based on the patient’s desire without assessing its effectiveness does not align with ethical practice, as it could lead to further emotional distress for the patient. Seeking supervision might