Which option is NOT one of the levels in Cierpka's three-level model?

• A. External networks
• B. Individual
• C. Dyadic or Triadic
• D. Whole system

Answer: (A)

The model is organized around three scales of influence: the individual’s internal world, the interpersonal level of dyadic or triadic relationships, and the broader whole system that includes families, groups, or organizations. External networks aren’t considered a level within this framework; they’re factors that exist outside the defined system being analyzed. You’d still consider how such networks might impact the client, but they aren’t one of the three levels you assess in Cierpka’s model. For example, you’d examine a person’s own thoughts and feelings (individual), how they interact with a partner or family members (dyadic/triadic), and how the larger family or organizational system shapes those dynamics (whole system). So external networks don’t fit as a level in this model.