George's Case

COUC 667

COUC 667

Case Presentation Case Conceptualization (CP-CC) Assignment Instructions

Overview

This is the second of your Case Presentation assignment that will be due formally in Module 7: Week 7 of the course. This is a formative assignment (draft) in that you will get to “practice” the case conceptualization (CC) process. This is an important step towards the development of an effective treatment plan. It is the middle part of the “golden thread” when working with a client. By offering a sound CC, you are creating focused problem areas (step 2 of inverted pyramid model, IPM) that directly connects to the treatment plan (step 1 of tx plan), theoretical buckets (e.g., cognitive and behavioral maladaptations, if using CBT), and an etiological understanding (e.g., maladaptive core beliefs) which are driving the maladaptive thinking and actions.

Instructions

For this assignment, you will complete the Case Conceptualization (CC) portion of the case presentation as illustrated in the Case Presentation: Case Conceptualization of Penny. As you work through this assignment, you may “consult” with your clinical team via Microsoft Teams.

This assignment should be 3-6 pages in length in current APA format, which includes headings, subheadings, in-text citations, reference section. The assignment requires at least two citations, e.g., Switzer and Rubin, peer-reviewed journal, other theoretical textbooks. If other sources are used they are to be scholarly articles published within the last five years unless there are considered seminal works in the field of study.

To complete this assignment, do the following:

1) Review the Case Presentation Example - Case Conceptualization of Penny.

2) Review the Case Presentation: Case Conceptualization (CP-CC) Template document. Follow the APA format as provided in the template. It is developed to help you stay in alignment with assignment expectations based on the assignment instructions and grading rubric.

3) Review your textbook and other readings on Case Conceptualization, review theory-specific examples.

4) Create part one of the Inverted Pyramid Model (IPM) based on your case study data. Follow the Case Conceptualization of Penny example on how to format step one of the IPM.

5) Develop part two of the IPM. See p. 90 of Switzer and Rubin for guidance. This is the “atheoretical” grouping of part 1. Make sure to document in the assignment, which ONE of the four thematic groupings approaches was used to develop this step. Again, see Case Conceptualization of Penny for formatting.

6) Next, create IPM step three. In part three, apply your chosen counseling theory (psychodynamic, CBT, etc.). Use only one theory. As a counselor-in-training, you do not have a solid foundation for more than one theory as it takes years to master. As such, you would be operating unethically and potentially illegally, based on the ACA code of ethics (2014) – core professional value 5; C.2.b; C.2.f; and E.5.b.

7) For part three of the IPM, it is the “natural groupings” based on your theory. For example, CBT has the natural groupings of maladaptive automatic thoughts and maladaptive behaviors. See Case Conceptualization of Penny for formatting.

8) In IPM part four, you will use your chosen theory to determine the deeper theoretical inferences. From a CBT lens, it is the maladaptive core belief (worthless, helpless, or unlovable), from a psychodynamic it is the drives, instincts, unconscious factors that are motivating the themes offered in step three of the model and ultimately the signs and symptoms observed in step one of the IPM.

9) After completing the IPM, it is now time to write up the case conceptualization (CC) narrative. The CC narrative is where you apply your chosen counseling theory to explain (not describe, as you did in the Discussion of Diagnostic Impression) what is going on with the client. You use key theory-based concepts and terms to explain why a client is experiencing their signs, symptoms, problems. When writing the CC narrative, start with step four, the deeper issues, and then connect the deeper issue to the step three theoretical groupings by using the problems identified in steps two and one. For example, from a CBT lens, if a client's maladaptive core belief is “I am unlovable,” then connect this belief to his maladaptive automatic thoughts (“nobody likes me”), conditional assumptions (if nobody likes me, then I will act out), and maladaptive behaviors using the client problems (sadness, depressed, hyperactivity, problems in school, conflict with sister).

Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.

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