The Role Of Client Strengths And Weaknesses

Client (AM) is a 20-year-old heterosexual African American female, born in Durham, and currently still resides there. Her primary language is English. She lives with her 13 moth old child (NM) in a one-bedroom apartment. The client is unemployed and currently receives SSI benefits. AM resides in subsidized housing because of her social security income. Client did not finish high school and has no desire to do so.

The client has had a strong support system in the past and is open to creating another one. This is strength because it demonstrates that the client is open reaching out to others in times of need and is a resiliency factor.

However, she also said that open communication, being professional, and showing empathy were paramount as well. Next, I asked what she considers her strengths to be when working with clients. She stated, that her ability to show empathy and sympathy have been crucial in helping her clients. She also stated, that her life experiences have proven to be beneficial as well. However, she stated, that she does not self-disclose any personal information to clients. She will say, “I have been there too”, or “I know how that feels”, but she will not give personal details or experiences at all. On the other hand, she identified caring too much at times as being a weakness.

Ms. Bennett is a 29 year-old, single, heterosexual, African American, woman who presented herself at the Argosy University Therapeutic Assessment and Psychotherapy Services (AUTAPS) for her main concern that she takes longer time to comprehend material taught in class. Ms. Bennett is a first year graduate student at University of La Verne who is pursuing a Master of Science degree in Leadership and Management. She reported that she is currently receiving accommodations from the university, as the University was temporarily able to accept the documentation provided for the previous university. She appeared to be of stated age, dressed appropriately for assessment with good personal grooming, and arrived just on time for her appointment. Ms. Bennett appeared to be guarded, as she sometimes appeared to inhibit her speech by saying “never mind.” Similarly, the range of her demonstrated affect was relatively constricted and the tone of her speech seemed low. Nevertheless, she appeared effortful and respectful toward the examiner throughout the assessment. Ms. Bennett was alert and attentive, and is likely to be a reliable historian, as the stories she told were consistent and thus her memory appeared adequate. Her thought process seems to be clear and linear, and she was oriented to person, place, and time. Ms. Bennett is seeking comprehensive assessment to determine whether she may be eligible for accommodations based on the results of testing.Ms. Bennett reported that she was

D.D. is a 50-year-old, African American male presenting with a number of anxiety and depressive symptoms. The client reports that he came to counseling for “extra support and someone to talk to.” D.D. has been struggling with mental health issues since he was young. Since the age of 15 he has been hospitalized on and off for “hearing voices.” In the early 1980’s he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and prescribed Risperdal to treat the symptoms. Since then, D.D. has been in a variety of mental health settings, including hospitals, day programs, and outpatient treatment. The client has an extensive alcohol and drug use history that he believes impacted his Schizophrenia. In the early 1980’s the client would use alcohol every day “to avoid the voices,” drinking “anything he could get his hands on.” He was also heavily involved with drugs at that time and regularly used marijuana, PCP, cocaine, and heroine. In 2000, the client was sentenced to eight years in jail for four bank robberies. While in jail, D.D. received mental health treatment and alcohol and drug treatment, which was greatly beneficial. When the client was released from jail in 2008, he was drug and alcohol free and was taken off of Risperdal.

Patient Presentation: Benjamin Fowler arrived 15 minutes late for his appointment today. He was accompanied by his sister, Paula Fowler. She joined us in the interview to assist Benjamin and to answer some questions concerning Benjamin's behavior. Benjamin is a 27-year-olds African American male. He wore a t-shirt with dress pants and tennis shoes to his interview. Benjamin looked like he had not showered recently. Benjamin had issues focusing on the questions during the interview. He also was distracted by objects in the office during the interview. Benjamin also spoke in a quick manner. Benjamin was not able to tell me what day it was or where he was.

On 8/12/2016, CM met with the client to complete Bi-Weekly ILP Review. In the meeting CM observed that the client was wearing the same clothes from last session. She was hostile in the meeting. Client was wearing a yellow skirt and black blouse. Client was wearing summer hat, reading glasses and a mask covering her nose and mouth. CM also observed client had foul body odors. During the interview session client continues to be loquacious complaining that “People are out to get client and how residents are using Marijuana on her foot. Client continues to reports some of the residents here at the shelter are part of the “Russian Mafia” and when they used Marijuana on both leg it triggered the open wound ulcer and it cause it to discharge foul odor.

The client arrived on time for his scheduled assessment. CPS caseworker Danita Brown referred the client test positive of illicit substance. The client is 30 years old African American male who is not married. He is the father of 3 children ages 1 month old 1, and 5 years old. He is currently in a relationship with two of the children mother. The client reports there was incident of family violence. The client reports his girlfriend was the one to assault him. Brent reports that he works at Sam Clubs in Pearland and has for the last 3 years. Brent reports three years of colleges. The client reports growing up with his parents, however they divorce later, but they both are supportive. Brent denies any medical or mental health concerns. The

Samuel Seium. One solution for counselors to reduce the issues of misdiagnosing African-American clients is by being culturally competent. The counselor can first start by assessing the client’s cultural identity and how they see the world. The counselors should distinguish what is culturally relevant to the client. For example, what religious events or cultural activities does the client value because the client may not identify with everything in a cultural compared to someone else. Counselors should be aware of the cultural meaning of the client’s presenting problem. Assess the stigma from the client’s cultural perspective is important because counselor needs to take into account a client’s culture to determine the proper diagnoses (Feisthamel

My client is a 25-year-old South Asian woman. She appears thin with long black hair and brown eyes. She is wearing dark pants, a long sleeved blue shirt with a multicoloured scarf. Her clothing is neat and appropriate to her environment. She is wearing makeup, appears clean and is well put together. The client answers direct questions but does not provide a lot of information. Patient is willing to provide more information when asked directly or prompted by the writer. The client’s rate of speech was slow at first but as the interview continued, became a normal rate. Her speech was clear; however spoke in a soft volume with a monotone voice. Her rhythm was smooth and her speech was not pressured. The client’s

Client resistance is ever present in the social work profession. As per Goldstein (1995), resistance presents itself in treatment within the client’s conscious or unconscious actions which interfere with therapeutic progress. Assessing the complex dynamic causing a client’s resistant behavior during clinical treatment is a challenging, but an essential task for goal achievement. According to Woods and Hollis (2000), understanding why a client is resistant facilitates reaching common ground with the client, enabling realistic goal setting. The causality of resistance is often discomfort associated with the client not being in a state of readiness, further emphasizing the need for mutual goal setting in order to obtain treatment progression.

For this client system assessment, I have chosen a client I engaged with while at work, my client’s name is Keith. Keith is 34 years old and has had many unfortunate circumstances surrounding his life, beginning with his birth. Keith’s family system consists of himself, his mother and two step siblings. Keith was unfortunately the product of a rape, witnessed repeated domestic abuse situations with his mother’s boyfriends and husbands, was abused himself and to this day, Keith continues to suffer in all domains: emotionally, mentally and physically. I will assess Keith’s family system as well as Keith as an individual utilizing Erikson’s Psychological Stages of Development, Bowman’s Family System Theory and Marcia’s Identity Status Model.

He is afraid to get close to people because he is afraid they will leave him. In addition, he feels that if he becomes perfect people with love and accept him more. These feelings have caused to have faulty conclusions about his life and self-defeating perceptions. I can identify with one of Stan’s faulty thinking patterns from the perspective drawing the same conclusions not being perfect. I believe in society we are taught that we need to strive for perfection in our relationships, employment, and education to have a successful life. However, we don’t live in a perfect world, and these things don’t always end up being successful. Therefore, we become hurt or disappointed and have those feelings of being unworthy. In Adlerian therapy, its important to identify, and accept how a person feels. With identifying how a person feels can help produce change within a client. “Adlerian therapists consider insight as a special of awareness that facilitates a meaningful understanding within the therapeutic relationship and acts as foundation for change. (Corey, G. 2017, p.113). I feel that in Stan’ therapy it can be useful to understand how he feel by relating to his personal experiences. This can help relationship grow and increase the effectiveness between Stan and his

“It is the client who knows what hurts, what directions to go, what problems are crucial, what experiences have been deeply buried.’ (Rogers, 2004, p11).

Empowering our clients should be the main focus, although providing clients with resources and helping with their immediate issues are important empowerment reins all. The clients that social workers will encounter will be some of the most disempowered people. Adversity will allow people to feel powerless and will ruin people’s self-esteem. The feeling of being powerless will make clients to become hopeless as a social worker it is our job to reassure and help the client realize their strengths and power.