SOCW 6060 Reflection Questions: The Petrakis Family

SOCW 6060 Reflection Questions: The Petrakis Family

SOCW 6060 Reflection Questions: The Petrakis Family

1. What specific intervention strategies (skills, knowledge, etc.) did you use to address this client situation?

I used solution-focused and then psychodynamic interventions.

2. Which theory or theories did you use to guide your practice?

I used family systems and environmental theories to guide my practice.

3. What were the identified strengths of the client(s)?

The identified strengths of the client were strong family bonds and good community support.

4. What were the identified challenges faced by the client(s)?

Helen found it challenging to manage good self-care while acting as the primary caretaker of a family member. She also was challenged by the substance abuse and risky behaviors of her adult son. SOCW 6060 Reflection Questions: The Petrakis Family.

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5. What were the agreed-upon goals to be met to address the concern?

There were three identified goals in Helen’s therapy sessions. One was to develop behavioral interventions to help Helen manage her feelings of anxiety. The second was to help Helen arrange to have a psychiatric evalu ation to determine if medication management would help her manage her anxiety. The third was to help Helen develop and secure a safe and supported housing plan for Magda.

6. Did you have to address any issues around cultural competence? Did you have to learn about this population/group prior to beginning your work with this client system? If so, what type of research did you do to prepare?

It was important to recognize that Helen lives within a specific ethnic community.

7. What local, state, or federal policies could (or did) affect this case?

Adult protection services are of primary concern to this case.

8. How would you advocate for social change to positively affect this case?

I would advocate for supportive services for primary caretakers, including respite arrangements, shopping services, and assistance with medication management for Magda.

9. Were there any legal or ethical issues present in the case? If so, what were they and how were they addressed?

The legal issues of Alec’s substance abuse and theft were not addressed in this case. The legal and ethical issues of theft were also not addressed.

10. How can evidence-based practice be integrated into this situation?

Evidence-based treatment may be integrated into the treatment of both anxiety and supportive interventions for codependency among substance-abusing family members. I would help Helen to identify measurable and quantifiable behavioral goals for treatment, specify my interventions, and evaluate every 12 sessions to see if my interventions were successfully addressing Helen’s goals.

11. Is there any additional information that is important to the case?

I think providing Helen with information about harm reduction approaches to understanding substance abuse would be helpful, should Helen be interested. I would also provide information about Al-Anon. I would be curious about whether Helen’s church or community offered support for substance abusers, caregivers, or families of substance abusers. I would also inquire about case management services for the elderly and provide that information to Helen, if she expressed an interest.

12. Describe any additional personal reflections about this case.

Helen is very involved in the care of her family and is losing her energy to care for herself. I would work to help Helen recognize her own strength and resilience and begin to identify ways she can nurture and recharge herself.