Assignment: Family Assessment
Assessment is as essential to family therapy as it is to individual therapy. Although families often present with one person identified as the “problem,” the assessment process will help you better understand family roles and determine whether the identified problem client is in fact the root of the family’s issues.
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To prepare:
- Review this week’s Learning Resources and reflect on the insights they provide on family assessment. Be sure to review the resource on psychotherapy genograms.
- Download the Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation Note Template and review the requirements of the documentation. There is also an exemplar provided with detailed guidance and examples.
- View the Mother and Daughter: A Cultural Tale video in the Learning Resources and consider how you might assess the family in the case study.
The Assignment
Document the following for the family in the video, using the Comprehensive Evaluation Note Template:
- Chief complaint
- History of present illness
- Past psychiatric history
- Substance use history
- Family psychiatric/substance use history
- Psychosocial history/Developmental history
- Medical history
- Review of systems (ROS)
- Physical assessment (if applicable)
- Mental status exam
- Differential diagnosis—Include a minimum of three differential diagnoses and include how you derived each diagnosis in accordance with DSM-5 diagnostic criteria
- Case formulation and treatment plan
- Include a psychotherapy genogram for the family
Note: For any item you are unable to address from the video, explain how you would gather this information and why it is important for diagnosis and treatment planning.
References
Nichols, M., & Davis, S. D. (2020). The essentials of family therapy (7th ed.). Pearson.
Introduction
- Chapter 2, “Basic Techniques of Family Therapy”
- Chapter 3, “The Fundamental Concepts of Family Therapy”
- Chapter 4, “Bowen Family Systems Therapy
https://www.therapistaid.com/therapy-guide/genograms
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEB1vBObUqc
https://video-alexanderstreet-com.eu1.proxy.openathens.net/watch/mother-and-daughter-a-cultural-tale
SOLUTION
Abstract
As providers, it is vital to be open-minded, if you are not aware or do not understand a person’s culture, show your patients respect. Be engaged, respectful, and ask questions. Learn from your patients, this helps develop a rapport. As providers we are obligated to provide optimal care, if we feel a patient’s needs are out of our scope, the client should be referred to a provider that can give them the help they need and deserve (Nichols & Davis, 2020).
The purpose of this paper is to provide documentation and a psychiatric comprehensive assessment of a patient and family during a family therapy interview that highlights differences in a multicultural family, respecting cultural norms and differences, and develop an individualized treatment plan.
Keywords: Family therapy
Subjective:
CC (chief complaint): “I like to learn to live on my own and not depend on the kids.”
HPI: A 40-year-old female (Patti) and her five children (Sheela age 24, Sharleen aged 23 and present today, Shireen age 21 recently reunited with family, Armin Jr. age 18, and Sam age 15), of Iranian descent, has been in individual and family therapy for the last 18 months. Patti came to the clinic related to chaos in the home after her daughter was finally reunited with the family after ten years. The family initially had rejoiced and celebrated, and after a few weeks, Shireen began to tell her mother and siblings the emotional, physical, and sexual abuse at the hands of her father. She blamed and felt abandoned by her mother. Patti needed necessary surgery to both her feet after an injury, that has now left her disabled and with chronic pain. The additional burden of surgery and disability has increased tension and stress in the home. Patti lives with her two sons; her daughters live on their own. Shireen recently moved out, marrying someone the family does not know, with little contact. Mother speaks and sees Sheela and Sharleen daily. Patti has increasingly felt alone, depressed, hopeless, and helpless wanting her daughters to stay and help her at her home. A psychiatric provider has been referred for a medication evaluation.
Past Psychiatric History:
General Statement: Patti and her family began therapy 18 months ago after daughter Shireen reunited with the family after 12 years of separation. Shireen shared significant abuse…..please click the purchase button below to access the entire solution at $19.5