What is Stage 1 of treatment?

• A. Stabilize the client
• B. Replace quiet desperation skills
• C. Resolve problems in living and achieve "ordinary" happiness
• D. Resolve a sense of incompleteness and achieve joy

Answer: (A)

Stage 1 centers on stabilization and safety. At the outset of treatment, the priority is to calm acute distress, assess risk, and create a safe, predictable therapeutic environment while establishing enough rapport to work together. This groundwork is essential because if the client isn’t stabilized, deeper therapeutic work can’t proceed effectively. Once stabilization and safety are in place, you can move into more active problem-solving and growth-focused steps. The other options describe outcomes that typically emerge in later phases of treatment, such as learning coping skills, improving daily functioning, or pursuing personal growth and happiness.