Develop diagnoses for clients receiving family psychotherapy

Assignment 1: Practicum – Week 5 Journal Entry

Learning Objectives

Students will:

· Develop effective documentation skills for family therapy sessions *

· Develop diagnoses for clients receiving family psychotherapy *

· Evaluate the efficacy of solution-focused therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy for families *

· Analyze legal and ethical implications of counseling clients with psychiatric disorders *

*  The Assignment related to this Learning Objective is introduced this week and submitted in Week 7.

Select two clients you observed or counseled this week during a family therapy session. Note: The two clients you select must have attended the same family session. Do not select the same family you selected for Week 2.

Then, address in your Practicum Journal the following:

Describe each client (without violating HIPAA regulations) and identify any pertinent history or medical information, including prescribed medications.

Using the DSM-5, explain and justify your diagnosis for each client.

Explain whether solution-focused or cognitive behavioral therapy would be more effective with this family. Include expected outcomes based on these therapeutic approaches.

Explain any legal and/or ethical implications related to counseling each client.

Support your approach with evidence-based literature.

Learning Resources

Note:  To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the  Course Materials  section of your Syllabus.

Required Readings

American Nurses Association. (2014). Psychiatric-mental health nursing: Scope and standards of practice (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

· Standard 5F “Milieu Therapy” (pages 60-61)

Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2014). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice. New York, NY: Springer.

· Chapter 12, “Family Therapy” (Review pp. 429–468.)

Nichols, M. (2014). The essentials of family therapy (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

· Chapter 10, “Cognitive-Behavior Family Therapy” (pp. 166–189)

· Chapter 12, “Solution-Focused Therapy” (pp. 225–242)

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.

Bond, C., Woods, K., Humphrey, N., Symes, W., & Green, L. (2013). Practitioner review: The effectiveness of solution focused brief therapy with children and families: A systematic and critical evaluation of the literature from 1990–2010. Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 54(7), 707–723. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12058

Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.

Conoley, C., Graham, J., Neu, T., Craig, M., O’Pry, A., Cardin, S., & … Parker, R. (2003). Solution-focused family therapy with three aggressive and oppositional-acting children: An N=1 empirical study. Family Process, 42(3), 361–374. doi:10.1111/j.1545-5300.2003.00361.x

Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.