When working with clients/students it is important that we as counselors are purposeful with our words, use of skills, use of techniques, and our exhibited behaviors.
Theory is what helps to guide how we conceptualize client situations and work with our clients and students. Each week, we will introduce you to a small handful of different theoretical approaches. For each weekly assignment (weeks 1-4) you will be provided a case scenario. You will also be offered the opportunity to choose which theoretical approach (covered in class that week) to apply to the case scenario. Make sure to fully respond to each question and to use the rubric to guide your writing (the rubric is used to determine your grade). Your assignments should be written in accordance with APA 6th edition guidelines and contain two professional sources (your text-book may count as one of your resources).
Although there is not a minimum page length requirement for these assignments, you will likely need to write a minimum of one page per each of the 5 below sections to full address all the prompts within each section in accordance with the rubric requirements. See the assignment template to help you organize your writing. 1) Presenting Concern/s: a. Identify which of this week’s theoretical approaches you will use to conceptualize the case and why. b. What do you see as the client’s presenting concerns/basic conflicts? c. Based upon the concerns you identified, discuss which you would address first and why based upon the theoretical approach. 2) One Central Concept of the Approach:
a. Identify one central concept of the approach (other than any you previously use to answer the above question) and describe the central concept.
b. Explain how the central concept is relevant to working with the client or understanding the case.
3) One Technique: a. Identify one strategy or technique you could use with the client and describe the strategy or technique.
b. Discuss why you chose the technique for use with this client.
4) Dialogue: This section contains two parts:
a. Provide a 5×5 (or longer) practice dialogue (5 counselor statements and 5 client statements) to give us a brief snapshot of how you would go about using the above strategy or technique. See the attached skills guide for some basic counseling skills that can assist you when implementing the selected strategy or technique.
b. Briefly explain the purpose (why you said what you said) behind each of your five statements. 5) Reflection: a. Provide at least one example of how you could apply any strategy, technique, or concept of this theoretical approach to an area of your life to learn something about yourself personally. Also, explain what you learned. b. What challenges did you encounter when attempting to apply an aspect of this theoretical approach to your life? Provide at least one example. c. Did you notice any cultural limitations/obstacles to applying this approach to your life?
Describe the cultural limitation or explain how the approach is culturally responsive. Case Scenario The Case of Gina As the oldest of three children, Gina (age 29) berates herself for her family’s tension and dissension. Her father is depressed most of the time (which Gina feels responsible for); her mother feels overburdened and ineffectual (Gina feels she contributes to this); and both her sisters are doing poorly in school and having other personal problems (Gina also assumes responsibility for this). Somehow she is convinced that if she were different and did what she should do, most of these problems would greatly diminish. Most recently, her parents decided to get a divorce. Gina always felt that she was responsible for helping to keep her parents together since they did not have very good communication skills. Gina felt as if she was their translator. Assume, as you listen to her, that you hear her saying some of the following things: •
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