8 discussion questions (Due in 12 hours)

CONCEPTUALIZATION WORKSHEET - EXPLANATION

Please use the following outline to prepare for case presentations. Complete all sections

that apply to your case. Your case conceptualization should reflect your understanding

and impressions of the client, philosophy of therapy, and the concepts and tools you are

learning. Listed are some examples/descriptions/ideas of what you may want to include:

Family/System Members and Background Information (e.g., genogram, structural

diagram)

 Names: use numbers or code words to protect confidentiality.

 Background information: ages, genders, ethnicities, races, grades/education, living situation, languages, citizenships, relationship status, appearance, and

general presentation

Presenting the Problem

senting Problem  Include a general description of the clients’ problem(s) in their own words.

 How does the concern interfere with everyday functioning and relationships?

 What caused the clients to enter counseling at this time?

 Include externalization of problem, if fitting.

 Include problem stories, if fitting.

Therapy Goals

 There are several ways to word and express goals; e.g., solution-focused criteria for well-defined goals, therapy goals from the perspective of narrative

externalization, and structural goals.

Resilience and Strengths

 Exceptions to the problem

 Stories of resilience

 Temporary relief

 Parts of the structure that works

Pattern of Interaction

 Can you, as a therapist and/or client, identify patterns of interaction that surround the concern? When does it occur? With whom? What happens before

and after its occurrence?

Life Setting

 How do clients spend a typical day or week? What social, spiritual, and religious activities; recreational activities are present? What is their living environment

like? What are their most important relationships?

Family History (you may want to include a genogram)

 Family members’ ages, households, occupations, descriptions of personalities, relationships to each other, etc.

 Intergenerational relationships

 History of family struggles (e.g., emotional disturbance, substance abuse, physical illnesses, abilities issues, abuse, and neglect)

 History of family strengths and resilience (e.g., spirituality, stories of overcoming odds)

 Biographical turning points (e.g., points of change that have occurred in the clients’ lives; how they managed these changes)

Outside Systems and Community Involvement (e.g., ecomap)

 Include religious systems, schools, court and legal systems, medical systems, other treatment providers, government systems such as child protection, etc.

Description of Counseling

 Course—number of sessions conducted, lateness, no-shows, who has attended sessions, who you have invited to participate.

 Content—brief description of issues clients bring to the sessions.

 Process—how do the clients relate to you in session? What does it feel like being with them, what is the interpersonal style in the counseling relationship?

 Clinical Assessment—this section should be a summary of the clients’ problems/issues using information from preceding sections. For example, does a

member of the family/system seem depressed or anxious? Address suicidal

ideation (either past or present) threat of harm to self or other, suspicion of abuse

or neglect, etc. Provide extensive details pertaining to high-risk situations and

make certain to alert both your onsite supervisor and the course instructor

immediately of risks.

Conceptualization of the Problem

 This section should be your assessment of why the clients have these problems and it involves tying together all information presented in the report in a

summary statement or paragraph. What is your understanding (theory) of the

clients? What is your understanding of the clients’ problem/s? What are the

recurring themes? What do you think is the clients’ prognosis for getting better?

How do the different areas of history, personality, and environment interact to

contribute to the problem?

Treatment Plan

 Based on your philosophy of what is therapeutic (including models/approaches) and what promotes adaptive change in accordance with the standards of practice

used in your setting

 What do these clients need from therapy? How will this be helpful to them? What approaches/interventions will you use to address their needs?

Input from Supervisor and Colleagues

 Record the feedback from supervisor and colleagues regarding the client and strategy as a counselor.

Supervisor Directives:

 Record specific feedback provided by the supervisor to the counselor regarding the client. These are interventions to be implemented in the case moving

forward.