Instructions
As you begin your journey towards becoming a therapist, there are times where you will feel overwhelmed with the countless tasks and responsibilities you must shoulder as a therapist. With that said, it is critical to understand that while in therapy your focus remains on the treatment of the client unit. This week you will complete a discussion board assignment that challenges you to focus on the treatment of the client unit. As a reminder, focus more on the process that is explored and less on the content that is presented as part of the vignette.
Specifically, please read Chapter 8 of the Systems Theory in Action text and Chapter 6 of the Essential Skills in Family Therapy text.
Catherine and her family come to see you for family therapy. The family is comprised of
Catherine, Pedro (husband), Lily (oldest child), and Lou (youngest child). Catherine and
Pedro have been married for 15 years. The family reports that one year ago, Catherine
was attacked walking to her car from work. The assailant (who has not been caught)
was male and physically attacked her the moment she reached her car. At that moment,
Catherine shared that she screamed and fought back, but given that it was close to 11
pm, no one heard her call for help. Catherine shared that she was not sexually
assaulted but was beaten severely. Her purse, cell phone, and car were stolen, and she
was left in the parking lot bleeding. She shared how scared she was before and after a
security officer found her and called an ambulance and the police. The security officer
was male and she wanted nothing to do with him. As she elaborated on the events of
that evening, she remembered lashing out and attacking the Emergency Response
Team member (who was also male), and the initial police officer. She shared the
thoughts of never seeing her family again. She shared about the pain she exhibits
whenever she walks past the parking lot on her way to work. She shared how helpless
she felt, and how determined she is to find the person that attacked her. “It has been
many months since I thought of him,” said Catherine. “I have cried less over the last few
days and have noticed a genuine desire to be around others again.” In the months after
the attack, Pedro has noticed that their relationship has been strained by more frequent
comments made by Catherine about men and is worried that her comments will
influence their children negatively. He is also concerned that their children are starting
to behave anxiously when they are out of the home after dark. The children mention
they are scared they will get attacked too and wonder if men, besides their father, are all
violent.
Given your reading assignment for this week, share with us a minimum of three basic
therapeutic interventions you would use to work with this family. Be sure to articulate
your rationale for each selected intervention and cite your sources accordingly.
Answer
Catherine and her family require immediate therapy, failure to which they will experience a deterioration of relationship and Catherine and the children will have increased fear for men. To address the situation and as a therapist, the family requires counselling in a secure and safe environment. As a therapist, I would initiate a relationship with the family without rushing to the intervention itself. I will present a non-threatening and trusting climate, considering this will invite my clients to be honest and to perceive change positively (Patterson et al., 2018). I will use strategies like questions, reframing, and confronting to understand …. To access full answer, use the purchase button below.