Our reading this week focuses on the synergy of an integrated approach with clients referred to as psychotherapy. Now that we have covered some of the most widely used approaches, we will conclude the intervention strategies with Chapter 15 which explains that clients may need a combination approach. As practitioners, you might find that creating your own “style” might bode you well in terms of the development of an approach that infuses notions of various techniques. First and foremost, the practitioner needs to feel confident and comfortable with their approach in order to be successful with clients.
Remember—the focus is on the client and to aid in change, transformation, assistance, or whatever the purpose might be (some form of behavior change typically). Some major issues in working with clients, such as crisis intervention, interpersonal violence and creating behavioral changes within clients are ones that you will most likely encounter frequently. I believe everyone most likely has witnessed clients in either a crisis situation and/or one of where the client is/was going through behavioral change. In adjusting to the various needs of clients, a varied approach among intervention strategies will be necessary. Chapter 15 will hopefully be a skim-type read for you as it includes several charts from the intervention strategies and points out strengths/weaknesses in different areas. This should be a way to collect the information that I referred to at the end of our Zoom sessions when I suggested to review the techniques to create a “tool bag” for yourself of those techniques that you feel you might want to consider as your style in isolation or a combination of techniques within a few combined.
In addition, please look over the additional chapters I provided. There is a chapter 3 from a Sage text that will include some similar content as with our Chapter 15; however, I liked the progression of this Sage chapter, as it walks students through the process of choosing an integration model (or steps toward that direction). In addition, I think some of you may appreciate the narrative as it reviews the life of the Darth Vader character under the precepts of different intervention approaches. The Brammer chapter that I included focuses more on “Behavior Change” and provides different approaches that counselors can use when assisting clients. Again—extra resources for you both now and in the future; however, I think these are good chapters to provide a foundation of the importance and care that needs to take place when choosing an approach to work with clients whether it be regarding the intervention approach you use or the behavior change/problem solving technique. As you go through the readings, I hope you will notice the importance of communication and relationship/rapport building as we discussed as well in our Zoom sessions.
All of you are (or will be) engaged in professional work activities that involve goal setting and behavior change with a particular service population. Egan (2007) asserts that goal setting is a part of everyday life even if we don’t specifically name our goals. He calls them our “covert” or “default goals. For example, if we realize that we are physically overweight and aren’t particularly happy with it, our not deciding to lose weight is a decision to allow our diet to remain unchecked. Consequently, because our everyday lives are filled with goals—chosen or by default—it is preferable to make them work for us rather than against us.
Lock & Latham (2002) summarize 35 years of empirical research on goal setting:
Goals help clients mobilize their energy and effort
Goals provide incentives for clients to search for strategies to accomplish them
Clear and specific goals help clients increase persistence
In another study, Payne, Robbins, & Daugherty (1991) demonstrated that people with a sense of direction tend to experience the following:
1. Have a sense of purpose
2. Live lives that are going somewhere
3. Have self-enhancing patterns of behavior in place
4. Focus on results, outcomes, and accomplishments
5. Avoid mistaking random actions for accomplishments
6. Have a defined rather than aimless lifestyle.
Consequently, the value of goal setting is rather convincing, although the number of us who disregard formal problem solving strategies and positive goal setting is probably very high. The challenge for those working in the helping professions is to help clients be able to not only do it but to do it well.
Please review the materials regarding both integrative intervention approaches and on behavioral change/problem solving processes before completing the following case study question for this week’s discussion paper.
——————————————————————————————————————————- Case study (William):
William is a 35 year old male who is currently on parole after serving 8 years in the state correctional facility in Marienville, PA (SCI Forest). He was convicted of felony theft by burglary which he admitted was done in support of his heroin addiction. He is a high school drop-out but demonstrates high proficiency in such academic areas as reading, writing, and mathematics. He easily completed his GED while in prison. He did not participate in any vocational training program and received sporadic counseling services related to his drug addiction. William is not married to the mother (Juanice) of his two sons, who are enrolled in middle school in William’s hometown of Ambridge, PA. He communicated sporadically with Juanice while incarcerated and did not see his sons while imprisoned. Their relationship can be described as “rocky” even in their best of times. She still lives in same neighborhood they both grew up in. A number of William’s friends are still around although most are unemployed due to the poor employment opportunities in Ambridge. Many of them make do financially through drug dealing. Those with traditional jobs work outside of Ambridge but a few still maintain residence there.
William has an older brother, also in prison, and two younger sisters who both live in Ambridge. One is unmarried and lives with their mother in a public housing project back in Ambridge. The other sister is married to a school teacher and they live with their two pre-school children, also in Ambridge. William communicated regularly with his mother and sisters and they visited him in prison a couple times each year.
William served his prison time with few incidents with either his fellow inmates or the correction officers. Consequently he was granted parole with the condition that he successfully complete 6 months in a Community Correction Center in Blawnox, PA. This center assists re-entering offenders in a variety of areas including finding work, establishing financial stability, defining and establishing a support system, arranging housing and identifying medical assistance including relapse prevention and aftercare. Routine drug testing is part of this process.
Assume that you have been assigned as William’s case manager in the Community Correction Center and have been met with him for a couple sessions. He seems motivated and willing to work toward any goals designed to help him get back on his feet and not find himself incarcerated again. You and William are about to engage in a process designed to help him do just that.
Question #1: (20 pts.)
Please answer the following questions taking care to clearly indicate each response below by noting the section (i.e. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D). Also, keep in mind that all sections MUST have some type of supportive evidence within your responses. What information from the text, supplemental materials, current or from previous weeks, support your positions? If you are using facts/details from the case study, you can cite it as (DP#4, 2021).
A. From the information provided, as well as your knowledge of intervention strategies, what intervention approach/technique do you think you would lean towards in using, and why?
B. From a strengths perspective, what are William’s assets that might be helpful in the goal setting process and why?
C. What are areas that could pose a negative influence in this goal attainment?
D. Although it seems that you two have established a good rapport, what do you need to be concerned about in order to maintain this relationship?
Question #2: (30pts)
Using the goal setting process outlined in Chapter 6 (Brammer) text from this week’s resources (specifically the Rational Problem Solving Process—pg. 136—using the condensed 6-step process).
A. Identify one mutually agreed upon goal domain (employment, housing, interpersonal relationships, financial stability, substance abuse care, medical care, etc.) Make sure to specify the goal domain, and a rationale as to why this would be the area in which to work on first. (Assuming the client has “chosen” the goal domain that you would feel is the most important) (5 pts)
B. Please use the 6-step problem solving process (pg. 136 of Brammer Chapter 6). Provide a narrative of each of the 6 steps. (25 pts)
(Keep in mind some of the following suggestions within the 6 steps)
· Be specific with your desired goal under the goal domain that you identified from part A when writing the narrative for step one. You can use a SMART goal format, but make sure to explain the problem and your assessment of the setting (as also identified in step 1) when writing your response to step one.
· For some steps that you need to prepare anticipatory issues (i.e. predict consequences, evaluate process, re-examine goals)—go ahead and take some luxury in terms of making some assumptions. Explain what you would anticipate doing in terms of reexamination, evaluation…..assume the client is complying with your established process).
· I also suggest that you research available resources in Ambridge, Blawnox, and the Pittsburgh area that you may incorporate into your case study.
Book and other resources attached. Support your responses please. Please feel free to coordinate details with me.
Last Completed Projects
| topic title | academic level | Writer | delivered |
|---|