Overview No reference This assignment gives you a chance to develop and practice problem specification skills. This is a necessary first step to specifying outcome goals and measuring client system progress toward those goals. Please read the instructions carefully. Instructions Choose one client system with whom you are currently working in your field setting or one that you have worked with recently. Write a brief description of your client system on a separate sheet of paper. This description should be approximately half a page in length and include the following information: age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, family composition, IQ, social economic status, diagnosis, treatment history and so on. After completing the client description, set it aside. This step requires that your full attention be paid to what actually happens during your session with your client system. Either picture in your mind an actual interview with the client you have selected, or go into your next sessions with the following instructions in mind: Forget about the client’s history and all of the extraneous information that other individuals may have given to you about your client. Just focus on this individual session. Now, write down, specifically, everything that the client does (behaviors), feels (emotions), or thinks (cognitions), that are clues to you that the client is experiencing some one or more problems. This list is your list of indicators (of a client system problem/problems). Review your list of indicators. Ask yourself: When I look at these indicators, what problem is reflected? Does this list reflect more than one problem? If so, can the indicators be grouped to reflect these different problems? Next, reorganize your indicators into separate columns as they reflect different problems. If you have only one problem leave your list as it is. If you have more than two problems, you will need to make additional (blank) copies of the indicator form. At the bottom, in a full sentence, write down the problem that encapsulates these indicators. The problem statement should begin: “The client system …” Download copies of Format Sheets (Word) for the listing of indicators and problem specification. Download Example (PDF) to see an example of this assignment that has been previously submitted My client I did a home visit to a 67 year old, Caucasian female who has referred for Adult protective services however I quickly determine that clt needs services instead of Adult protect services. Client needs included, medical transportation, home making and escort service. Present at the home visit was client, this case manager and client daughter. It was determined at the home visit that client does not need escort service at this time but may need it in the future. Client has multiple health issues that make some of the homemaker tasks difficult for her. Client expressed that she does not want to tell home maker aide what to do. “I’m not that kind of person. I don’t want to offend anyone.” Case manager suggested that client look at the situation as needing assistance and the home maker aide providing the needed assistance to her. Client has had some falls. Client last fall was bringing laundry inside. Client daughter apprised that the majority of client’s falls have been bringing laundry in. daughter is hopeful that home maker service assisting with the laundry will reduce the likelihood of clt having any future falls. Client has difficulty doing homemaker tasks such as vacuuming and taking out the trash. Discussed home maker service being put in place weekly to allow the aide time to complete the laundry. Client has four pets. She expressed not expecting anyone to clean up after her animals. “I handle that. I don’t expect anyone to do that. It’s not fair.” Client expressed a since of pride regarding the animals. ERS was installed prior to home visit. Client received a diagnosis of throat and soft pallet cancer this year. She had surgery to have most of her soft pallet removed. Client has an appointment at Zangmeister Center on December 8th to determine if Client has to undergo radiation. Medical transportation is being requested because Clients daughter is not always available due to work to transport Client to appointments. Client was alert and oriented on all spheres. Client reported that she has anxiety and depression which she takes medication for. Client declined a referral for counseling citing, “I do my meditation through prayer.” Client also expressed that that she does not feel as if she needs counseling because she is not suicidal. Client has support from her daughter. Client is able to communicate her needs. Ashley advocates on clients behalf. I was able to advocate on behalf of the client and made a referral for home health services to provide Homemaking services and Transportation services. I also was able to determine that Client is appropriate for ongoing case management at FCOA because she has support and is able to articulate her needs. Sample Assignment 1A Problem Specification Client system description The client is a 33 year old single, white female. She is a graduate student in her second year at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences studying direct practice for adults concentrating in mental health. The client lives with her mother and father in Mentor, Ohio where she grew up. She mentions not quite feeling herself in this current living situation and is preparing to move out by October 1st. She is currently struggling with telling her parents that she will be moving out on her own. Client denies any conflict outside of the current situation and considers her parents as part of her support system. She is of average intelligence and comes from a middle class background. Before enrolling at the Mandel School, the client worked as a sales account executive in the apparel industry in New York City. She achieved moderate success before deciding to leave the career and pursue a social work degree. The client is not currently diagnosed with any mental health illness, but was diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and an eating disorder during adolescence. She previously received medication for her anxiety and depression, but is not currently taking any medication. The client reports symptoms including shortness of breath, restlessness, body aches, and difficulty sleeping 2-3 times per week. List of indicators Client is not feeling fully herself since moving in with her parents. She reports struggling to catch her breath intermittently throughout the day. She experiences periods of restlessness. She reports body aches in her lower back and hips. Potentially her bodys response to anxiety and stress brought on by current living situation and school. 2 Client states that 2-3 times per week she wakes in the middle of the night and has trouble falling back to sleep. She worries how her parents will respond when she tells them she will officially be moving out on her own. She is weary that her parents do not trust she can handle the financial burden of living on her own as a graduate student. Client reports feeling guilt for spending extended periods of time away from the home. List of Indicators and Problem List Group 1- Anxiety/Stress Management Group 2 Interpersonal Relationship Conflict Struggling to catch her breath intermittently throughout the day Not feeling fully herself since moving in with her parents Periods of restlessness Worries how her parents will respond when she tells them she will officially be moving out on her own Body aches in her lower back and hips Weary that her parents do not trust she can handle the financial burden of living on her own as a graduate student 2-3 times per week she wakes in the middle of the night and has trouble falling back to sleep Guilt for spending extended periods of time away from the home. Problem Statements: 1. The client system is experiencing symptoms stemming from stress and anxiety and desires to work to eliminate those symptoms. 2. The client system wants to move out on her own, but worries about how her parents will respond and what impact that will have on their relationship.
The post develop and practice problem specification skills appeared first on My Assignment Online.