Assignment: Treatment Planning for Couples and Families Experiencing Pervasive Mental Illness or Health Issues

As you explored in this week’s Discussion, assessment becomes more complex if a couple or family member shows signs of pervasive mental illness or a significant health concern. Using theory-based interventions may help you navigate this challenging terrain.

For this Assignment, consider a couple/family where one member has a severe and persistent mental illness. (Note: This may be a fictitious case or a case from your professional experience). Think about how you would conceptualize the couple’s/family’s problems using the lens of your chosen theoretical orientation. Using the Walden Library, locate two evidence-based journal articles that support interventions for the present issue.

The Assignment (2–3 pages)

• Identify the pervasive mental illness or health concern present in the couple/family.
• Conceptualize the couple’s/family's problem through your chosen theoretical orientation.
• Design a treatment plan including short- and long-term goals.
• Explain two evidence-based interventions you would use to address the couple’s/family’s issues and how you would use them. (Note: The interventions may not emerge from your chosen theoretical orientation.)
• Justify the intervention you selected with two evidence-based research articles.

Support your Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are asked to provide a reference list for all resources, including those in the resources for this course.

Required Readings

Gurman, A. S., Lebow, J. L., Snyder, D. K. (2015). Clinical handbook of couple therapy. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
Chapter 14, “Couple Therapy for Partner Aggression”
Chapter 22, “Couple Therapy and Depression”
Chapter 23, “Couple Therapy and Medical Issues”

Aymer, S. R. (2010). Intimate partner abuse: A case study involving a father and a son. Clinical Case Studies, 9(1), 3–17.

Chambless, D. L. (2012). Adjunctive couple and family intervention for patients with anxiety disorders. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 68(5), 536-547