Assignment 3

BIO PSYCHO SOCIAL GUIDELINES: EDC Family Counseling (rev 7/4/12)

The following information is needed FOR EACH MEMBER OF THE HOUSEHOLD LIVING WITH THE CHILD OR ADOLESCENT. Please follow the topics below to be sure to cover all areas during this Interview. To avoid redundant information, ask questions of the parent about the child and then about the parent or parents who are present. Then ask the parent about any other children/adolescents or adults living in the home even if they are not present or will not be participating in the counseling session which follows at another date

Neither a video nor a transcript is to be submitted, but a report only is submitted. If you do tape the session, be sure to destroy any tape you make afterwards. Avoid asking clinical questions such as “are you at risk of harm to yourself or others?” Strangers who do not know you are not likely to answer this honestly. Gain this information in a very subtle and unthreatening manner.

BIO PSYCHO SOCIAL GUIDELINES: Child & Adolescent Counseling

The following information is needed for the child or adolescent you will be working with through the parent or caregiver who knows the most about the child client. This Interview is a good time to explain how the counseling will take place and to obtain parental consent. (Parent will not be present at the recorded Counseling Session) Cover the topics below using creative, non-clinical and non-threatening questions in this session with the parent/caregiver.

Heading:

Name for all living in the household whether present or not (Do not send real names in the transcript submission.)

Age for all living in the household

Position in family (mother, youngest son, grandparent, etc)

Confirm that Confidentiality was reviewed in the Interview

Introduction:

BREIFLY describe presenting problem, circumstances of referral, and preliminary goals for the child or adolescent. Describe concerns and desires.

Interview:

Biological Information

Information about birth, early injuries and illnesses, developmental milestones, medical issues past and present, medication past and present, adoptions, genetic test results if available, history in family of serious illnesses except psychological illnesses (next section). Results of recent checkups and when they last occurred. Note: These are only topics—students must compose their own questions to cover the topics

Psychological Information

History of mental illness, learning disabilities, school performance including IQ, mental status, current and past psychotropic medications, history of suicide, homicide, including ideations, incarceration including reasons (in this section or in Social Info), psychiatric hospitalization, history of counseling, history of physical, mental, sexual abuse, substance abuse issues including how much, when, how often that you know.

Social Information

History of relationships among persons in household, outside the home, at work, at school, with relatives, school suspensions, residential moves, school changes, career development, adoptions, cultural/racial/religious issues, separations, divorces, deaths or other major losses, time child was out of home or living with someone else.

Summary:

BREIFLY summarize with interviewee more clearly defined issues, goals for the child or adolescent based on information gathered in this session and recommendations for course of action.

Avoid the following:

Getting into a counseling session; focus instead on information gathering, ignoring the child/adolescent who is present, asking clinical type questions, making judgments on clients.

Remember the following:

*Start by making parties comfortable. If child is under 8 be sure to have a game or toys to occupy the child while the parent or guardian answers questions about family history.

*Do include the child/adolescent in the interview using developmentally appropriate questions. The older the child, the more involvement there should be in the interview.

*Use counseling skills appropriate for this type of session. Obviously you will be using more questions then you would in a counseling session. But techniques such as good eye contact, summarizing, reflecting content, etc should still be evident in this interview. Rephrase closed questions to open ones if necessary to elicit a response; do not accept “none” answers without first probing.

*Avoid cold or clinical language. Ex: “Have you ever had any mental illnesses?” Most people shut down when they hear this question. Rephrase the question to a less intrusive, more inviting question. Ex: “I hear a lot of pain and sadness in your history; have there ever been times when you just wanted to give up or run away or kill yourself….?” “It sounds like that makes you angry—have you ever been angry enough to do something crazy?” (The word “crazy” is inappropriate.)

NO TRANSCRIPT OR RECORDING IS REQUIRED FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT.

THIS IS ONLY A REPORT. FOCUS AND DO NOT RAMBLE OR TELL STORIES!