Prompt:
As part of the standard of care, therapists develop treatment plans for the clients and families they are doing therapy with. However, the treatment plan will be distinctly different depending on the therapeutic approach the therapist decides to use with the unit of treatment and will be tailored to the unit. Being as postmodern theories give special attention to language, context, and meaning within each family group, developing a treatment plan must be carefully crafted with this in mind.
Below you will be provided a vignette of a family unit that comes to therapy seeking services from you. After you read the vignette, you will develop a treatment plan for the family. Be sure the treatment plan is developed with the therapeutic approach being studied this week and that it specifically discusses the issues seen in the vignette.
Develop a treatment plan using a Solution-Focused Family Therapy approach. BE SURE TO INCLUDE THE WHOLE FAMILY UNIT IN THE TREATMENT PLAN.
Along with your treatment plan, explore legal and ethical issues related to the case. Including bias, boundaries, referrals, reports, risk assessments, etc. Give special attention to what steps you would take the manage your bias toward the family and how you would take a postmodern approach in the therapeutic interactions and relationship. Make sure every section is filled in the treatment plan template.
In your replies to classmates, discuss the differences and similarities in each other’s treatment plans and the importance of supervision and collaboration on cases.
Vignette
Stay-at-home parent, Danny, comes to therapy with his two children. Gwen (8 years old) and Felisha (9 years old). His partner Felipe made the initial contact and mentioned that he would not be able to attend all appointments but will come as needed. Felipe reports on the phone that Danny struggles with feelings of abandonment. He feels very anxious when leaving the children at school and when Felipe leaves home to work. Danny confirms this and adds that he has “always felt this way”. These feelings are intensified when Gwen or Felisha tell him that they would rather stay home and spend time together doing “fun things”. He admits to caving in most of the time and then ends up feeling guilty when their grades drop due to missed assignments or exams. Danny reports that he “has no purpose and feels lost” when he is home alone. He appears emotional during session and constantly looks to his children for confirmation while talking. Gwen and Felisha sit close to Danny and hug him or reassure him frequently. They appear insightful and engaged during session and mention that they are “happy to stay home to help dad feel better” and feel worried when they are away from him. The family states they would like to work on “helping dad (Danny) feel better”.
ANSWER
Presenting Problem (What issue(s) brings the client to therapy?)
Danny’s family (his wife Felipe and two children Gwen and Felisha) came to therapy because of Danny’s anxiety and feelings of abandonment. Danny is struggling with letting his children go and stay in school because he, to some extent, feels like he is abandoning them. When their grades drop, Danny feels guilty. The family came to therapy to seek help for their father’s …. To access full answer, use the purchase button below.