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Journal Entry Week 2.
Mary Ndungu
Walden University
NURS-6650N
Practicum Placement Agency's Name: Grace Counseling
Preceptor Name (First and Last): Tumikee Johnson
Preceptor E-mail Address: [email protected]
Site Name:/Grace Counseling Center
September 27
th
, 2020
Week 2 journal Entry
This week’s journal will entail two clients I observed during my practicum sessions in a family
therapy session.
The client
A 38-year-old female with a history of alcohol use disorder presents for group therapy sessions.
The Client feeling words "joyful and hopeful." The client arrived on time for the session, dressed
appropriately for the weather, and reported being 80 days sober. The Client reported being
hopeful about her test results this week i.e pelvic ultrasound to rule out fibroid tumors from
OBGYN, and the blood work from her primary Doctor. The client reported doing church online
on Sunday and thereafter went shopping. The client verbalized joyful with her life, a lot of self-
care, nourishing her body with green juice, beliefs in being strong "spirit, body and soul." Doing
intermittent fasting as she aims to be "the best version of myself." The client reports checking on
the family over the phone, she admits getting anxious when she heard there was a shooting in the
city her parents reside and they had not returned her calls after multiple calls. The client was
engaged and discussed today's topic handouts. She reports that now she feels "amazing not
having a drink of anything, alcohol is a downer." She discussed how she is now focused on her
career and also working on completing her master's degree. She also wants to join SMART
skating. She says that she is dealing with her past trauma/PTSD - states "I feel like I am
divorcing my past by forgiving I am releasing myself." She reports she went out with her
girlfriend for karaoke night and denies triggers or cravings. She admits that when she was
drinking, she was isolated as she did not drink with people or family and relates to the guilt and
shame in the discussion and lying to oneself, "downplaying." The client was jovial and reports
being grateful that she is learning important things that she did not know before coming for
therapy, and looks forward to finishing the program and finishing her school. The Client was
engaged and participated in discussing handout 1. Early Recovery, Handout 2A, and 2B:
Scheduling for the next 3 days. 2. Early Recovery, Handout 15: Thoughts, Emotions, and
Behavior and Handout 16 Addictive Behavior. The Client was supportive of other peers and
offered emotional support and shared coping skills.
Medication and Treatment History
Celexa 20 mg taken on daily basis meant to control depression.
Trazodone 100 mg taken daily to induce sleep.
Diagnosis
Bipolar II disorder
Bipolar disorders are defined as a group of brain disorders causing severe changes in the mood,
energy and functional capacity of the individual by the American Psychiatric Association's
Mental Disorders Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5). Bipolar 2 disorder is a functioning
and generally less severe episode of depression and manic illness (APA 2013).
Major depressive: With extreme depression, it can be difficult to work, read, sleep, eat and get
friends and hobbies. Some people suffer only once from clinical depression, and others in
frequently. (APA 2013).
Alcohol Use Disorder: The 5th edition of the Diagnostic and statistical Manual on Mental
Disorders (DSM-5) has moved to one unified Alcohol Use Disorder category from alcohol
dependence and alcohol dependency. The following are DSM-5 criteria:
Alcohol taken in large quantities or over a longer period than expected, (APA (2013).
Legal and/or Ethical implications of counseling this client
In order to exercise honesty competently, nurses, like all health care practitioners, must
be driven and guided by ethical codes (ANA, 2001). The value of patient families being handled
with due regard for the relationship of the patient is also important (Wheeler, 2014). The ethical
communication norms ought to be recognized and collaborated with their colleagues and patient
families. It is important to know the proper professional contact with families and patients. The
client must, therefore, give notified consent to any consultation and obtain the correct details at
the meeting (ANA 2002).
References
American Nurses Association [ANA]. (2001). Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive
Statements. Silver Spring. MD. Nursesbooks.org.
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders
(5
th
ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2014). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to
guide for evidence-based practice. New York, NY: Springer.
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