Family Assessments: Comprehensive Client Assessment Of The ✓ Solved
4family Assessmentscomprehensive Client Assessment Of The
A comprehensive assessment of the client is needed to assess and evaluate a client’s condition. It is an important tool because it enables practitioners to be able to observe their clients, note their signs and symptoms and also help them establish a therapeutic relationship with their clients. This assessment tool when done correctly can enhance a clients’ treatment success as it documents the client’s history of illness, psychosocial or personal history, their current mental status, cognitive assessment, physical assessment, any substance use or abuse and risks factors as well as lay a foundation for clinical decision making.
This assignment is geared towards addressing in a comprehensive client assessment a case study of the Hernandez family who was referred for family assessment and counseling.
Demographic Information
Juan and Elena Hernandez are a married Hispanic couple with two children: Juan Jnr who is 8 years old and Alberto who is 6 years old. They are a working family in the low socioeconomic class.
Presenting Problem
Juan and Elena Hernandez present due to concerns that they will lose their children to Child Protective Services (CPS) if they fail to attend these family sessions. They were referred for parenting/counseling sessions because of ongoing CPS involvement with their family for safety concerns with their parenting skills, especially in the ways they discipline their children.
History of Present Illness
Juan and Elena have been ordered to attend these sessions due to an investigation and possible evidence of child abuse or maltreatment in the home. This intervention aims to teach the parents better skills at managing and disciplining their children instead of resorting to abusive methods.
Past Psychiatric and Medical History
Record unavailable; needs to be added.
Substance Use History
Record unavailable; needs to be added.
Developmental History
Record unavailable but children observed to be engaged in age-appropriate play and behaviors during the visit.
Family Psychiatric History
Record unavailable; needs to be added.
Psychosocial History
The relationship between Juan and Elena appears loving and healthy. They prioritize taking care of their family, with Juan working overtime to provide. They expressed the strain this is putting on their finances to attend counseling sessions.
History of Abuse and/or Trauma
Both Juan and Elena are victims of possible harsh means of discipline while growing up. Juan described carrying heavy books as punishment, while Elena received similar painful punishments.
Physical Assessment
All members of the Hernandez family appear physically well-groomed, healthy, and their sizes appropriate for their age.
Mental Status Exam
Juan and Elena are alert and oriented, able to understand and communicate effectively, with appropriate attention, affect, and good eye contact.
Differential Diagnosis
1. Acculturation Difficulty: The therapist should be conscious of acculturation when formulating a case for immigrants, particularly regarding enculturation. The Hernandez family exhibits conflict in understanding the appropriateness of their discipline style. 2. Victim of Child Abuse, Maltreatment, or Neglect: Cultural differences complicate assessments of child maltreatment. The Hernandez family's discipline methods have led to CPS involvement, requiring a thorough evaluation of their practices and potential psychological harm to the children.
Case Formulation
The Hernandez family, comprising Juan, Elena, and their two children, is mandated to attend counseling due to CPS concerns regarding their parenting skills. As Hispanic immigrants, they struggle to reconcile their cultural discipline methods with societal expectations. They express love for their children while resenting the system enforcing counseling they perceive as unnecessary and financially burdensome.
Treatment Plan
An appropriate approach would be structural family therapy. This method emphasizes the family as a functional unit, where one member's behavior affects all. The therapist will introduce healthier communication patterns and routines, ultimately fostering stability and safety for the family.
References
- American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
- Paniagua, F. A. (2014). Assessing and treating culturally diverse clients: A practical guide (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
- Paniagua, F. A. (2018). ICD-10 versus DSM-5 on cultural issues. Sage Open.
- Petersen, S. W. (2016). Advanced health assessment and diagnostic reasoning. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
- Slep, A. M. S., Heyman, R. E., & Foran, H. M. (2015). Child maltreatment in DSM-5 and ICD-11. Family Process, 54(1), 17–32.