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Treatment Approach
SOWK 6103 Week 6 Assignment
Racquel Walsh
Walden University
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Treatment Approach
A biopsychosocial-spiritual treatment approach is a treatment approach that is
personalized to the individual that will be receiving the treatment. The biopsychosocial-spiritual
treatment approach consists of different components which are biological factors, psychological
factors, social factors, and spiritual factors. The tri-fold treatment approach for Anna and Amy
will be examined.
Briefly describe the two individuals whom you selected from the scenarios.
Anna is a 17-year-old Latina female. Anna currently lives in a very abusive home
environment where her mother is being physically and emotionally abused by her father. Anna
has begun smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol just to fit in with her peers. Anna was sent to
a juvenile detention center after being caught with marijuana by her school’s resource officer for
the fourth time. Anna now fears how her father will react to her being caught with marijuana and
being sent to the juvenile detention center.
Amy is a 53-year-old Caucasian married female and mother of two children. Amy has
found much enjoyment in the success of her career and has been able to create financial stability
for her family. Amy is currently suffering from alcoholism. Amy drinks every night after she
gets home from work and also drinks with her friends as well throughout the week. Amy is also
experiencing some trouble within her marriage and has reported some damage with the
relationship that she has with her children. Amy has reported having difficulty with making
female friends.
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Explain how you would apply the biopsychosocial-spiritual1treatment approach to each
individual.
The biopsychosocial-spiritual approach will be applied to Anna and Amy by examining
the components that will play an equally vital role in their treatment plan. The components of
Anna the treatment approach will include biological factors, psychological factors, social factors,
and spiritual factors. Anna and Amy will both receive an individualized treatment plan
personalized to their needs. Their treatment plan will include consideration to their different and
unique needs based on their gender, age, culture, spirituality, medical, family history, as well as
the access they have to needed recourses. In order for a treatment plan to be personalized, it
would be necessary to include their specific needs. Anna and Amy would need to have access to
a treatment plan that is individualized, comprehensive treatment services, a case manager to help
track their progress and provide them with needed recourses, pharmaceutical treatment, and most
importantly a relapse prevention plan (Volkow 2014). In Anna’s case, she would receive and
have access to substance addiction treatment services and Amy would receive and have access to
adult substance addiction treatment services.
Explain how addiction impacts the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of each
individual differently.
Individuals suffering from addiction experience physical impacts which in turn can cause
negative impacts on the body and mind as well. Addiction can negatively have an impact on the
body’s organs and can also change the brain’s structure (Volkow 2014). Alcohol and drugs can
also have an impact on the body’s nervous system, for adolescents and young teens addiction
poses a higher risk for damage to the brain (Volkow 2014). In Anna’s case, using marijuana and
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drinking alcohol can cause her to experience permanent brain damage as well as damage to other
organs. In Amy’s case, her addiction to alcohol can cause her to experience liver damage, heart
issues, and can also interfere with pathways communication (Volkow 2014). Anna and Amy’s
emotional well-being can also be impacted by their addiction and substance use. Addiction can
lead to behaviors that are compulsive, which can cause harm to Anna and Amy’s mental health.
Spiritual well-being is another noted vital aspect of addiction. Anna and Amy will have
to become in sync with their spiritual beliefs in order to tap into their inner strength to assist
them with being able to overcome their addiction. Both Anna and Amy have had bad experiences
with their religion. Approaches that are spiritually based have been noted to be complimentary to
evidence-based medical practice (Galanter 2006). Anna and Amy’s personal beliefs and
emotional needs should serve as the basis of their spirituality.
Explain how these differences might influence treatment approaches.
Anna is a juvenile suffering from addiction and Amy is an adult suffering from addiction.
Anna and Amy’s treatment approach will be different because of their ages. Anna is currently in
a juvenile detention center. Considering Anna’s home environment she would most benefit from
inpatient treatment for her substance addiction. It would be recommended for Anna to have
individual therapy, group therapy, and family therapy, as well as a case manager to help track her
progress and provide her with needed resources.
In Amy’s case the recommendation of intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment,
individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, a case manager to help track her progress and
provide her with needed resources, as well as access to needed educational resources. Given the
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fact that Amy has a career job and a family to take care of and tend to outpatient treatment would
benefit her best.
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References
Galanter, M. (2006). Spirituality and addiction: A research and clinical perspective. The
American Journal on Addictions
Volkow, N. (2014). Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction. Washington, DC:
National Institute on Drug Abuse
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