This assignment is approximately 6 page paper that requires students to demonstrate their understanding of the specific tasks and skills involved in the beginning (begins on p. 299) and middle phase (begins on p. 319 in chapter 8) of practice with a family and the theoretical and empirical support for their work (Please refer to the following section with required books and articles). Using a family that the student is working with (see attached document on intake summary) or could envision working with, the student their agency or could envision working with and discuss the following: the agency you work for and its mandate; who is the client or client system and how they were referred; the presenting concern; and other important information necessary to understand the case situation
●A brief description of the agency context and mission, client identifying information, how the client/client system was referred, the presenting issue (s)
●Preparation Issues/Decision (e.g. who in the family to include in the beginning and when.
●Engagement Strategies and Techniques (e.g. joining)
●Problem and Goal Specification
● Assessment of Family Functioning (including a genogram and ecomap)
§ Describe what you learned about how the family was functioning in relation to their inner system relationships, their outer system relationship and any issues identified related to the family “in time.”
§Describe what was the main problem(s) identified as a key issue for work.
§Describe any goals that were identified.
●Intervention Strategies in Working with this Family.
The discussion and critique of each stage should be grounded in the relevant required readings and at least 3 additional readings from academic journals that inform how to work with this family at each stage of the intervention process.
Required books and articles:
Shulman, L. (2016). The skills of helping
individuals, families, groups, and communities (6th ed.). Ch. 7- The preliminary and
beginning phases in family practice
Chapter 8- pp. 319-333.
Sousa, L., & Rodrigues, S. (2012). The
collaborative professional: Towards empowering vulnerable families. Journal
of Social Work Practice, 26(4), 411-425.
Nichols, M. P. & Davis, S. D. (2020). Essentials
of family therapy (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson. Ch. 2- Basic Techniques
of Family Therapy.
Thomlison, B. (2016). Family assessment
handbook. Ch. 1- Family Context. Cengage Learning.
Optional resources:
McGoldrick, M., Garcia-Preto, N.A. &
Carter, B. A. (2015). Overview: the life cycle in its changing context:
Individual, family and social perspectives. In M. McGoldrick, N. A. Garcia-
Preto & B. Carter (eds.). The expanded family life cycle (5th ed.).
Allyn & Bacon.
Sousa, L., & Rodrigues, S. (2012). The
collaborative professional: Towards empowering vulnerable families. Journal
of Social Work Practice, 26(4), 411-425.
Walsh, F. (2016). Foundations of a family resilience approach. In Strengthening Family Resilience, pp. 3-21. Guilford Press.
Intake Summary
Client is a 14-year-old AA female being referred for services after being discharged from the Day Hospital for behavioral issues at home. Client is diagnosed with depression and anxiety. She endorses anger, guilt, yelling fighting, and anxiousness about getting in trouble, but admits she will still break rules. Client yells, fights, and can be very verbally and physically aggressive at home and in school. Client physically assaulted mother.Client first experienced symptoms at age 13 after her grandmother and aunt moved out of their home. Then client said that while her aunt (who is 4 years older than her), and grandmother were staying with her, the client got away with a lot of negative behaviors. Once they moved out, the client was sad. Mom started reestablishing rules and consequences, but the client has grown more rebellious. She received services at the psychiatric hospital for 7 months, but admitted to inconsistencies on both parts, and prescribed Lexapro 10mg. Client was then referred to the day hospital program where she participated for 4 weeks.Last year, the client was touched inappropriately. This was a cousin by marriage, and no one would reveal his full name so mom could press charges. Client is sexually active with a 19-year-old male. Client shared that she is lying to this person about her age, and they think she is 18. She claims to have met this individual through a dating app her 17year old aunt introduced her too. She started vaping at age 13 but hasn’t smoked marijuana in 5 months. She is transferring to a new middle school this year after moving. Client would engage in altercations with female students in school.
The client is a 14-year-old
female referred for therapy services after being discharged from a day Hospital
regarding behavioral issues. She was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. She
admits having issues with anger, yelling, fighting, guilt, and anxiousness
about getting into trouble, but she still disobeys. She has been verbally and
physically aggressive both at home and school. She physically assaulted her
mother, and her symptoms were first noticed at the age of 13 years when her
aunt and grandmother moved out of their home. She states that she had learned a
lot of negative conduct from them and was frustrated when they left her. Her
yelling, fighting, physical aggressiveness, and disobedience were exaggerated
when her mom re-established home rules and consequences for breaking them,
making her grow more rebellious. However, the client had received psychiatric
services for seven months, was prescribed Lexapro 10mg, and was admitted due to
inconsistencies. After this, she was referred to the day hospital, where she
participated for four weeks before being referred to the agency. A cousin had
touched her inappropriately the previous year, but no one disclosed his name to
the mother. However, the client is currently engaged sexually with a 19year old
male whom they met through a dating App that her aunt had introduced her to.
Since she was 13, she has been smoking cigarettes but has not smoked marijuana
for about five months. She is transferring to a new middle school this year,
although she world engages in disputes with female students in school.