Psychoeducation

Based on the initial session with the Roberson family they appear to be dysfunctional to say the least, my first meeting with the family the father Dan was dominating and the mother and son appeared withdrawn and awaited the father’s permission to speak. At this time it was suspected that some form of abuse is or has taken place with in this family. But after my second session with the family, the dynamics have changed drastically. During my second meeting with the Roberson Family, it was…

residential treatment centers, even though they were not following the concepts and ideas of the AACRC. In addition, these programs varied in their modalities; some were considered behaviorist, while others focused solely on group process and psychoeducation or considered…

Most people diagnosed with bipolar disorder need medication to help keep their symptoms stable, and people who take medications for this disorder are likely to get better faster if it is paired with therapy (Smith, Segal, & Segal, 2016). Therefore, one of the first things I would address with Lexa is educating her about medications used for patients with bipolar disorder, discussing the pros and cons, and refer her to a psychiatrist so that she could begin the process of getting medication. I…

Leanne is a 31-year-old female who is heterosexually partnered currently. She experienced divorce two years ago. Leanne was laid off from her former job 18 months ago and then stayed unemployed for one year. Now, she finds a job related to marketing. Meanwhile, she is pursuing her master’s degree. She is referred by a psychiatrist for the treatment of her depression and anxiety associated with abusive childhood, failed marriage, career crisis, financial crisis and unpleasant living condition. 1.…

The first step in treatment is always psychoeducation or learning about what causes the symptoms (in this case: anxiety). The patient is educated on how avoidance is reinforced by anxiety as well as learning the value of self-monitoring and noticing what causes anxiety (Petersen, Sprich, & Wilhelm…

Personal Statement for Vanderbilt University Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S.—43.7 million, or 18.6%—experiences mental illness in a given year. 18.1% of adults in the U.S. experienced an anxiety disorder such as posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and specific phobias. Anxiety disorders stem specifically from an intense worry or fear that affects social, occupational or other important areas of functioning. Furthermore, among the 20.7 million adults in the U.S.…

Batterer Intervention Programs: A strength based approach Social work practitioners are increasingly expected to offer treatment to persons convicted of assaultive and violent crimes. Since the 1970s the focus of treatment of intimate partner violence shifted to include treating batterers with the notion therapeutic interventions may halt future abuse. The prevalence and assessment of causal factors of intimate partner violence is provided. A brief overview of solution-focused brief group…

Mental Health Waiver: WISE The Mental Health Waiver, also known as Working for Integration Support and Empowerment (WISE), is a waiver program that helps individuals with serious mental illness who are currently residing in an institutional setting, or are deemed eligible to reside in an institution, transition back into the community. Previously, adults with serious mental illnesses were being discharged from inpatient treatment settings and placed in nursing homes to meet their needs.…

Access to mental health care has been a growing problem for many individuals in communities, especially minority communities. These minority groups lack access to mental health care because either they can’t afford the services or simply they are denied the service. As a result, those who have mental and behavioral issues don’t perform as well in school, they tend to get in trouble more often and their health begins to deteriorate. In a study done by Sontag-Padilla et al. (2016), they tested…

Working with Adolescents As a former high school English teacher, I have a strong affinity for working with adolescents. I made a personal decision to teach at an alternative school, as opposed to a public high school, for various reasons. Primary to this decision, however, was the ability to interact and impact disenfranchised youth, who experienced a wide range of life experiences, from mental health diagnoses, substance abuse, or violence, i.e. gang violence. Corey, Corey, and Corey (2010)…