LSAT 158 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q13

LR Question 13 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Psychotherapist: The troubles from which a patient seeks relief…

QUESTION TYPE: Necessary Assumption

CONCLUSION: To help a patient heal, a psychotherapist must focus on positive change in the patient’s relationships with other people.

REASONING: Not all troubles are internally caused, and some result from relationships with others.

ANALYSIS: The argument tells us that patients’ troubles can be caused by external factors, and then says that a psychotherapist must focus on positive changes in relationships to help a patient heal.

This is a question I had trouble prephrasing – I had a feeling that the must was important, but wasn’t sure exactly how it would play out. I moved to the answers and used the negation test to find the correct answer.

___________

1. This answer may have familiar words, but actually doesn’t make much sense. Patients don’t need to worry about other peoples’ troubles, and psychotherapists aren’t trying to change relationships.
   Negation: Psychotherapists can change their patients’ relationships even if their patients don’t focus on other peoples’ troubles.
2. This is possibly true, but not necessary for the point and the negation may help the argument more.
   Negation: All psychotherapy patients can be healed if a psychotherapist helps them change relationships with others.
3. This seems good, but isn’t actually required by the argument. This says that changing relationships will provide relief, but the argument says it’s necessary in order to provide relief. It’s an important distinction.
   Negation: Psychotherapy patients who change their relationships with other people will not thereby find relief from any of their troubles.
4. CORRECT. If we assume this, then internal causes aren’t enough and psychotherapists must address external causes too.
   Negation: Addressing internal causes can be enough to help a patient heal.
5. This does the opposite of help the argument. It tells us that internal help can solve problems alone!
   Negation: It is not enough to address internal causes.

Recap: The question begins with “Psychotherapist: The troubles from which a patient seeks relief”. It is a Necessary Assumption question. Learn how to master LSAT Necessary questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.