Therapeutic Models and Therapies

Case Study Assignment

 Focusing on the two therapeutic models/therapies that we discussed in the later part of this semester. Solution-Focused and Narrative Therapy as well as post constructionist understanding and Mindfulness can be utilized. As well, please be mindful and include any cross-cultural concepts that should be considered. CBT is NOT to be applied in this assignment.

For this assignment, you will also select a client from your current field practicum and describe the client and the presenting problem. You will want to elaborate on family background, health, current interpersonal relationships, past experiences, coping resources, and so on to support your understanding of the problem and your treatment approach to facilitating client change. Keep in mind that your selected treatment/therapy models must be applied to a client in a detailed manner.

 Begin to develop your case study based on the criteria outlined below.

Criteria for Developing the Case Study

Use the following questions as guidelines for developing the various components of your case study, focusing on what you see as most relevant for the client scenario you have selected. Include illustrations from your client scenario to support your choice of treatment model, the way you conceptualize the client problem, and the way you approach the therapeutic process with the identified client.  Your case study must be presented as a paper, not in question and answer format. You may organize the paper around the major headings provided, or develop your own organizational structure.

Key Concepts

·    Which treatment models have you selected to work with the client, and what is the rationale for your selection?

·    What are the underlying assumptions of the selected therapeutic approaches?

·    What themes represent the core struggles in this client’s life?

·    How does the treatment model help you understand how the client’s problems have developed?

·    What are the primary characteristics of the treatment approaches? What are its major areas of focus and emphasis? What are its fundamental ideas?

·    What implications do the key concepts have for your work with the client? What will you focus on?

·    How much emphasis will you place on past experiences, the here and now, and the future? What will the emphasis of therapy be on, the thoughts, feelings, behaviors and/or interpersonal relationships?

The Therapeutic Process

• What therapeutic goals will you set with this client? How do those goals support or reflect the basic constructs of the treatment model?
• In the context of the treatment models, what role will you assume as a therapist? What are your main tasks or functions? How active or directive will you be?
• What will you expect from the client? What is the client’s role in the therapeutic process? How do you expect this client to react to that role?
• What type of relationship will exist between you (the clinician) and the client? How much responsibility for client change will each of you assume?
• What challenges do you anticipate in establishing your relationship with this client? How will you address those issues?
• How are your values, attitudes, worldview, and beliefs similar or dissimilar to those of the client? How might differences in perspective affect the treatment process?
• What is the role of interpersonal, systemic, or cultural factors in the client’s problems? What other individual or systemic factors in the client’s life might become important to the therapeutic process?

Techniques and Procedures

• What are the major techniques and methods associated with the treatment approaches?
• Which therapeutic activities are most appropriate for the client’s problems? What is your rationale for this selection?
• How do these strategies fit with the client’s gender, family, cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds? What potential barriers exist? How might you overcome those barriers?
• What client resources, coping strategies, personal strengths, and other characteristics may facilitate the therapeutic/treatment process?
• What specific steps will you use to implement the selected therapeutic techniques with the identified client?
• What changes do you anticipate in the client’s thoughts, feelings, behavior, relationships with others, and environment?

Evaluation

• Why did you select this particular approach for the identified client? Did your decision-making reflect objective criteria or your personal preferences or worldview?
• How well do you anticipate the approaches will work with the client, given the presenting problem/concerns?
• What are the potential limitations of the treatment model in addressing the needs of the identified client?

The assignment must be typed and double-spaced.  Maximum length: 8-10 pages.  Please use APA style for citation and references.  The professional literature should be cited and infused throughout the assignment. Use a minimum of 5 reference sources for citations.  As well, please use course materials for this assignment, (a minimum of 5 different sources,) You may use supplemental materials outside of the 5 from class materials as well.