Discussion: Empowering the client

Discussion: Empowering the client

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Discussion: Empowering the client

RESPONSE 1

Respond to at least two colleagues with your thoughts on the skills they suggested, and how they were empowering to the client. Provide specific examples.

Colleague 1: Tiffany

In Jake’s case the therapist used problem-solving skills to address Jake’s anxiety. The therapist taught Jake a technique to slow his breathing to relieve his anxiety. The therapist taught Jake when he feels his anxiety coming on due to his PTSD to put one hand across his chest and the other on his upper stomach, close his eyes and breath in slowly and out. This technique helps to slow his breathing and reduce his anxiety. I would recommend Jake go to group with other members that have PTSD, I would suggest Jake tell his story using the breathing techniques he was taught. I would use strengths perspective and find out who and what are Jake’s strengths in his life. I would suggest he draw a eco-map to indicate his support systems. Jake’s wife would be a support system and I would ask if the both of them could attend the PTSD groups together so she could hear how dramatic PTSD can be. I would encourage Jake to use his story to help others that suffer from PTSD know they are not alone. This could help the negative aspect of Jake’s story turn into something positive by helping others that are suffering from PTSD. It would also help Jake to hear others stories so he will learn he is not alone facing his PTSD. Jake and I would brainstorm together letting him pick the ideas he thinks that would help him heal faster. We both would develop a plan to keep Jake at his baseline. I would also recommend Jake start going to AA meeting in his community to help give him the support he needs to stop self-medicating himself.

References

Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. M. (Eds.). (2014a). Sessions: case histories. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].

The Levy Family (pp. 15–16)

Yoder, M., Tuerk, P. W., Price, M., Grubaugh, A., L., Strachan, M., Myrick, H., & Acierno, R. (2012). Prolonged exposure therapy for combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder: Comparing outcomes for veterans of different wars. Psychological Services, 9(1), 16–25.

Colleague 2: Christine

Applied Interventions, Skills and Tools

In the case of Jake Levy there were various interventions, skills, and tools provided to support Jake and the struggles he experienced surrounding his recent diagnosis of PTSD and substance misuse. The one’s that stuck out for me while assessing this case are as follows:

1) One on one therapy

2) Guided meditation

3) Assessment through charting to identify triggers and dissociation episodes

4) Role Playing

5) Support Groups

6) AA Group Meetings

7) Mental Health Connection

8) Couple therapy session with his wife

All of these can imply that Jake and his service provider worked together to formulate his goal planning, safety planning, and add support toward Jake’s insight with this struggles. The service provider clearly displayed empathy for Jake as it was seen in the body language provided in the video. It also appeared the provider involved active listening skills to fully understand Jake and his situation with PTSD and his substance misuse. It was evident that the service provider and Jake formulated solid plans toward overcoming his struggles, while connecting him to almost all possible resources available to move him forward. Jake’s provider also involved his wife, for which I feel is important for those around Jake to become educated in what will trigger Jake and how Jake can be supported through even the darkest times. It appeared the provider allowed Jake to be the driver of his change while empowering him, which was evident that he created some interventions himself. Here, Jake initiated his own goal while attending AA meetings to curb his struggle with his drinking. The provider clearly had strong skills in empathetic listening as it was okay to have those moments of silence while Jake learned new techniques from the provider to guide him through the anxiety.

Additional Skills

Additional skills that a social worker may bring to the table are having a deep understanding of crisis intervention skills allowing to provide familiarity with mental health disorders, specifically in combat. Understanding of the challenges of grief and other factors affecting military personnel and veterans. This will allow for an open mind while trying to harness what someone is going through with the PTSD symptoms, as Jake displayed. Also, I feel having the ability to understand the stigmas and stereotypes surrounding the military. By allowing yourself the open mind to educate and become more informed is a necessary tool to provide accurate care for veterans. This understanding will provide the provider and the client to have a deeper working alliance toward coordinating care. Often times, someone experiencing PTSD will experience feelings of emptiness and lack insight that they indeed have support.