Week 4 Reflection
It is important for a clinician to show excellent communication skills and active listening skills when conducting an assessment interview. I would use summarization throughout the interview process this would provide the patient validation that I am listening to what they are saying, understand what they're saying, and showing interest and that I care to help. Using summarization also allows for clarification on specific statements or answers that were given. I would utilize the DAST -10, which is an assessment tool that works very similar to AUDIT. I would ask the following questions to assess the suspected substance use disorder in the patient
presenting for treatment.1. Have you had “blackouts” or “flashbacks” because of drug use? 2. Are you always able to stop using drugs when you want to? 3. Have you had medical problems because of your drug use such as memory loss, hepatitis, conversions, bleeding? 4. Have you ever experienced withdrawal symptoms felt sick when you stopped taking drugs? 5. Have you neglected your family because of use of drugs? I would also use the PHQ- 9. To assess depression and GAD-7 to assess for anxiety. According to counseling today, clients are sometimes resistant because the counselor is asking them to deal with an undesired agenda, “Resistance” means we're working on the wrong problem, a problem that the client doesn't care to work on. Counselors need to connect with the client to find the right problem. It is suggested connecting based on clients perceived locus of control. Many clients resist because counselors focus to quickly on the client’s feelings, behaviors, or sense of responsibility. If a client resists because they feel everyone else has the problem, then focusing on the client presents a miscommunication. I agree with this approach push until further building more of a report with the patient so they feel that they are able to speak openly and honestly without judgment or embarrassment I would make sure that I am selecting the right proper treatment options for the patient by using the AS AM criteria which details the level of care required for depending upon the assessments and the criteria that they meet to select the level of care they are referred to. Reference
Shallcross, L. (2019 June 11). Managing Resistant Clients. Retrieved from
http://ct.counseling.org/2010/02/managing-resistant-clients/.
