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The Psychological Models

Resources

For this assignment, imagine you are a counselor working in a psychological model treatment program. Select one of the case studies you were introduced to in Unit 1 to represent your "client," who is seeking help from your program. You may choose the same one that you used for The Disease Models assignment, or you may choose to use a different case study.

Assignment Instructions

Complete the following sections for this assignment:

•Introduction—In this section of the paper:

•                   Identify the client from the case study and briefly summarize the client's demographic characteristics and addictive behavior history that are relevant to the psychological models of addiction. This section sets the stage for the next sections.

•Applications of Psychological Models—In this section:

•                   Apply your understanding of one or more of the psychological models of addiction to your client. Do client demographics and history suggest that your client suffers from a psychological model of addiction? Based on your interpretation, what psychological model treatment strategies might you recommend for this client?

•Sociocultural Factors and the Psychological Models—Finally, in this section:

•                   Describe how sociocultural factors (poverty, education, drug laws, media portrayal of addiction and treatment, and support for harm reduction methods like methadone maintenance and needle exchange programs) may affect the client's perception of the problem and the addictive behavior. Does the media present psychological models of addiction with the same support shown to the medical, pharmaceutical, and recovery industries? If not, how could that affect the client's acceptance of psychological models of addiction treatment?

Describe sociocultural factors that may contribute to the addictive behavior as well as factors that may be helpful in overcoming the addiction from the perspective of the psychological models of addiction.

*************************************CASE STUDY

DEMOGRAPHICS AND COMORBIDITY

28–year–old single Caucasian female, never married, chronic history of physical and sexual abuse by men, diagnosed with Post–Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

SOCIOCULTURAL FACTORS

Unemployed, lives in a poorly maintained government–subsidized housing project. Receives disability payments for mental health issues. Graduated high school with good grades but never pursued further education. No contact with parents or siblings, who live out of state. No religious affiliation.

ADDICTION HISTORY

Began drinking alcohol in high school with peers, alcohol use increased when abuse from boyfriends began, eventually tried crack cocaine and began a vicious cycle of crack use and further exploitation and abuse by men when under the influence or seeking drugs.

TREATMENT HISTORY

No previous treatment history for addictive behavior.

REASON FOR SEEKING TREATMENT

Ended up in emergency room of local hospital after being beaten and sexually abused when attempting to trade sex for crack. Referred to treatment by hospital social worker.