1. Treatment Goals
There were several treatment goals established in therapy between Captain Cahill and I - first and foremost, to form a relationship where he feels comfortable talking about his traumatic experiences and to be able to bear witness in an environment where he feels safe and cared about. The most important treatment goal was to be able to remember his traumatic experiences without reliving them. Other goals were to be able to engage in close relationships again and to accept himself and to come to terms with his profound sense of loss and guilt. Furthermore, together we set goals to identify and express an awareness of how PTSD has affected himself and others around him, to practice relaxation training as a coping mechanism for stress, anger, and anxiety, to verbalize the symptoms of depression, including any suicidal ideations, and to express a hopeful and positive attitude regarding the future.
Challenges in pursuing these goals were primarily getting over the hurdle of being able to talk about his feelings and experiences. After facing such extreme trauma, …show more content…
Social Work Roles
As Sam’s social worker I employ many roles, two of which have been Case Manager and Advocate. In the role of Case Manager, I not only helped in enabling him to deal with his symptoms of PTSD through talk therapy, but I also connected him with a psychiatrist that I had prior experience with whose primary area of expertise is trauma-related disorders. I worked alongside him and his psychiatrist in finding the best combination of therapy and medication to help him focus and function in his current surroundings.
Another role I played as Sam’s social worker was that of the Advocate. As a Marine, Sam qualified for benefits from the VA, but they were making things as difficult as possible and giving him the runaround. By stepping in and working together with representatives from the VA, I made sure Sam received the benefits and resources that his military status afforded
There were several treatment goals established in therapy between Captain Cahill and I - first and foremost, to form a relationship where he feels comfortable talking about his traumatic experiences and to be able to bear witness in an environment where he feels safe and cared about. The most important treatment goal was to be able to remember his traumatic experiences without reliving them. Other goals were to be able to engage in close relationships again and to accept himself and to come to terms with his profound sense of loss and guilt. Furthermore, together we set goals to identify and express an awareness of how PTSD has affected himself and others around him, to practice relaxation training as a coping mechanism for stress, anger, and anxiety, to verbalize the symptoms of depression, including any suicidal ideations, and to express a hopeful and positive attitude regarding the future.
Challenges in pursuing these goals were primarily getting over the hurdle of being able to talk about his feelings and experiences. After facing such extreme trauma, …show more content…
Social Work Roles
As Sam’s social worker I employ many roles, two of which have been Case Manager and Advocate. In the role of Case Manager, I not only helped in enabling him to deal with his symptoms of PTSD through talk therapy, but I also connected him with a psychiatrist that I had prior experience with whose primary area of expertise is trauma-related disorders. I worked alongside him and his psychiatrist in finding the best combination of therapy and medication to help him focus and function in his current surroundings.
Another role I played as Sam’s social worker was that of the Advocate. As a Marine, Sam qualified for benefits from the VA, but they were making things as difficult as possible and giving him the runaround. By stepping in and working together with representatives from the VA, I made sure Sam received the benefits and resources that his military status afforded